Balkans35 Patron: Major-General (retd) Lewis Wharton MacKenzie CM, MSC, OOnt, CD

Major-General (retd) Lewis Wharton MacKenzie CM, MSC, OOnt, CD is a Canadian retired major general, author and media commentator. MacKenzie is known for establishing and commanding Sector Sarajevo as part of the United Nations Protection Force (UNPROFOR) in the former Yugoslavia in 1992. MacKenzie was criticized for his role in the Somalia Affair and for Canada's peacekeeping failures in Bosnia. He was later a vocal opponent of NATO's involvement in the Kosovo War.

In his words:

I enlisted with The Queen's Own Rifles of Canada and was commissioned in 1960, which allowed me to buy a sports car. During my military career, I served in Germany with NATO forces and completed nine peacekeeping tours with the United Nations in six different mission areas – the Gaza Strip (1963 and 1964), Cyprus (1965,1971 and 1978), Vietnam, Egypt, Central America (1990–91, commanding the United Nations Observer Mission) and the former Yugoslavia (1992–1993).

With trouble brewing in Yugoslavia and indications of a UN force being deployed,  I volunteered and was told since I had previously commanded a UN mission, I was not eligible to command another. Fortunately for me, the four UN Sector commanders had no previous UN experience. The UN approached Canada and requested that I fill the Chief of Staff position.

There were significant issues with establishing UNPROFOR. All the important necessities, accommodation, food, fuel, medical etc., were nowhere to be found as the contingents of soldiers started to arrive, some without weapons, ammunition, vehicles, or cash which they had been directed to bring with them.

Fortunately, the Canadian contingent, a battalion of the Royal 22nd Regiment commanded by Col Michel Jones (B.Gen) with a strong RCR rifle company commanded by Major Peter Devlin (Lt.Gen) arrived by train and reported to their sector without fuss. The Combat Engineers with Colonel Mike Gauthier (Lt.Gen) also arrived on schedule. Routine patrolling in and around their Sector started immediately while the other 3 Sectors were slow off the mark.

In spite of objections to UNHQ, we established UNPROFOR headquarters in Sarajevo on 13 March 1992.  The Sarajevo/Bosnia conflict commenced on 6 April and due to the deteriorating situation, we eventually relocated to Belgrade on 17 May. However, reports from the team left in Sarajevo indicated that we might be able to convince the two sides to let the UN assume responsibility for the airport. I briefed Lt.Gen Nambiar that the only contingent available to move to Sarajevo was the Canadian contingent as their Sector was relatively quiet.  However, I had to be Commander Sector Sarajevo.

The Canadian contingent arrived 2 July having forced their way through numerous  roadblocks and obstacles. They quickly dug in and secured Sarajevo Airport. Shortly thereafter the airlift commenced which continued for over three and a half years compared to the Berlin airlift of 15 months. During the first 30 days, the responsibilities of the Canadian contingent expanded daily. The protection of the airport was 24/7 but in addition to that was assisting in the unloading of aircraft, loading of the food and medicine into delivery vehicles and early on the driving of the vehicles when the civilian drivers refused due to sniper fire and assisting with the management of the downtown food distribution centres.

Contrary to the UN rules actions were taken to “discourage” sniper fire from areas around the airport and routes to the downtown distribution areas. The actions worked. The fighting in and around the city intensified despite the Canadian presence.  On August 1st 1992, I shook the hands of every member in the last 1st Bn R22eR vehicle to leave Sarajevo Airport.

After the Canadian departure, each side, Serbian and Muslim tried to make the other look like the bad guys for the international media. I witnessed each side firing/shelling close to their own positions and blaming it on the other side. I made the point at an international media briefing in downtown Sarajevo and the UN was not pleased.  I resigned my Sector Sarajevo command position and returned to Canada via the UN where I was feted at a grand luncheon with some modest grinding of the teeth.

I completed my career as Commander Land Forces Central Area in February 1993. I made the decision to resign a bit early as I was not doing my day job because of constant presentations arranged for me by NDHQ. Just few examples: North Atlantic Council, US Congress, Pentagon briefings including Colin Powell and VP Chaney, the brand new UN 24 Hour Peacekeeping Department temporarily named after me at a modest ceremony, the UK Defence Council followed by a private audience with Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.

I will always be a soldier at heart and forever grateful for so many of them making me look good for 33 years.

By the way, purchasing that first sports car in 1960 had a happy conclusion. In 2017, much to my surprise I was inducted into the Canadian Motorsport Hall of Fame.

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