John McKay
Medal Card
Tyneside Scottish
Derek Johnstone has provided the following:
John William Mackay was born at Scotland Gate, Choppington Northumberland in 1895 to parents Thomas William Mackay, born at Percy Main and Margaret Mackay (nee Crackett) from Lowick both locations in Northumberland.
The census in 1901 records John living with his family at Third Row, Choppington with siblings James 16, Thomas 12 and Margaret 9. John was 5 years old at this time and his father was a miner.
The 1911 Census shows John’s address as Choppington Colliery, Northumberland, where he is single, employed as a miner and 16 years old. His parents at this time had been married for 27 years.
Military documents, using the name McKay, show John enlisted at Newcastle and on his death his effects went to his mother Margaret. CWGC records use the name Mackay. Short Service Attestation records are available and show John William McKay son of Thomas McKay of 1, Fifth Row Choppington signed up 11/12/1914 and was discharged 17/12/1914 as unfit. His Northumberland Fusiliers, number was 16147.
After this, it would appear John re-joined the Northumberland Fusiliers (Tyneside Scottish). These records show John was 19 years old and was 5 foot 6 ½ inches tall. None of the records seen indicate John was married.
John Wilson Mackay is remembered in Choppington on C36.01 and C36.04 where his surname is spelled "McKay".
