That is good news Ian. Well done the new members. Hope they take cameras to record the moment for us all.
Vive La France,Vive Wally.
Wally Mackenzie
Born 95 years ago, next May 28th.
1935/8. He was living away from home with ‘Archie’s Juvenile Band’ which he joined aged 14 as the band drummer. His brother John was already in the band playing Tenor Sax. They toured the Moss Empire locations all over the UK. (Enter it in Google and see pictures)
The type of variety band act was going out of fashion, there was a war on. He has been known to curse Hitler for ruining his budding Theatre career. The Band closed, it had been very successful.
Lusting for the female Accordionist, he moved back to Manchester and started work in her father’s Bakery (it ended in marriage, he was too young to know).
1942 he was called up for his medical, found fit and put in a room with the other ‘odd’ ones (4’7’’) and was asked regarding his suitability to cook and ‘so it came to pass’.
Basic training was interesting, his bayonet got stuck in the straw dummy and assistance had to be given to remove it. He always volunteered to lead the march’s and training runs, that way he could control the pace, his living away from home was good training for self reliance.
1943 Wrexham was where he was trained to be a cook and completing his courses. Becoming a trained cook his pay was increased by 3 pence a week. Aldershot and other camps followed with training and lectures, though not much cooking as he remembers.
1944 They were in a field ‘down south’ when the news of the invasion reached them and 51 days later they said he was needed. It was raining when they were moved to the docks and climbing over many ships decks he finally came to his, a Tank Transporter, and went down through the decks and the hatches were screwed down. That was when he felt fear (he’s claustrophobic) and wanted his mum.
It was still raining when the front ramp dropped and with great relief he walked on to the sand of Normandy. His mate Frank held his Rifle for him as he jumped of the ramp (with the bayonet it was taller than him) and they marched, forever, in the rain till ordered to stop and got under a hedge and double bunked so they had ground sheets beneath and above, day 1. They were off Gold Beach and marching towards Bayeux, though no one tells you where you are or going.
The following weeks were in bases outside Bayeux, ending up drawing rations and cooking for an Artillery company though troops were coming through then moving on after a few days. He seems to have been mobile with at least 3 other cooks, they work together and attend to larger groups of solders and steadily moving closer to Caen.
Nearby was a farm house and the Family Bessilier, father. Paul, mother Yvette, 2 small daughters and a son, found a friend in Wally. Before he was moved north he was adopted as their son, the relationship was so strong that they were still corresponding in 2005, all now sadly dead. I think that times were very hard and Wally helped where he could. The result is he speaks French with a Normandy accent though not so much now, but I have been with him when this has been pointed out. His size is an advantage, children will flock to him, and adults do not feel threatened, big plus.
Caen was totally devastated and Wally has the post card pictures they sent him of the city.
Montgomery succeeded and Wally ended up moving forward to a better cookhouse outside Breda to Head Quarter Company where he spent a long time working with a group of cooks. So now a Dutch family and children ‘adopted’ him, Family Van de Venn. I took him to see the 14 year old girl who was now dying and in her 70’s it was moving to see how fond the family was of him.
Breda was left behind as Wall was rushed to Brussels to have his burst appendix removed, these were not the days of keyhole surgery and he woke up to a large cut held together with clips. The man in the next bed was a German with half his face shot away. He helped Wally to drink and held him up so he could have a pee. Who needs war people are people.
He spent time in Hamburg (it snowed) and cooked surrounded by Gerry cans of petrol as he and others cooked for a Tank repair and service group, by now he was a fully mobile in a 1.5 ton truck which moved him and cooking equipment around. The .303 rifle was long gone and was replaced by a Sten gun which was a better size.
Berlin in 1945 and he managed an escorted trip (with a Sergeant in charge) to where Hitler died, the Russians were armed, the Brits had to leave there guns in the British Quarter.” Like a scruffy rubbish tip “ was Wally’s comments on the bunker area.
1946 demob. All exact dates have been redacted by Wally.
Back to UK.............bought the Bakery business
Sold the bakery after the kids grew up.
Took a position with Bellevue Entertainment in Manchester, end up as Musical Director and controlling the 5 Bands, plus the Circus Band.
Bellevue closed and Wally started the’ Wally Mackenzie Orchestra’ which ran till 2013. He made most of Manchester dance and still now he gets hugs from elderly ladies who have fond memories of his dance Band.
Not bad for 4 foot 7 inches.
What we, who are taller, see as a disadvantage, has unseen advantages, but you need personality.
Recent Posts