Magnus James (Mack) MCKAY DCM, MM

MCKAY, Magnus James

Service Number: 781
Enlisted: 24 March 1915
Last Rank: Sergeant
Last Unit: 17th Infantry Battalion
Born: Smithtown, New South Wales, Australia , 22 September 1896
Home Town: Smithtown, Kempsey, New South Wales
Schooling: Not yet discovered
Occupation: Driller
Died: Natural causes, St Luke's Private Hospiital, Darlinghurst, New South Wales, Australia , 19 February 1947, aged 50 years
Cemetery: Eastern Suburbs Memorial Park, NSW
Cremated
Memorials: South West Rocks Honour Roll
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World War 1 Service

24 Mar 1915: Enlisted AIF WW1, Driver, 781, 17th Infantry Battalion
12 May 1915: Involvement Driver, 781, 17th Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '12' embarkation_place: Sydney embarkation_ship: HMAT Themistocles embarkation_ship_number: A32 public_note: ''
12 May 1915: Embarked Driver, 781, 17th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Themistocles, Sydney
9 Jul 1917: Honoured Military Medal, German Withdrawal to Hindenburg Line and Outpost Villages, For gallantry and devotion to duty on 3/4 May 1917 against the Hindenburg Line near Noreuil after he put an enemy machine gun out of operation with a rifle grenade, he led a party of 12 men into a trench, and after despatching the rest of the crew proceeded to bomb down the trench - a distance of 300 yards. Due to casualties, his party was reduced to 5 and with the enemy counter attacking, he was forced to withdraw 100 yards and build a barricade which was held until relieved, thus providing the relieving troops with a foothold.
16 Jan 1919: Involvement AIF WW1, Sergeant, 17th Infantry Battalion
10 Jan 1920: Honoured Distinguished Conduct Medal, For distinguished and gallant conduct following the wounding of his platoon commander on 31 August 1918 during the attack on Mont St Quentin when he took over command. Soon after the enemy counter attacked, and he was ordered to take up a position in the rear. He single-handedly covered the withdrawal of his men with rapid rifle fire inflicting so many casualties on the enemy that they were stopped. He saw his men into position and then dashed across the open, fired at by machine guns and rifles, escaping injury in a miraculous manner. Later after the right flank was held up by machine gun fire he went forward alone and bombed the post, killing two and putting the remainder to flight, allowing the advance to continue.

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