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Archiver > BOER-WAR > 2005-12 > 1135829137


From: "David McNay" <>
Subject: Re: [BOER-WAR] Seaforth Highlander
Date: Thu, 29 Dec 2005 04:05:37 -0000
References: <HDEKIKHMALJMDNPPFKFLEEHBCBAA.alastair_scott@ntlworld.com>


Alistair,

The casualty roll shows a Private J McKay, number 2863, 2nd Seaforth
Highlanders, was wounded on 11/12/1899, at Magersfontein.

Magersfontein was one of the major battles of the Boer War, and the Highland
Brigade, of which the Seaforth Highlanders were a part of, was heavily
involved and suffered a large number of casualties.

I'm not sure if the fact he was involved in the battle of Magersfontein
means he wasn't brewing cocoa or not, it may not have been possible for him
to do so in the hat of battle, but you never know!

Also, just to let you know, the McKay/MacKay misspelling isn't unusual.

Regards,

David

----- Original Message -----
From: "Alastair Scott" <>
To: <>
Sent: Wednesday, December 28, 2005 3:42 PM
Subject: RE: [BOER-WAR] Seaforth Highlander


> Thank you, that would be great.
>
> Being a bit of a novice when it comes to this sort of thing, what info
> will
> the casualty roll give me?
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: David McNay [mailto:]
> Sent: 27 December 2005 01:41
> To:
> Subject: Re: [BOER-WAR] Seaforth Highlander
>
>
> Alastair,
>
> Unless someone does it before me, I'll check the casualty roll to see if
> he
> is on it later.
>
> Regards,
>
> David
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Alastair Scott" <>
> To: <>
> Sent: Monday, December 26, 2005 11:36 PM
> Subject: [BOER-WAR] Seaforth Highlander
>
>
>> Hello,
>>
>> I am trying to find out as much as I can about my great-grandfather, John
>> Graham MacKay. He fought in the Boer War and I have his QSA medal. So far
>> I
>> have been able to find out his number (2863) and that he was a private in
>> the 2nd Battalion, Seaforth Highlanders. His bible has him as being in
>> 'A'
>> Company, although this was dated 1888 when he first enlisted so I don't
>> know
>> if it is likely to have changed. I also know that he was wounded during
>> the
>> war - shot in the neck whilst brewing up cocoa, apparently. I do not know
>> when or where this happened. I assume he was invalided out following this
>> but I don't know for sure.
>>
>> His medal has the clasps: Cape Colony; Transvaal; Paardeberg; Driefontein
>> and Wittebergen.
>>
>> Of particular interest to me is what these clasps actually mean. What
>> happened at Paardeberg, Driefontein and the rest? Was he wounded in a
>> bitter
>> battle or was he simply extremely unlucky?
>>
>> I intend researching further by getting in touch with the regimental
>> museum
>> in Fort George, however any information or help anyone might be able to
>> pass
>> on would be enormously appreciated. I appreciate that as an enlisted man
>> it
>> is unlikely there will be any great detail on him but just to know what
>> his
>> unit or regiment did in the war would be fascinating in itself.
>>
>> Thank you,
>>
>> Alastair Scott
>>
>>
>>
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