2nd Lieutenant William Archibald MacKenzie was born at Earlish in 1892 and lived there with his father who was the Factor for the Kilmuir Estate. He originally enlisted into the local Territorials, the 4th Camerons and served with them in France.

In 1917 he was Commissioned and was Gazetted to the 2/5th Kings Own Royal Lancashire Regiment in France. In September 1918 his Regiment was involved in the attack which was made on a 12 mile front north of St. Quentin and was wounded. On the 29th of that month he died as the result of his wounds.

He is buried in the sunken road at Boileaux St. Marc Cemetery in France.

He was aged 25 years.