I found Allen McKenzie mentioned in my Dad's journal dated Sept 3, 1936; "Our late sleep was broken by Allen McKenzie (Cheung Chau's bachelor) pounding at the door, shouting insanely asking if anybody were home. He had flowers for the celebration of our wedding anniversary. Remembered it from last year, Sept. 2nd, when were together at Arthur Hay’s birthday and Grace and I let the news out. Later in the morning Allan returned to say he had a cup of boiled ginger for us.” It sounds like Allen was a compassioned man.
Came across Mackenzie's name in Chaloner Grenville Alabaster's book "More than 1001 Days and Nights of Hong Kong Internment".
Professor Brownell of Lingnan University "told me that Alan Mackenzie of Cheung Chow (sic) had been driven from his cottage there when the Japanese landed in December and had taken refuge for a time with Chinese Christians on that Island, but had finally died of neglect in a cave on Lantau to which they had transported him. All other Europeans, (Mrs. Franklin, Miss Potter and Captain Lossius) had left Cheung Chow before the Japanese landing there."
In the diaries of Rose Reiton(1930-34), 'Mr MacKenzie' appears fairly regularly. His character appears steady, thoughtful and generous, and in keeping with Scott’s post above. Similar dates as well.
He doesn't seem to have been a missionary but an island resident, who in 1939 was letting out part of his house #13 on Cheung Chau to a missionary family. In 1938 he was recorded as the owner of the house.
He was a regular presence in Albert and Rose Reiton’s household in Kowloon, visiting, staying overnight, sometimes two nights, and taking part in family milestones and church events.
His generosity is evident: he offered substantial financial help when needed, lending $2000 to the Reitons on one occasion, which they paid back at this time.He marked Reiton family birthdays with thoughtful gifts such as books and sums of money; $50 once on the occasion of Albert’s birthday.
His movements — from the Island, and on an extended trip to Australia — were noted by Rose, reflecting a value placed on his presence.
Certainly in the early 1930s, MacKenzie was a familiar and trusted figure: independent yet connected. Scott's father's take on him in 1936 sustains this impression but Don Ady's take on him in 1939 is quite different (see below).
Several more overnights in July, September, and December.
One visit during typhoon signals.His house on top of Fa Peng was very exposed. Possibly the Reitons' house in Kowloon was more secure.
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Don Ady'saccount of him in 1939 has him as a 'cranky mean old miser,' who was not popular, living alone in his stone house, but in the same paragraph he says that in this year he got some new boarders, a missionary family named Thompson, whom he treated meanly.
Perhaps late 1930s he had a change of character? He died in 1941 at the beginning of the war, not very happily.
I'm finding A H Mackenzie very difficult to trace because of the different spellings of Alan/Allan/Allen and Mackenzie/ Mckenzie.
Comments
Allen McKenzie
I found Allen McKenzie mentioned in my Dad's journal dated Sept 3, 1936; "Our late sleep was broken by Allen McKenzie (Cheung Chau's bachelor) pounding at the door, shouting insanely asking if anybody were home. He had flowers for the celebration of our wedding anniversary. Remembered it from last year, Sept. 2nd, when were together at Arthur Hay’s birthday and Grace and I let the news out. Later in the morning Allan returned to say he had a cup of boiled ginger for us.” It sounds like Allen was a compassioned man.
Scott
re: Allen McKenzie
Thanks Scott, good to hear a different side to him.
Regards, David
Re: A H. Mackenzie
Came across Mackenzie's name in Chaloner Grenville Alabaster's book "More than 1001 Days and Nights of Hong Kong Internment".
Professor Brownell of Lingnan University "told me that Alan Mackenzie of Cheung Chow (sic) had been driven from his cottage there when the Japanese landed in December and had taken refuge for a time with Chinese Christians on that Island, but had finally died of neglect in a cave on Lantau to which they had transported him. All other Europeans, (Mrs. Franklin, Miss Potter and Captain Lossius) had left Cheung Chow before the Japanese landing there."
A different version at: https://gwulo.com/node/16175
'Mr Mackenzie' in Rose Reiton's diaries
[Updated 21/12/25]
In the diaries of Rose Reiton (1930-34), 'Mr MacKenzie' appears fairly regularly. His character appears steady, thoughtful and generous, and in keeping with Scott’s post above. Similar dates as well.
He doesn't seem to have been a missionary but an island resident, who in 1939 was letting out part of his house #13 on Cheung Chau to a missionary family. In 1938 he was recorded as the owner of the house.
He was a regular presence in Albert and Rose Reiton’s household in Kowloon, visiting, staying overnight, sometimes two nights, and taking part in family milestones and church events.
His generosity is evident: he offered substantial financial help when needed, lending $2000 to the Reitons on one occasion, which they paid back at this time. He marked Reiton family birthdays with thoughtful gifts such as books and sums of money; $50 once on the occasion of Albert’s birthday.
His movements — from the Island, and on an extended trip to Australia — were noted by Rose, reflecting a value placed on his presence.
Certainly in the early 1930s, MacKenzie was a familiar and trusted figure: independent yet connected. Scott's father's take on him in 1936 sustains this impression but Don Ady's take on him in 1939 is quite different (see below).
These were some of the events noted:
Year 1930
First mention Sunday, February 9 - Mackenzie here from Island.
Year 1931
Year 1932
Year 1933
Year 1934
One visit during typhoon signals. His house on top of Fa Peng was very exposed. Possibly the Reitons' house in Kowloon was more secure.
-----------------------
Don Ady's account of him in 1939 has him as a 'cranky mean old miser,' who was not popular, living alone in his stone house, but in the same paragraph he says that in this year he got some new boarders, a missionary family named Thompson, whom he treated meanly.
Perhaps late 1930s he had a change of character? He died in 1941 at the beginning of the war, not very happily.
I'm finding A H Mackenzie very difficult to trace because of the different spellings of Alan/Allan/Allen and Mackenzie/ Mckenzie.