Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

McKay Douglas Gordon MB BS FRCS FRACS

1904-1994

Douglas Gordon McKay was born, on 2nd July 1904, in Adelaide, SA. He was the eldest son of William McKay and Elsie Annie, nee Tor of Buxton Street, North Adelaide.  Educated at Prince Alfred College, he was an excellent scholar and keen sportsman.  He was head prefect and captained the school’s football and cricket teams. He studied medicine at the University of Adelaide, graduating in 1927. While at the university he continued playing sport and played Sheffield Shield cricket for South Australia in 1925 and 1926 and after completion of his degree from 1928 until 1929.  He was a right-arm medium bowler noted for getting out Don Bradman and Sir Jack Hobbs. He was interested in surgery and paediatrics, and after completing his resident year, he travelled to Edinburgh for postgraduate study, gaining his fellowship of the Royal College of Surgeons, in 1932.  Returning to Adelaide, he took a position as Superintendent of the Adelaide Children’s Hospital (ACH).  He gained his fellowship of the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons in 1934. McKay married Victoria (Vicky) Edmunds, on 26th February 1935, at Crafers. She was the daughter of Mr and Mrs CA Edmunds of Aldgate. They were to have a son and a daughter, Gordon and Margaret.

McKay was a captain in the AAMC when he enlisted in the 2/AIF, on the 23rd November 1943. He named his wife, Victoria, as his next of kin and they were living in Buxton Street, North Adelaide. He was posted to the 2/5 AGH, QLD, on 13 December 1943, but was immediately detached to 105 AMH for a short time, on 15th December 1943. He was sent to QLD on 5th January 1944, for embarkation for Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea, arriving on 21st January 1944. He became ill and was admitted to 2/5 AGH and discharged back to duty on 4th February 1944. He was appointed as MO to 2/7 AGH on 25th April 1944, followed by appointment to 2/8th AGH as MO on 15th August 1944. He was admitted to 2/7 AGH with splenomegaly, on 2nd October 1944, and discharged two weeks later back to his unit. He returned to Australia, on the Katoomba, via Jacquinot Bay, on the 15th March 1945. McKay was appointed as MO surgeon to 115 AMH at Heidelberg, on 2nd March 1945. He was again admitted to hospital, this time 105 AMH, with amoebic dysentery in July 1946. He was detached from 115 AGH to 105 AMH and discharged from the 2/AIF and placed on the Reserve of Officers, 4 MD, on 3rd October 1946.

McKay returned to his work at the ACH, after the war, and both before the war and after, he developed new techniques in surgery for children.  His major contribution was in paediatric thoracic surgery, and he performed one of the first lung lobectomies and paediatric heart surgery on a three year old girl.. He was also noted for his repair of cleft palates.  He later went into private practice and was appointed Emeritus Surgeon and Life Governor to the ACH. McKay, with his wife and two children, instigated the internationally renowned horse trials in SA; the Gawler Three Day Event. He was the event’s medical officer for 16 years.  He belonged to many other committees ranging from sporting committees to the Duke of Edinburgh awards. Douglas Gordon McKay died on 9th April 1994, in North Adelaide. He was survived by his wife, son, a paediatrician, and daughter. The laneway behind his former Buxton Street home is now known as McKay Close.

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