Ian John Mckay
Sergeant, 3rd Battalion. Parachute Regiment
- Register No.
- 793 (Alf's numbering, from The Register of the Victoria Cross, 1997)
- Rank
- Sergeant all Sergeants →
- Unit
- 3rd Battalion. Parachute Regiment all Parachute Regiment VCs →
- Date of action
- 12 June 1982 on this day → all of 1982 →
- Conflict / campaign
- Falklands War
- London Gazette
- 11th October 1982 on this day → all of 1982 →
- Born
- 7th May 1953 at Wortley, Sheffield, Yorkshire
- Died
- in action at Mount Longdon, Falkland Islands
- Award
- Posthumous all posthumous VCs →
- Memorial / grave
- at Aldershot Military Cemetery, Hampshire
Digest of citation
During the war on the Falkland Islands on 12th June 1982, Sergeant McKay, his commander having been wounded in the leg, was in command of the platoon. Heavy enemy fire kept them pinned down and several of his men had been either killed or wounded. Realising that something must be done, Sergeant McKay took three men and, breaking cover, they charged the enemy. They were met by strong enemy fire, killing a private and wounding the corporal another private. Single-handed, disregarding his own safety, he charged the enemy position . Using grenades, he disposed of the enemy, but at the point of his success, he was killed. This gallant action allowed his beleaguered comrades to eradicate themselves from an extremely dangerous situation
From Alf Askin's research notes
Reproduced as Alf wrote it, c. 2000–2005. Spelling and abbreviations are his own.
McKAY, Ian John. (reg No. 793).
Sergeant. 3rd Battalion. Parachute Regiment.
London Gazetted on 11th October 1982.
Born on 7th May 1953 at Wortley, Sheffield, Yorkshire.
Killed in action at Mount Longdon, Falkland Islands.
Memorial on grave at Aldershot Military Cemetery, Hampshire Digest of Citation reads: During the war on the Falkland Islands on 12th June 1982, Sergeant McKay, his commander having been wounded in the leg, was in command of the platoon. Heavy enemy fire kept them pinned down and several of his men had been either killed or wounded. Realising that something must be done, Sergeant McKay took three men and, breaking cover, they charged the enemy. They were met by strong enemy fire, killing a private and wounding the corporal another private. Single-handed, disregarding his own safety, he charged the enemy position . Using grenades, he disposed of the enemy, but at the point of his success, he was killed. This gallant action allowed his beleaguered comrades to eradicate themselves from an extremely dangerous situation. .
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Alf recorded the memorial as: at Aldershot Military Cemetery, Hampshire
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