Mckie brothers

Mckie names

Alexander McKie born November 6th 1892 at Felling, Gateshead, County Durham, one of 7 children, of whom only 3 survived, was the 2nd eldest of 3 sons. His parents Henry McKie born 1853 at Felling and Catherine Hollywood born at Heworth, June 23rd 1859 were married January 15th 1881. Henry was employed as a bricklayer in 1891, living at Park Road, Felling, with his wife and Daniel (6), Annie (5) who died 1892 at the age of 6 and Henry born 1890 who died in 1891 aged 1 year. Ten years later they had moved to 62, North Tyne Street, parish of St. James’s, Gateshead, Henry ’s wife had given birth to a further 2 children Alexander (8) and Henry Jnr (5), who along with Daniel (16) were scholars, attending St. John The Baptist Roman Catholic Boys School, Felling. By 1911 the family had moved back to 36, Neville Street, Felling, Henry Snr was employed at the pit below ground as a colliery mason, sons Alexander (18) and Henry Jnr. (15) also worked below ground as drivers, Daniel had left home having married in 1908.

Prior to the commencement of war with Germany, Alexander, 19 years and 4 months of age, had enlisted at Felling, April 16th 1913, declaring he was a miner employed by Bowes and Partners. As Private 1639 he was assigned to the 9th Battalion Durham Light Infantry, a Territorial force with HQ at Gateshead and drill halls in Gateshead, Felling, Blaydon and Chopwell. When war was declared August 4th 1914 Alexander would have been at the D.L.I. annual camp with his regiment and the rest of the Northumbrian Division. He was embodied at Gateshead, August 5th 1914, and the battalion after spending a few weeks digging trenches at South Shields began training at Ravensworth, Boldon and Newcastle for service overseas. Private McKie departed with his regiment from Newcastle-upon-Tyne railway station, April 19th 1915 bound for Folkestone and arrived in France the following day at Boulogne. Within days, without any nursery training, they were fighting in the trenches of the Ypres salient in Belgium sustaining heavy casualties from shell and gas attacks on the Frezenberg and Bellewaarde ridges. The battalion remained on the salient and at Armentieres until August 1916 when they moved south to the Somme where they joined the 151st Brigade, 50th Northumbrian Division which during September and October attacked Starfish Line and the Flers line at Eaucourt L’Abbaye. September 15th 1916, Alexander had witnessed the wounding of his brother Daniel whom, having been taken to the Casualty Clearing Station, died the following day. September 22nd 1916 Private McKie was himself wounded and also suffering from shell shock he received medical attention from No.1 New Zealand Field Ambulance returning to his battalion the following day who were preparing for the attack at the Butte, November 5th 1916. The D.L.I. were unable to hold the Butte and fell back with a loss of over 300 men killed or wounded.

During late 1916 and early 1917 the Territorials were renumbered, Alexander was assigned service number 325092. In the spring of 1917 the 1st/9th Battalion Durham Light Infantry were engaged during the Battle of Arras, April 9th-May 16th 1917. Midst the battle Private McKie was again wounded, suffering from shell shock and concussion he was taken firstly to the 32nd Casualty Clearing Station at Warlencourt and then admitted to the 1st Australian General Hospital at Rouen. Three days later he was moved to No.2 Convalescent Depot at Rouen and transferred May 4th 1917 to the No.11 Convalescent Depot at Bouchy before returning to the 35th Infantry Depot at Etaples, May 18th 1917. He remained at the depot until June 15th 1917 when he rejoined his unit in the field still fighting in the Arras sector. Awarded leave, September 6th-25th 1917 he departed to England.

The 1st/9th Durham Light Infantry was ordered back to Belgium and spent the winter of 1917 in the mud filled tranches on the salient, in January 1918 it converted to a Pioneer Battalion although the men could be called upon to fight as infantry when required. Their task was to dig and repair dugouts and trenches and jobs for the 62nd (West Riding) Yorkshire Regiment. Called upon to fight when his regiment returned to the Somme in March 1918 as the Germans once again attacked on that front Alexander was wounded, March 1918 a wound to his left arm and left thumb required treatment at the 22nd General Hospital at Camiers, he re-joined his unit for a brief period before being awarded one month's leave to England returning to his unit June 23rd 1918. The 1st/9th Battalion was still attached to the 62nd Division and by July 1918 were sent south to join the French Army on the Marne where they were again called upon to fight as infantry. Private McKie was wounded, July 22nd 1918, a gunshot wound to the right hand and taken for treatment to the 10th General Hospital at Rouen. He was sent to recuperate at the 2nd Convalescent Depot at Rouen then the 11th at Bouchy, returning to his regiment 31st August 1918, in the field on the Somme, now repairing and clearing roads.

When the Armistice was declared November 11th 1918 the 1st/9th Battalion Durham Light Infantry was near Maubeuge and by the 16th had joined the Allied march into Germany reaching Kommem, near Bonn on Christmas Day. Private 325902 Alexander McKie, C Coy, 1st/9th Battalion Durham Light Infantry was examined at Cologne, Germany, April 14th 1919 and returned to England, April 20th where he was demobilised, April 22nd 1919. Recipient of the 1914-15 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal.

Alexander and his brothers all served with the 1st/9th Battalion Durham Light Infantry during WW1, Henry survived the conflict, however, Danieldied of wounds, September 16th 1916.

Coal miner Alexander McKie of 36, Neville Street, Felling, was married December 12th 1925 at St. Patrick’s Church, Felling, to Rebecca Monaghan of 21, Holly Hill, with whom he had 6 children, Mary born 1927 known as Maureen, Alexander Jnr 1929, Kevin 1930, Bernadette 1933, James Roland 1936 and Veronica 1938.

Alexander McKie died September 14th 1970 registered at Durham NE.

A tale passed down through the McKie family states Private Alexander McKie may have been batman to Lieutenant Colonel Roland Bradford VC MC. When the Lieutenant Colonel was promoted to Brigadier General, November 17th 1917, he left the 1st/9th Battalion D.L.I. and was killed in action, November 30th 1917. Although there is no mention of this in Pte. McKie’s military record had Pte. McKie been a batman to such a high ranking officer, as well as more menial tasks, the duties of Pte. McKie would have included acting as the officer’s body guard in combat as well as digging the officer’s foxhole in combat thus finding himself in the frontline.

In God’s safe keeping. Rest In Peace.

Alexander McKie is remembered at Felling on F32.24