Gen Sir W H MacKinnon
Pictures courtesy of Glendining's
QSA (4) CC OFS Joh DH (Maj. Gen. W. H. MacKinnon, C of L.I.V.)
1897 Jubilee
1902 Coronation
1911 Coronation
Mackinnon, Lt. Gen. Sir (William) Henry, entered army, 1870; served in Grenadier Guards, was Adjt. 2nd Bat.; Mil. Secy, to Governor of Malta, 1884 - 85; Private Secy, to Governor of Madras, 1885 — 87; Colonel, 1889; A.A.G., Home District, 1893 — 98; served South Africa, 1900 (despatches, Queen’s medal, 4 clasps, C.B.); C.Vol. commanding City of Lond. Imperial Volunteers, 1899—1900; Director of Auxilliary Forces, 1905 — 8; Director-General of the Territorial Force, 1908-1910. Lieut. Gen. Sir William Henry Mackinnon, G.C.B. created 1908. Colonel of the Liverpool Regiment. Entered the army in 1870, served in the Grenadier Guards. Military Secretary to Governor of Malta 1884 — 85. Private Secretary to Governor of Madras 1885 - 87. Colonel of City of London Imperial Volunteers, 1899 — 1900.
Lineage:- Clan Fingon (Mackinnon) is one of seven Highland Clans which trace their descent to the younger son of the King of the Scots who was killed in battle near Dundee A.D. 837.
On Dec. 1899 Col. Mackinnon was summoned to the War Office, and was offered by Lord Wolseley the command of the City Imperial Volunteers. The Lord Mayor of London had previously been to the Commander in Chief and had offered to raise a regiment of infantry, with mounted infantry attached, to clothe, equip, and transport them by sea to Cape Town, where they would be taken over by the War Office. This offer had been accepted, the C. in C.reserving to himself the right to nominate the Lieut. Cols, and certain of the officers. The City Imperial Volunteers was formed from men drawn from 51 Volunteer units in Greater London area. Most of the units had been in existence for 40 years, and had never seen active service. They were untried in battle, but like the Civil Defence Corps they won glory. The City of London donated £25,000 to equip the Corps, and promised that when they returned that every man accepted for die C.I.V., would be granted the Freedom of London. Their names are recorded in bound volumes, 1,756 Freemen of the City. Col. Mackinnon, commanded C.I.V. troops, and held a unique position “HITHERTO UNPRECEDENTED IN THE ANNALS OF OUR MILITARY HISTORY”.