Illustrated Chronicle
Medal Index Card for Private Mckay
Newcastle Daily Journal, Saturday, August 11th
Peter's 11 siblings were: Catherine (born 1st November 1884 in Throckley, baptised on 14th December 1884 at St. George Bells Close Roman Catholic Church, Newcastle), Francis (known as Frank, born 21st April 1886 in Throckley, baptised on 9th May 1886 at St. George Bells Close Roman Catholic Church, Newcastle), Margaret (born 8th June 1888 and baptised on 29th July 1888 at St. Dominic Roman Catholic Church, Newcastle upon Tyne. Died in 1889 age one year), Margaret (born 13th May 1890 and baptised on 1st June 1890 at St. Dominic Roman Catholic Church, Newcastle upon Tyne), John (born 8th March 1893 at Gosforth Row, Longbenton, and baptised on 12th April 1893 at St. Dominic Roman Catholic Church, Newcastle upon Tyne), Joseph (born 3rd June 1894 at Crawcrook, Ryton, and baptised on 17th July 1894 at St. Agnes Roman Catholic Church, Crawcrook), James (born 31st December 1891 at Gosforth Row, Longbenton), Annie (born 11th July 1897 at Emmaville, Crawcrook, Ryton, and baptised on 3rd July at St. Agnes Roman Catholic Church, Crawcrook), Mary (born 15th March 1900 at Beethoven Street, South Shields and baptised on 11th April 1900 at St. Bede Roman Catholic Church, South Shields), Sarah (known as Sally, born 1901 in the registration district of Gateshead) and Winifred (known as Minnie, born 1905 in the registration district of Gateshead).
In both the 1891 and 1901 Census father Frank’s occupation is given as a coal miner check weigh-man. This position is held by a man who has been elected by the miners themselves. His role was to check that weigh-man employed by the mine owner had correctly recorded the amount of coal that had been mined. This was in operation especially when the miner’s wages were related to coal production. In 1891 Frank and Bridget and their young family are living at Gosforth Row, in Longbenton, and in the 1901 Census the family are living at 2, Beaconsfield Terrace, Chopwell in Blaydon.
10 years later in the 1911 Census the family has grown and all 13 members including parents Frank and Bridget are found living in four rooms at 3, The Barins, Chopwell, Ebchester, Co. Durham. Father Frank is still working as a miner, James and John are also working in the pit as coal putters and Joseph and Peter are pony drivers.
Peter enlisted into the 1st Tyneside Irish Battalion (24th Northumberland Fusiliers) and was given soldier number 24/714. Peter enlisted with his brother James on the 11th November 1914 in Newcastle and they were both in ‘D’ Company so would have remained together. Their residence address was given as 13 Lynwood Street, Blaydon.
Following the battle of the Somme, Peter is known to have been wounded as he is listed in the 'Saint George’s Gazette as a casualty in August 1916, also recorded in ‘Tyneside Irish’ by John Sheen. Casualties recorded between July and November 1916 are nearly all from the 1st July 1916.
Mr. Frank McKay, 13 Linwood Avenue, Blaydon, has received news that his son, Private James McKay has been killed, and that another son, Private Peter McKay, has been wounded.
The medal rolls indicate that Peter also served with the 1/7th Northumberland Fusiliers and the 1/5th Northumberland Fusiliers. Alternatively, drafts of men were sometimes transferred to different Battalions or Regiments as required to replace casualties lost in action.
The Battalion was reduced to cadre (or training staff establishment, 10 officers & 52 ordinary rank) on the 15th July 1918 and transferred to Lines of Communication. All surplus personnel (309 ordinary rank) were sent by train to Etaples for transfer to Base and to other units. The transport and cadre moved to the Dieppe area of Northern France. On the 16th August 1918 it was transferred to the 118th Brigade, 39th Division, which supervised American troop training. It was disbanded on the 10th November 1918.
Peter was finally transferred into Class Z (as indicated on his medal card) who were soldiers being demobilised and returning to civilian life but with an obligation to return if called upon. There were concerns that Germany would not accept the terms of any peace treaty and the British Government decided it needed to be able to recall trained men should there be any return of hostilities. The Z Reserve was abolished on 31st March 1920.
Peter returned home and can be found in the 1939 register living at 6, Garden Terrace Blaydon. He is single, and his employment is given as a general labourer.
Peter McKay died in 1973.
Research: Jean Atkinson/James Pasby