Adam Bruce Mackay M.C. (1885 - 1918)

Born 1885 in Warrnambool, Victoria, Australia

Ancestors

Husband of Edith May (Donkin) Cadell — married 23 Sep 1916 (to 4 Apr 1918) in Bowen Hills, Queensland, Australia

Died 4 Apr 1918 at about age 33 in Vignacourt, Somme, Picardie, France

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Biography

Adam Bruce Mackay was born in 1885. He was the son of Thomas Mackay and Marie Hyland. ^[1]

Military Service. Australian Imperial Force.

Marriage. On 23rd September, 1916, he married Edith May Donkin in Brisbane, Queensland. ^[2]

The Brisbane Courier (Qld) Monday 2 October 1916 - Page 6

MACKAY—DONKIN.—At "Seaton," Bowen Hills, on the 23rd September, 1916, by Rev. Dr. Merrington, Adam Bruce Mackay, of the A.I.F., son of the late Thomas Mackay, of Warrnambool, Victoria, to Edith May Donkin, daughter of Henry Donkin, Brisbane. ^[3]

Warrnambool Standard, Saturday 7 October 1916 - Page 8

Recently the two daughters of the Belgian Consul, M. Yonkers, [sic] in Brisbane, were married to two Australian soldiers, one of the bridegrooms being Lieut. Bruce Mackay, the second son of the late Mr. T. Mackay, Warrnambool, and Mrs. Mackay, Melbourne. ^[4]

Death. Second Lieutenant Adam Bruce Mackay, of the 42nd Battalion, Australian Infantry A.I.F. died 4th April, 1918, aged 32.

He was noted thus: the son of Thomas and Marie Elizabeth Mackay; husband of Edith May Mackay, of Queen St., Brisbane. Native of Warrnambool, Victoria, Australia. He is interred in the Vignacourt British Cemetery. ^[5]

Warrnambool Standard, Saturday 13 April 1918 - Page 1

HEROES AT THE FRONT.

LIEUT. BRUCE MACKAY.

Information was received in Warrnambool Thursday that Lieut. Adam Bruce Mackay, son.of Mrs. Thomas Mackay, formerly of Warrnambool, had been killed in action. The deepest sympathy will go out to Mrs. Mackay from a wide circle of friends in the district, as it is only a few months ago that another son, Lance Cpl. Alex. Mackay, made the supreme sacrifice. ^[6]

Military Cross. Awarded the Military Cross after conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty in the fighting near Albert on 28th March. His action was noted in a sympathetic letter written to his widow by General Birdwood in May, 1918. He also mentioned Adam had been wounded by shelling at Corbie on the Somme, two days before he died at the Vignacourt Clearing Station. ^[7]

Rank Second Lieutenant Unit 42nd Australian Infantry Battalion Service Australian Imperial Force Conflict/Operation First World War, 1914-1918 Award Military Cross Commonwealth of Australia Gazette 27 November 1918 on page 2265 at position 18 London Gazette 26 July 1918 on page 8865 at position 7[1]

https://ourstory.moretonbay.qld.gov.au/nodes/view/24111

Memorialized. He is remembered on his father's headstone in the St. Kilda Cemetery, St Kilda, Victoria, Australia. : ^[8]

ERECTED

by

ERIC L. MACKAY

IN LOVING MEMORY OF HIS FATHER

THOMAS MACKAY

NATIVE OF CAITHNESS, SCOTLAND

WHO DIED AT 'WARRNAMBOOL'

5TH AUGUST 1911,

AGED 73 YEARS.

ALSO HIS LOVED SISTER

HELEN

WHO DIED AT WARRNAMBOOL

6TH AUG. 1917, AGED 25 YEARS.

AND HIS LOVED BROTHERS

LANCE CORP. ALEC MACKAY

WHO DIED OF WOUNDS AT ANCRE, FRANCE

26TH DEC. 1917, AGED 28 YEARS.

LIEUT. BRUCE MACKAY M.C.

WHO DIED OF WOUNDS AT VIGUACOURT.

FRANCE

4TH APRIL 1918. AGED 32 YEARS

Sources

1. ↑ Birth : Web. Department of Justice, Victoria Family history search :1885 BIRTH REG, Adam Bruce MACKAY (marie Elizth HYLAND & Thomas) WARR 14379/1885
2. ↑ Marriage Web. Queensland Government Family History Research Service : 23/09/1916 marriage, Adam Bruce Mackay & Edith May DONKIN, 1916/B/19203
3. ↑ Marriage announcement 1916 'Family Notices', The Brisbane Courier (Qld. : 1864 - 1933), 2 October, p. 6. , viewed 06 Jan 2022, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article20120751
4. ↑ Marriage mention 1916 'WOMAN'S MISCELLANY', Warrnambool Standard (Vic. : 1914 - 1918), 7 October, p. 8. (DAILY.), viewed 06 Jan 2022, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article73917276
5. ↑ Death, Burial Commonwealth War Graves Commission: Commonwealth War Graves [https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/casualty-details/64456/adam-bruce-mackay/ SECOND LIEUTENANT ADAM BRUCE MACKAY]
6. ↑ Obituary 1918 'HEROES AT THE FRONT.', Warrnambool Standard (Vic. : 1914 - 1918), 13 April, p. 1. (Our Country Edition), viewed 06 Jan 2022, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article74027422
7. ↑ General's letter 1918 'HEROES AT THE FRONT.', Warrnambool Standard (Vic. : 1914 - 1918), 31 July, p. 3. (DAILY.), viewed 06 Jan 2022, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article74033939
8. ↑ Memorialized Find A Grave Headstone for Thomas Mackay and others St KIlda Cemetery [Thomas Mackay does not have his own index entry]

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/56434189/adam-bruce-mackay