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Nov 7, 1871
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Born in Montreal, Quebec to Thomas and Ann (nee
Stormont) McKay
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Sep 25, 1893
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Married to Elizabeth Ann Brown in Ottawa, Ontario
William McKay served with the Ottawa, Ontario
Fire Department from 1896 to 1904. He
left the fire department after suffering a head injury in a fire when he
found employment with the EB Eddy Company in Hull, Quebec
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Nov 6, 1914
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Attested into the 21st Battalion in Kingston, Ontario
Ø Number 59727 (temporary number 791)
Ø Next of kin given as Mrs. W.M. McKay, wife, 55 Preston St.,
Ottawa, Ontario
Ø Previous occupation given as Plumber
o Later noted as Stationary Engineer also as Steam Fitter
Ø No previous military experience given
Ø Religion given as Presbyterian
Ø Posted to “G” Company
o This was later reorganized into “D” Company
The 21st Battalion trained in the Kingston, Ontario
area through the winter of 1914-15.
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Mar 16, 1915
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To receive extra duty pay as a Company Cook
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May 6, 1915
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Embarked the RMS Metagama in Montreal, Quebec
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May 15, 1915
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Disembarked in Devonport, England and the
battalion proceeded to the West Sandling Camp, near Hythe, Kent to continue
training
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Sep 14, 1915
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Embarked the St. Seiriol in Folkestone
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Sep 15, 1915
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Disembarked in Boulogne, France and the battalion
proceeded to St. Omer
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May 22, 1916
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Admitted to the 2nd Division Rest
Station with defective vision. He was
diagnosed with Presbyopia and prescribed glasses
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May 26, 1916
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Discharged to duty from the rest station
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Dec 31, 1916
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Granted 10 days leave
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Jan 11, 1917
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Rejoined the battalion from leave
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Dec 8, 1917
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Granted 14 days leave
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Dec 25, 1917
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Rejoined the battalion from leave
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Feb 13, 1918
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Medical classification changed to B3, meaning he
was only fit for non combat sedentary work as a clerk
William McKay had received a groin injury while
at the front that had been treated by the 21st Battalion’s Medical
Officer and had been doing light duty work with the battalion since. This issue became worse over time and it
was noted that he was advancing in age
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Mar 17, 1918
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Transferred to the Canadian Labour Pool
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May 22, 1918
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Attached to the No. 1 Canadian General Hospital
in Etaples, France for light duties
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Jul 17, 1918
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Transferred to the Canadian General Base Depot
from the No. 1 Canadian General Hospital as being unfit for hospital duty
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Jul 29, 1918
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Proceeded to England and transferred to the General Depot in
Bramshott
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Sep 27, 1918
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Attached to the CDD (Canadian Discharge Depot) in
Buxton pending return to Canada
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Oct 21, 1918
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Embarked the SS Aquitania in Southampton
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Oct 28, 1918
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Disembarked in Halifax, Nova Scotia and proceeded
to Kingston, Ontario where he was Taken On Strength Military District No. 3
Casualty Company
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Oct 31, 1918
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Granted leave until November 14, 1918
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Nov 14, 1918
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Medical report at Kingston notes
Ø Man suffers from an old groin
injury and advancing age
Ø Suffers groin pain on exertion
and it also causes disruption of his sleep
Ø Suffers from shortness of breath
when climbing stairs
Ø Sometimes feels weak for a day
or so at a time
Ø He states his eyesight is poor
but glasses help
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Nov 25, 1918
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Discharged from the CEF in Kingston, Ontario
Ø Rank on discharge Private
Ø Entitled to War Service Badge
Class “A”
Ø Proposed residence on
discharge 819 Somerset St., Ottawa, Ontario
Following the end of the war, the 1914-15 Star,
British War Medal and Victory Medals were sent to him at 819 Somerset St.,
Ottawa, Ontario
William McKay was employed as an engineer at the
Kingston, Ontario Penitentiary from 1919 until his retirement in 1936
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Dec 22, 1948
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William McKay died while a patient of the Ottawa
Civic Hospital Veterans Pavilion and was buried in the Beechwood Cemetery,
Ottawa, Ontario
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