John Frederick Mackay
Lance-Corporal, 1st Battalion. Gordon Highlanders
- Register No.
- 794 (Alf's numbering, from The Register of the Victoria Cross, 1997)
- Rank
- Lance-Corporal (register: Lance Corporal) all Lance-Corporals →
- Unit
- 1st Battalion. Gordon Highlanders all Gordon Highlanders VCs →
- Date of action
- 20 May 1900 on this day → all of 1900 →
- Conflict / campaign
- Second Boer War
- London Gazette
- 10th August 1900 on this day → all of 1900 →
- Born
- 6th June 1873 at Edinburgh
- Died
- 90th January, 1930 at Nice, France
- Memorial / grave
- not known
Digest of citation
Whilst in action at Doornkop, Johannesburg, South Africa , on the 20th May 1900, Corporal Mackay continually went forward, under devastating fire from an extremely short range, to attend to and dress the wounds of his comrades. There was no available shelter for himself. He carried a wounded man from the open, to safety behind a boulder, all the time under heavy fire
From Alf Askin's research notes
Reproduced as Alf wrote it, c. 2000–2005. Spelling and abbreviations are his own.
MACKAY, John Frederick. (reg No. 794).
Lance-Corporal. 1st Battalion. Gordon Highlanders London Gazetted on 10th August 1900.
Born on 6th June 1873 at Edinburgh.
Died on 90th January, 1930 at Nice, France.
Memorial not known.
Digest of Citation reads: Whilst in action at Doornkop, Johannesburg, South Africa , on the 20th May 1900, Corporal Mackay continually went forward, under devastating fire from an extremely short range, to attend to and dress the wounds of his comrades. There was no available shelter for himself. He carried a wounded man from the open, to safety behind a boulder, all the time under heavy fire.
Additional information:. For an act of gallantry at Wokverkranz on the 11th July 1900 his name was again put forward for the Victoria Cross.. Lieutenant Colonel Mackay had attended university before joining the Army where he served with the 1st Battalion, Gordon Highlanders on the North West Frontier of India. From 1897-98 he was with the Tirah Expeditionary Force, being involved in all the principal engagements. For this he received the Tirah Medal and Punjab Frontier Medal with two clasps. More to add.
Additional information
For an act of gallantry at Wokverkranz on the 11th July 1900 his name was again put forward for the Victoria Cross.. Lieutenant Colonel Mackay had attended university before joining the Army where he served with the 1st Battalion, Gordon Highlanders on the North West Frontier of India. From 1897-98 he was with the Tirah Expeditionary Force, being involved in all the principal engagements. For this he received the Tirah Medal and Punjab Frontier Medal with two clasps. More to add.
Visit the grave or memorial
Alf recorded the memorial as: not known
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