MCKAY, Ronald George Macalpine
| Service Numbers: | Not yet discovered |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 18 January 1943, Adelaide |
| Last Rank: | Surgeon Lieutenant |
| Last Unit: | Not yet discovered |
| Born: | Adelaide, South Australia, 17 April 1916 |
| Home Town: | Not yet discovered |
| Schooling: | University of Adelaide, South Australia |
| Occupation: | Medical Practitioner |
| Memorials: |
World War 2 Service
| 18 Jan 1943: | Involvement | |
|---|---|---|
| 18 Jan 1943: | Enlisted Adelaide | |
| 18 Jan 1943: | Enlisted Royal Australian Navy, Lieutenant | |
| 8 Jul 1946: | Discharged Royal Australian Navy, Surgeon Lieutenant |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by Annette Summers
McKAY Ronald George McAlpine MB BS
1916 - unknown
Ronald George McAlpine McKay was born, in Adelaide, on 17th April 1916. He was the son of Dr George McKay and Alice, nee Tatham. He studied medicine at the University of Adelaide, graduating MB BS in 1941. He was awarded the Lord Lister prize for surgery in 1940 and received a bronze medal and £3.10s. He undertook his resident medical officer training at the RAH from 1941 until 1942.
McKay was mobilised for service by proclamation at Port Adelaide, as a surgeon lieutenant in the RANR, on 13th January 1943. He was appointed for two months to Penguin with duty at Canonbury Navy Hospital, at Rushcutters Bay, NSW, until 16th March 1943, when appointed to HMAS Moresby for four months. Throughout 1942 and 1943 Moresby undertook convoy escort and anti-submarine duties in eastern Australian waters. Japanese submarines were active during Moresby's time as an escort claiming nineteen ships with the loss of 568 lives. While escorting a convoy to Newcastle, on 11th April 1943, a Japanese submarine torpedoed the Yugoslav ship Recina which sank in less than a minute. Moresby carried out an immediate counter-attack and ten survivors were subsequently recovered before the search was abandoned due to inclement weather. McKay, after an additional two-month posting to Cerberus, was sent to the United Kingdom and allotted on loan to the Royal Navy at the Royal Naval Hospital Haslar from 26th May 1945. He requested an early demobilisation in Australia to take over the practice of his sick father, Dr George McKay, who lived at the Oriental Hotel, Broken Hill and embarked on SS Aquitania from Southampton on 28th October 1945 with his appointment terminated on 8th July 1946.
He was living in Woollahra, Sydney, NSW at the time the Medical Directory of Australia, 1980, was compiled and practising in Double Bay, Sydney, NSW. His postwar professional career and death are unknown.
Source
Blood, Sweat and Fears III: Medical Practitioners South Australia, who Served in World War 2.
Swain, Jelly, Verco, Summers. Open Books Howden, Adelaide 2019.
Uploaded by Annette Summers AO RFD
Click images to start slideshow.