On Portsmouth Naval Memorial is the name of P/JX 174954 Ordinary Telegraphist Jonathan Mackay serving on H.M.S. Warspite with the Royal Navy who died 22/05/1941.
Jonathan was born in 1918, the son of Mr. and Mrs. W.G. Mackay, of Rothbury, Northumberland.
In 1939 the family were living at West End House, Rothbury. Father William George, born 1886, was a plumber. His mother Jane A. was born in 1887 and brother William George, born December 31st 1917 was also a plumber.
At some time Jonathan worked for Lloyds Bank. He is remembered in the Lloyds TSB Book of Remembrance for 1939-1945 in London
The Newcastle Journal 31/05/1941 reports:-
ROLL HONOUR MACKAY—Lost at sea by enemy action. May 22nd. 1941, Jonathan Mackay (Ordinary Telegraphist). aged 23 years, dearly loved son of Mr. and Mrs W. G. Mackay. of West End House, Rothbury. Deeply mourned by all.
And on 05/07/1941:-
A memorial service for the late Jonathan Mackay, of West End House, Rothbury, will be held in All Saints Church, Rothbury, Wednesday, July 9th. at 2.50 p.m.
H.M.S. Warspite was damaged by German bombers during the Crete operation but managed to make it to the U.S.A. under her own power. She was towed in 1947 from Portsmouth to be broken up on the Clyde. The tow rope parted and the ship struck rocks. She was later towed to St. Michael’s Mount to be dismantled.
Jonathan Mackay is remembered at Morpeth on M17.06, M17.07 and M17.12 which states Jonathan was a bank clerk, at Rothbury on R24.01, R24.04, R24.05 and R24.06 and in our List of Ships’ Crews.
