Fighting McKenzie, the Anzac spirit and Australian values

I don't know what the Australian papers say about these brave boys, but I want to tell you they accomplished a well-nigh impossible task…

My heart is full of one big sob for the loss of so many, hundreds of whom I knew so well…

Our brigadier and major are both gone, with so many other brave officers and men...

When I think of the anguish of the mothers I can only weep and pray for them. May God comfort them!" Anzac Padre, p.36.

Fighting Mac personally buried hundreds of young Anzacs, often in the middle of a hail of bullets. During this period, he developed a life-long hatred for war. He wrote:

Many of the bravest and the best are gone…War is nothing short of insensitive folly. It is inconclusive in its results and devastating in its ultimate consequences.

Other soldiers described the duty and demeanour of this humble but courageous chaplain:

Among the duties of this Anzac chaplain – dubbed 'Anzac Mac' or 'Fighting Mac' by the men who had grown to love and respect him – was searching for the wounded and dead, as well as identifying bodies and giving them a decent burial and advising relatives by letter. Although officially forbidden from remaining in the front lines or from taking part in battles, Mac had no intention of standing idly by while, 'my boys fight'. Fighting Mac Page 1

Col Stringer, in his book Fighting McKenzie tells the story of the Battle of Lone Pine:

This was a day that has gone down in the annals of the young nation's history as one of our blackest. Some of Australia's finest young men were needlessly sacrificed. It was shocking decisions such as this that must have torn at the heart of Chaplain William McKenzie. The men pleaded with Mac not to put his life in danger, but to stay behind in the safety of the trenches. After all, as a non-combatant, he was not even supposed to be in the front lines and on numerous occasions he had been ordered to the rear. But Mac responded to a higher call, his boys needed him now. He replied, a quote that is now famous in the annals of Anzac:

"Boys I have lived with you, I've preached to you and I've prayed with you. Do you think I'm now afraid to die with you?"

Fighting Mac's great heart and love for his men just could not be contained any further. Snatching up a trenching shovel he climbed over the parapet and charged straight at the Turkish trenches. McKenzie was prepared to fight for the lives of his 'brave boys'. Obviously thinking that a shovel got around the regulations of international rules of war which stated that chaplains could not be armed.

The mateship, self-sacrifice and bravery, in the face of impossible odds, shown in the battlefields of World War I, exemplifies the values that have made Australia great.

Fighting McKenzie went on to serve with distinction in France. When he returned home the Melbourne Age wrote: "No soldier of the Australian Army could ever wish for a finer welcome home" Fighting McKenzie – Anzac Chaplain Tribute to a Hero by Col Stringer.

Col Stringer goes on to say:

Australia gave her favourite son – Fighting Mac a tremendous welcome home, despite the fact they had been warned that the largest building would simply not be able to contain the crowds that would throng to meet their hero. And they were right. All over the nation huge crowds gathered. Mac was the most popular man in the country, save for Prime Minister Billy Hughes. From the city to the 'bush' thousands of people welcomed Mac home, In Melbourne's Exhibition Building some 7,000 people packed the building out. Hundreds of others were bitterly disappointed to be turned away at the door. Some admirers had waited from 2pm in the afternoon to be sure of getting a seat. Among the crowd were 1,500 returned soldiers, blind and maimed veterans amongst them. And what a tumultuous welcome they gave to their 'old padre' as his bodyguard of Diggers bore him into the building on their shoulders.

These overwhelming scenes were repeated across the nation in state capitals and bush centres and continued for almost two decades.

One might ask why such an outpouring of appreciation?

Perhaps it is summed up in the words from the bible describing Jesus' sacrifice that are repeated at every Anzac Dawn Service across Australia on 25 April every year, "Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one's life for one's friend".

Mateship, self-sacrifice and bravery are the values Australian's hold dear. These deeply spiritual values underpin the Anzac spirit exemplified by 'Fighting Mac'. Lest we forget.