MCKAY, David
| Service Number: | 392 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 5 April 1916 |
| Last Rank: | Lance Corporal |
| Last Unit: | 11th Field Company Engineers |
| Born: | Prahan, Victoria, September 1884 |
| Home Town: | Holyoake, Murray, Western Australia |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Saw Fitter |
| Died: | Accidental (Injuries) - grenade explosion, River Somme at Rivery, France, 30 June 1918 |
| Cemetery: |
Daours Communal Cemetery Extension, France Daours Communal Cemetery Extension (Plot III, Row D, Grave No. 45), France, Daours Communal Cemetery Extension, Daours, Picardie, France |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Fremantle Fallen Sailors & Soldiers Memorial |
World War 1 Service
| 5 Apr 1916: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 392, 4th Division Cyclist Company | |
|---|---|---|
| 18 Jul 1916: | Involvement Private, 392, 4th Division Cyclist Company, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '3' embarkation_place: Fremantle embarkation_ship: HMAT Seang Bee embarkation_ship_number: A48 public_note: '' | |
| 18 Jul 1916: | Embarked Private, 392, 4th Division Cyclist Company, HMAT Seang Bee, Fremantle | |
| 29 Sep 1917: | Transferred AIF WW1, Sapper, 11th Field Company Engineers | |
| 25 May 1918: | Promoted AIF WW1, Lance Corporal, 11th Field Company Engineers | |
| 30 Jun 1918: | Involvement Lance Corporal, 392, 11th Field Company Engineers, --- :awm_ww1_roll_of_honour_import: awm_service_number: 392 awm_unit: 11 Field Company awm_rank: Lance Corporal awm_died_date: 1918-06-30 |
Help us honour David McKay's service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.
Add my storyBiography contributed by Evan Evans
From Friends of ANZAC Cottage Inc
Lance Corporal David McKay enlisted in the AIF on April 5, 1916 at the age of 31 years and 8 months. A married man, David had worked and lived at Holyoake a small timber community approximately 86 kms from Perth. Prior to enlistment, David’s occupation was a saw filer, an occupation that saw him maintaining and caring for the various saws used in the saw mill.
During his service, David was attached at various times to the Engineering Training Company and the Cycling Training Company. However it was in France whilst serving with the 11th Field Company that David tragically lost his life on 30 June 1918 as the result of an accident (see account of death below)
This left his wife, Elsie and three children in a difficult situation which, once again was resolved care of the good folk of the Ugly Men’s Association. These men rallied around and built a home for Elsie and her family at 73 Samson Street, Beaconsfield, for which Elsie was most grateful (see letter below.)
Unfortunately tragedy seemed to follow this family. David’s wife , Elsie died only 5 years after David in 1923. She had remarried in 1922, a very short marriage indeed.
Again, not designated as an “ANZAC Cottage”, but surely fits the bill. For other stories that helped so many of the serving men and their families, come along to ANZAC Cottage on Sunday , June 27 from 1:30 to 4pm. The talk at 2:30pm and displays will reveal more about “Other ANZAC Cottages”.
Click images to start slideshow.