7202. A Great War Military Cross group of three -5th Western Cavalry Battalion of the Saskatchewan Regiment -later accidentally killed by a machine gun.
Military Cross (Geo V) unnamed as issued; British War and Victory medals “A.Capt A.H.R. MacKay”. M.C. London Gazette 14.11.1916. For conspicuous gallantry in action. He obtained communication with the right half of his Company under very heavy fire, displaying courage and determination. Later he carried out a valuable reconnaissance. Acting Captain Alexander Herbert Robins MacKay, M.C. was born in Lanaca, Cyprus in June 1888 and worked variously as a Ship’s Officer, Policeman and Rancher prior to enlisting in the Canadian Overseas Expeditionary Force in late September 1914. Interestingly, his attestation papers also reveal earlier military service in Peru, South America. Initially employed out in France as a Squadron Quarter-Master Sergeant with the Divisional Mounted Cavalry, C.E.F. in 1915, MacKay ran it to trouble for attempting to sell Government property and was reduced to Private. The whereabouts of his 1914/15 Star remains unknown.
A few months later, however, he obtained a Commission as Temporary Lieutenant and went on to win his M.C. while attached to the 5th Battalion of the Saskatchewan Regiment. Advanced to Acting-Captain in January 1917, MacKay was accidentally killed in a machine-gun demonstration on 2.2.1917. On 2 February 1917, Captain A.H.R. MacKay expressed the desire to have a demonstration of the Lewis Gun given to him by Lieutenant W. Willis. On the evening of the above date a Lewis Gun was brought to the Mess Room of “B”Company. With the Gun were a few cartridges which I did not examine but which I took for granted to be dummies. Lieutenant Willis began his demonstration by stripping the Gun. I did not pay particular attention to what was being done or said. I heard the report of the Gun and looking up saw Captain MacKay sitting opposite the mussle of the Gun. He was staring wildly and realizing that something had happened to him, I ran to his assistance as also did Lieutenant Willis. Looking at Lieutenant Willis, Captain MacKay said “Goodbye old chap-write to my wife”. He expired immediately afterwards. Lieutenant Cuming ran for the Doctor who arrived about seven minutes after the accident had occured. (court of enquire proceedings refer).
Price: VF $2750.00 Canadian
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