Thomas McKay

War Service

Thomas was born on 30 April 1875 at Fyzabad, India, and baptised Thomas Edward on 9 June. He was the son of Edward McKay, a Private in 51st Regt Kings Own Yorkshire Light Infantry and Susannah his wife (sometimes known as (Susan). This Regiment went out to Fyzabad in 1872.
Edward was born in Belfast, County Antrim and Susannah in Duncannon, County Wexford.
After leaving the army Edward settled with his family in Pontefract, and became a miner at The Prince of Wales Colliery, an occupation followed by his son Thomas. Thomas lived with his mother Susannah in Addingleys Yard, Pontefract when she became a widow.
Thomas enlisted early in the Great War and was wounded fighting at the Front (March/April 1916). Thought to be recovering sufficiently, he was brought home for treatment at Brook War Hospital in Woolwich, where he died of his wounds on 28 April 1916. This hospital was part of Brook Fever Hospital requisitioned by the War Office for the treatment of war casualties and opened on 2 September 1915, to be run by the Queen Alexander Imperial Military Nurse Service.
His remains were brought home to Pontefract for internment. He was buried on Saturday afternoon 6 May with full military honours. The coffin, draped with the Union Jack, was escorted by the garrison band, and a firing party with Arms reversed. There was a large muster of men of his Regiment, besides a considerable number of wounded men who were under treatment at the Barracks.
After the conclusion of the religious ceremony, the coffin was lain in the grave as three volleys were fired and buglers from the band sounded the Last Post.
Some time after his death Susannah moved to Buck Inn Yard, Aire Street, Knottingley, presumably to be near her eldest daughter Agnes Mary who married John William Brittain in 1897 and lived somewhere at the junction of Croft End and Cow Lane.
Full funeral report in Pontefract Advertiser 13 May 1916
Photo in Pontefract & Castleford Express 4 May 1917
There is a CWGC memorial stone in Pontefract Cemetery
His name appears in Roll of Honour for Pontefract, and he is remembered on Knottingley War Memorial.
The funeral report says he was 28 years of age, his memorial stone says 39, but according to his birth registration he was 2 days away from being 41.

Pontefract Cemetery