Blue Star Chronicles

The haunting Scottish lament ‘Sgt. MacKenzie’ was used as part of the soundtrack in movies like Saving Private Ryan and We Were Soldiers. It was written by Joe Kilna Mackenzie in honor of Sgt Charles Stuart MacKenzie, his great-grandfather and a Scottish Soldier who was killed during World War I. Read about it below, see photos, videos and the lyrics of the song.

Sgt. MacKenzie

I watched We Were Soldiers last night and was again entranced by the soundtrack, Flying High. Particularly, the song taken from the bagpipe Scottish Lament, Sgt MacKenzie. It was used in both We Were Soldiers about a battle in the Vietnam War and Saving Private Ryan a story about World War II. However, the song was written for a Scottish Soldier who fell in France during World War I, Sgt. Charles Stuart MacKenzie.

Sgt. MacKenzie’s great grandson is Joseph Kilna MacKenzie. He wrote and sang the song that has become something of an anthem for fallen Soldiers. His parents are the late Alex McCabe and Maria McCabe of Rothes. His great grandfather was a Moray man from Bishopmill and along with other men from the Elgin-Rothes area went to fight in the Great War (World War I) member of the Seaforth Highlanders. They fought the Germans in France. MacKenzie was 35 years old when he was killed in hand-to-hand combat in the trenches. He stood his ground, standing over a wounded friend, until he fell.

Sgt. MacKenzie was married to Catherine. The couple lived in Rothes. Their daughter was also named Catherine, Catherine MacKenzie Rizza. She had two children, Maria and Charles. Maria is Joe’s mother. Later in life, Sgt MacKenzie’s wife remarried a man named Lewis Allan. She died in 1955.

Joe Kilna MacKenzie wrote and performed his lament and included it as a track on the CD Tried and True by his band Clann An Drumma. It was picked up by We Were Soldiers director Randall Wallace. He brought in MacKenzie and his band mate, Donnie MacNeil to play bagpipes. The two recorded the soundtrack that was used periodically throughout the film.

Joe Kilna MacKenzie tells his great grandfather’s story:

Charles Stuart MacKenzie was a Sergeant in the Seaforth Highlanders. He went to fight in France during World War One and was shot in the shoulder, the military sent him home to Scotland for treatment, where the surgeon wanted to amputate his arm. He immediately refused, stating that he had to get back to his men. During his time in hospital he was asked what it was like to kill ‘the hun’ (as the Germans where called then). He replied what a waste of a fine body of men. On the steps of the hospital, the last picture of him was taken in his uniform. This picture hung in his home above the fireplace. On his return to battle, he and his men were engaged in fixed bayonet combat. To the best of my knowledge, and taken from reports of the returning soldiers - one of his close friends fell, badly wounded. Charles stood his ground and fought until he was overcome and died from bayonet wounds. On that day, my Great Grandmother and my Grandmother where sitting at the fire when the picture fell from the wall. My Great Grandmother looked, and said to my Grandmother “oh, my bonnie Charlie’s dead.” Sure enough a few days passed, then the local policeman brought the news - that Sgt. Charles Stuart MacKenzie had been killed in action. This same picture now hangs above my fireplace. A few years back my wife Christine died of cancer, and in my grief I looked at his picture to ask what gave him the strength to go on. It was then, in my mind, that I saw him lying on the field and wondered what his final thoughts were. The words and music just appeared into my head. I believe the men and woman like yourself who are prepared to stand their ground for their family - for their friends - and for their country; deserve to be remembered, respected and honoured. Sgt. MacKenzie, is my very small tribute to them. After Sgt. Mackenzie was first released on our Tried and True CD Album in 2000, a copy of the song made it’s way to the hands of Hollywood director, Randall Wallace and actor Mel Gibson. Immediately they both agreed that Sgt. MacKenzie should feature prominently in their upcoming movie “We Were Soldiers.” The rest, as they say - is history !

Joe Kilna MacKenzie

Below are photos of Joe Kilna MacKenzie and his great-grandfather Charles Stuart MacKenzie. Also, enjoy videos of different versions of Sgt. MacKenzie and both the Scottish and English lyrics.

Sgt. MacKenzie - Photos

Also see The 8th of November 1965