With thanks to Sue Robinson of the Group Wenches in Trenches for sending this poem
Donald Alexander Mackenzie was born in Wigan, Lancashire, UK on 1st June 1889. His parents were Duncan Mackenzie, a commercial traveller, and his wife, Jessie, who were both from Scotland. Donald had the following siblings: Finlay Mackenzie, b. 1874, Annie Mackenzie, b. 1876, Maggie Mackenzie, b. 1878 and William Mackenzie, b. 1880.
Educated at Standishgate Weslyan School and Wigan Grammar School, he went on to study at Victoria University, Manchester.
Donald became a teacher and taught at Carre’s Grammar School, Sleaford, 1910-1913, Central Secondary School, Sheffield, 1913-1920.
Volunteering for service during the First World War, Donald served initially as a Lieutenant in C Battery, 317th (Northumberland) Brigade, Royal Field Artillery TF for four years.
He wrote a poem about Wigan, originally entitled “Home Thoughts from France” while on the Somme in May 1918.
After the war Donald became Secretary for Higher Education, Sheffield, Assistant Editor of “Teachers’ World” until 1944, Principal of Gaumont British Education Division, 1944-1949. In 1951 he was working as a freelance journalist, living at ‘The Grove’, Greville Park Avenue, Ashstead, Surrey.
Donald died in Worthing, Sussex in 1971.
Sources: Find my Past, Free BMD and https://www.wigan.gov.uk/Docs/PDF/Resident/Leisure/Museums-and-archives/archives/Past-Forward/pf33.pdf
