Image: excerpt from Cecile’s military service file (Library & Archives Canada)
George Fraser MacKenzie
Regimental Number: 2109822
Rank: Private
Branch: 8th Canadian Field Ambulance, Canadian Army Medical Corps
Cecile Leonore McKibben MacKenzie
Rank: Nursing Sister
Branch: Queen Alexandra’s Imperial Military Nursing Sister Reserve; Canadian Army Medical Corps
George was born in Hamilton, Ontario on November 9, 1891. He came to the Peace region over the Edson Trail in 1914 and filed on homesteads at 24-77-6-W6 and 19-77-5-W6. George enlisted in the Canadian army in February of 1917 and served for many months as an ambulance bearer in the trenches.
Cecile was born in Glanford, Ontario on August 2, 1883. She enlisted in the Canadian Army Medical Corps in March of 1918, having resigned from the Queen Alexandra’s Imperial Military Nursing Sister Reserve. Cecile served in the following hospitals:
-No. 13 and 14 General Hospitals (France, March 1917 until March 1918, prior to enlisting in the Canadian army)
-No. 15 Canadian General Hospital (Clivedon, England)
-No. 10 Canadian General Hospital (Brighton, England)
Cecile’s British records state that she was “a good surgical nurse, but slow. Very reliable and conscientious. And most kind to the patients.”
On November 11, 1919, Cecile married George MacKenzie. They had met at a military hospital in England while George was convalescing. The couple had two children. George enlisted in the Air Force in 1941; Cecile joined him in Ontario where he was stationed. Son Hugh and daughter Virginia both joined the Air Force as well; Hugh was killed in action in 1944. George and Cecile returned to the South Peace after the war, where she filed on SW 24-77-6-W6. Cecile died in 1954 and was buried in the White Mountain Cemetery. George continued to farm until 1959, then moved to Vancouver to live with his daughter and her family. George died in 1977.
Sources: Memories & Moments p. 111
- Attestation Paper (George)
- Lives of the First World War profile (George)
- Canadian Great War Project profile (George)
- Boys Who Went Overseas (George)
- Officer’s Declaration Paper (Cecile)
- Lives of the First World War profile (Cecile)
- Canadian Great War Project profile (Cecile)
- Find A Grave (Cecile)
Soldier Spotlight highlights veterans from the Archives’ online Soldiers’ Memorial. Each week, our volunteers select a remarkable individual to showcase in this blog series. The Soldiers’ Memorial commemorates more than 1,100 WWI veterans and 2,300 WWII veterans from our region. Three dedicated volunteers have contributed over 1,200 hours to this project by researching and writing biographies. Our goal is to have all South Peace soldiers acknowledged for their service. If you know of someone who lived in the South Peace and should be listed on the Memorial, or would like to get involved by researching a local veteran, please contact the Archives.