Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Biography - PTE Leslie Alan Douglas Mackay - 66750

Introduction
Leslie Alan Douglas Mackay was born in Rozelle, Sydney, New South Wales on 16 December 1899. He was raised in 521 Darling Street, Rozelle, where most of his boyhood was spent (1). Leslie Mackay’s father, Joseph Henry Mackay, was an administrator at several businesses over his career. His mother, Caroline Douglas primarily raised and nurtured Mackay, along with Presbyterian beliefs (2). Leslie Mackay attended Sydney Technical College from 1913 - 1916 and after school, he became a clerk for the government. He enlisted in the army on May 15 1918 and embarked on SS Wyreema as a private on 14 October 1918. Leslie Mackay returned to Australia and was discharged on 5 January 1919 (3). 

Life Before the War
Mackay attended his first year at Sydney Technical College at age 13, in class 1C. Mackay was achieving pleasing results for a first form student, obtaining his best mark in Drawing with 35/40. Drawing can be assumed as a keen hobby of Mackay at that time. When Mackay first stepped into Sydney Technical College, he consistently participated in classwork, homework, conduct and punctuality, attaining consistent “Good” and “Very Good” on his report cards (4). In 1914, class 2B, Mackay was succeeding in History with an 89 (5). This may imply his fascination with the study of the past, which may have included British colonialism, delving into patriotism for Britain. In his final year at Tech, he completed his Leaving Certificate in 4B, choosing Zoology as a subject, hinting at a potential preference towards animals. Mackay passed his Leaving Certificate with his strongest subject being German with a total year score of 162 (6). Mackay left Tech being 22nd in his grade with an 8/10 in conduct and 10/10 in punctuality. In the school journal in 1916, Mackay’s notes were “Absolutely immersed in the elucidation of perplexing problems for L.C” (7), which may have jokingly suggested that Mackay had to explain hard problems to a struggling student. After leaving Tech, Mackay found a job as a clerk for the state government. This was done for 2 years until Leslie Mackay enlisted for the army on May 15 1918 (8). 

Life During the War
During enlistment, Mackay was 18 years old and his Next of Kin was his father, Joseph Henry Mackay. In the medical examination, Mackay was 5 feet and 9 inches, 220 lbs, fair complexion and blue eyes. Mackay was concluded as fit for service on 13 May 1918 in the Central Enlisting Depot, NSW and certified by the appointing officer (9). During his training to serve Australia, Mackay was fined 2 days pay for two negative conducts. On 21 August 1918, Mackay went AWL and on September 4, 1918, he broke out of camp at 3:45 pm in Liverpool, for both offenses he was fined. On 14 October 1918, Mackay embarked, 18 years old, on the SS Wyreema as the 22nd NSW Reinforcement with service number, 66750. With the end of WW1 on the 11th November the SS Wyneema was recalled and Mackay returned back to Australia disembarking 21st December 1918

Life After the War
Mackay was discharged on January 5 1919 (13).  It is not known what Mackay did upon his return.

Endnotes
 AIF Project 2024, UNSW Canberra. Details about Leslie Mackay
 Ibid
 Ibid
nGoogle Drive Folder by History Faculty, 1913, class 1C, General Result Sheet
 Ibid, 1914, class 2B, General Result Sheet
 Ibid, 1916, class 4B, General Result Sheet
 STHS Journal November 1916, page 32 
 AIF Project 2024, UNSW Canberra. Details about Leslie Mackay
 National Archives Australia, MacKay Leslie Alan : SERN 66750 : POB Sydney NSW : POE Sydney NSW : NOK F MacKay Joseph Henry, circa 1914-1920. Page 7 of 22
 Ibid, Page 13 of 22
 Australian War Memorial, 2nd Australian Infantry Battalion
  AIF Project 2024, UNSW Canberra. Details about Leslie Mackay
 National Archives Australia MacKay Leslie Alan : SERN 66750 : POB Sydney NSW : POE Sydney NSW : NOK F MacKay Joseph Henry, circa 1914-1920. Page 4 of 22
 National Archives Australia, First World War: Repatriation of veterans

Bibliography
First World War: Repatriation of veterans, National Archives Australia, accessed on 3 August 2024 https://www.naa.gov.au/students-and-teachers/student-research-portal/learning-resource-themes/war/world-war-i/first-world-war-repatriation-veterans#:~:text=In%201918%2C%20the%20Australian%20Government,independence%20through%20pensions%20and%20loans.

Leslie Alan Douglas Mackay, AIF Project 2024, UNSW Canberra, accessed on 23 July 2024 https://aif.adfa.edu.au/showPerson?pid=183418

Leslie Alan Douglas Mackay, Google Drive Folder, collated by History Faculty, accessed on 23 July 2024 https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1W2DMkasI7c2HGbq3BtedzvOPcbfGTL30

Leslie Alan Douglas Mackay, National Archives Australia, accessed on 23 July 2024 https://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/SearchNRetrieve/Interface/DetailsReports/ItemDetail.aspx?Barcode=1962487&isAv=N

STHS Journal November 1916, page 32, Editor - W. Bishop, accessed on 2 August 2024 https://sydneytech-h.schools.nsw.gov.au/publications---sths-journal-archives.html

2nd Australian Infantry Battalion, Australian War Memorial, accessed on 30 July 2024 https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/U51442#:~:text=After%20the%20withdrawal%20from%20Gallipoli,and%20around%20Ypres%20in%20Belgium.