[2][3] Mackenzie was described as a "gentleman" when he was commissioned as a lieutenant in the 7th battalion, Royal Lancashire Militia in 1871.
He ended his militia career in 1904 when he retired as the commander of the 5th battalion serving as a lieutenant-colonel[5][6] and was awarded the honorary rank of colonel.
[7] For his service in the war he was appointed a Companion of the Order of the Bath (CB) in the South Africa honours list published on 26 June 1902,[8] receiving the decoration from King Edward VII during an investiture at Buckingham Palace on 24 October 1902.
[1] He was a sportsman involved with the Kent foxhounds and played cricket for a range of amateur sides, including the Gentlemen of Shropshire, Gentlemen of Dorset and Band of Brothers, a side closely associated with Kent County Cricket Club.
He appeared twice for Kent in first-class cricket matches in 1880, making his debut against MCC at Lord's and playing later in the year against Derbyshire.