The Religion and Ethics Report - Separate stories podcast The hero of Gallipoli with a shovel and a Bible
Jul 23, 2025
Join historian Daniel Reynaud as he delves into the extraordinary life of William ‘Mac’ McKenzie, a Salvation Army chaplain revered by Anzacs. Hear about McKenzie's heartwarming hospital visits, his bravery sorting the living from the dead at Lone Pine, and his iconic role carrying a shovel and a Bible. Reynaud shares tales of McKenzie's popularity among soldiers, emotional struggles on the Western Front, and his later missionary work in China, spotlighting the unique heroism beyond the battlefield.
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Chaplain In The Thick Of Battle
- William 'Fighting Mack' McKenzie crossed no man's land under heavy fire to sort the living from the dead at Lone Pine.
- He personally dug graves and buried about 450 men, often crawling exhausted to finish the work.
Shovel As Symbol And Tool
- McKenzie's 'weapon' was a shovel and sometimes a Bible, not a rifle, reflecting his non-combatant role.
- His digging skill made him legendary and essential for burying the dead and improving trenches.
Persisting Through Exhaustion And Sickness
- The stench of battle forced McKenzie to leave gravesides and retch, yet he returned to finish services.
- He crawled on hands and knees with a stick from exhaustion but refused evacuation to stay with the soldiers.
