Charles Frederick McKay
From Our Contribution
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| Personal Information | |
|---|---|
| Date of Birth | 12 Jun 1892 |
| Place of Birth | Mundijong, Western Australia |
| Death | 6 May 1978, aged 85 |
| Place of Death | Kewdale, Western Australia |
| Age at Enlistment | 23 years, 8 months |
| Description |
5'8¼" (1.73m) tall ; 154 lbs 69.853 kg ; dark complexion ; grey eyes ; brown hair |
| Occupation | Labourer |
| Religion | Roman Catholic |
| Address | Mundijong, Western Australia |
| Next of Kin | Father , Mr James McKay |
| Military Information | |
| Reg Number | 3890 |
| Date of Enlistment | 16 Nov 1915 |
| Rank | Driver |
| Unit/Formation | 28th Battalion, 9th Reinforcements transferred to 51st Battalion /13th Brigade, 4th Division |
| Date of Embarkation | 12 Feb 1916 |
| Ship Embarked On | HMAT A28 Miltiades |
| Date of Return | 27 Sep 1917 |
| Ship Returned On | HMAT A29 Suevic |
| Fate | Returned to Australia (Medical grounds) |
| Monument |
Mundijong School Roll of Honour Mundijong Honour Roll Jarrahdale Honour Roll ANZAC Memorial Park (Byford) |
| Medals |
British War Medal Victory Medal |
Pre War
War Service
A month after entering Blackboy Hill camp, Charles was allocated to the 9th reinforcement draft for the 16th Battalion and travelled with them to Egypt, where as part of the expansion of the Australian forces he was posted to the 51st Battalion at Serapeum on 2 Apr 1916. Soon after he was hospitalised by the 13th Australian Field Ambulance with Trachoma, rejoining the 51st Battalion on 21 Apr 1916.
On 5 Jun along with the rest of his unit he embarked on the HMT Ivernia in Alexandria, for Marseilles where they disembarked on 12 Jun 1916.
On 13 Sep 1916 Charles was appointed Driver. On 11 Nov 1916 he was admitted to the 25th Stationary Hospital in Rouen with mumps. Released from hospital on 1 Dec 1916 it was not until 22 Dec 1916 that he rejoined the battalion who at that time were in Vignacourt rebuilding and retraining. On 8 Jan 1917 he was again hospitalised, this time with conjunctivitis and after being seen by the 36th Casualty Clearing Station he was sent to the 5th General Hospital in Rouen on 10 Jan 1917. Evacuated to England aboard HMHS Dunluce Castle on 12 Jan from Le Havre he was admitted to the 3rd London General Hospital in Wandsworth.
Released to the 1st Australian Auxiliary Hospital at Harefield on 2 May 1917 he was sent on furlough from 3 -17 May 1917. Returning late from his leave he was charged with being AWOL from 3:30pm 17 May to 4:00pm 18 May 1917. For which he was awarded 4 days confined to Camp, and forfeiture of 2 days pay. He was reclassified soon after at Perham Downs and the decision was made to send him back to Australia.
Discharged 5th Military District 5 Jan 1918
Post War
In 1924 Charles married Clara Margaret Risdon in Fremantle. Clara died 29 Nov 1965 aged 65 in Carlisle.
Electoral Roll entries - 1925 Mundijong, labourer; 1931 - 1949 at Canning Mills, labourer; 1954 Carinya via Karragullen, forestry worker; 1958 retired to Croyden road, Roleystone; 1963 at 95 Mars street, Carlisle; 1977 at 8 Pritchard street, Kewdale.
Notes
In some records he was Charles Frederick, while in others he was Frederick Charles. His WW2 enlistment in the 12th (Jarrah) Battalion of the VDC was as Frederick Charles. He enlisted on 24 Apr 1942, attained the rank of Lance Corporal. His discharge date is not recorded.