VIMY: Woodbridge war hero gravely injured during Battle of Vimy Ridge

yorkregion.com
April 6, 2017
By Adam Martin-Robbins

If you spend time in and around southern York Region, you’re probably familiar with Major Mackenzie Drive, but many people don’t know that road is named after a Canadian war hero who was gravely wounded during the Battle of Vimy Ridge 100 years ago.

Addison Alexander "Lex" Mackenzie was born and raised on his family’s farm in Woodbridge along with his four siblings.

He decided to pursue a military career joining the Governor General’s Body Guards in 1904 as a private.

Mackenzie rose through the ranks first becoming a squadron sergeant-major then a lieutenant in 1912.

At the beginning of the First World War, he was transferred to France where he served with the 4th Canadian Mounted Rifles.

He was quickly promoted to captain as a result of his pre-war militia experience.

In 1916, Mackenzie led his troops in a daring, daylight reconnaissance mission before launching an assault on the German army at Regina Trench during the Battle of the Somme, one of the war’s bloodiest battles.

Mackenzie was awarded the Military Cross for his gallantry.

He was promoted to major and led the 4th company at the Battle of Vimy Ridge in 1917.

During the fierce fighting, Mackenzie was severely wounded by shrapnel from an artillery shell, but continued to serve in the army’s training system until the end of the war.

Though Mackenzie survived, his younger brother, Donald Ross, was killed in 1918 in France.

Upon returning home, Mackenzie settled on the family homestead in Woodbridge and took up farming.

A few years later, he became immersed in municipal politics, serving as a Village of Woodbridge councillor from 1922 to 1926 and as reeve from 1927 to 1935.

In 1945, Mackenzie jumped to provincial politics, serving as a Progressive Conservative MLA representing York North until 1967, when he retired at age 82.

Mackenzie died May 13, 1970 and is buried at St. Paul’s Presbyterian Church Cemetery on Pine Valley Drive, just north of Major Mackenzie Drive.

Also named in his honour are Alexander Mackenzie High School in Richmond Hill, Mackenzie Vaughan Hospital, Mackenzie Richmond Hill Hospital and the Royal Canadian Legion Mackenzie Branch 414 in Woodbridge.