Pte
George Gordon McKay

Information about birth

Date of birth:
03/08/1889
Place of birth:
Halkett, Canterbury, New Zealand

General information

Profession:
General Contractor

Army information

Country:
New Zealand
Force:
New Zealand Expeditionary Force
Rank:
Private
Service number:
48878
Enlistment date:
26/01/1917
Enlistment place:
Christchurch, Canterbury, New Zealand
Units:
 —  Canterbury Regiment, 2nd Bn.  (Last known unit)

Information about death

Date of death:
24/01/1918
Place of death:
Polygon Wood, Zonnebeke, Belgium
Cause of death:
Killed in action (K.I.A.)
Age:
28

Cemetery

Buttes New British Cemetery, Polygon Wood
Plot: III
Row: D
Grave: 20

Points of interest 3

#1 Place of birth
#2 Enlistment place
#3 Place of death (approximate)

My story

Private George Gordon McKay ( 2nd Bn. Canterbury Regiment, 2nd New Zealand Brigade, New Zealand Division ) was killed in action on the 24th of January 1918. Private McKay enlisted in Christchurch on 26th of January 1917 and was originally assigned to the 27th Reinforcements, Specialists Company, Machine-Gun Section.

On the 20th of January he received the orders to join the 2nd Battalion Canterbury Regiment in the field near Polygon Wood. During the month of January it is said that it rained without a break, which caused the trenches to be in a really bad condition. On the 24th of January, only four days after he was assigned to the 2nd Bn. Canterbury Regiment, he got killed, presumably while holding a line in the Polygon Wood area. After the war his body was found in the northernmost point of Polygon Wood ( J.10.a.65.80 ) near the so-called “the Butte”. Private George Gordon McKay now rests at Buttes New British Cemetery, Polygon Wood.

Files 1

Sources 5

" The New Zealand Division 1916-1919 ", Stewart H., Auckland, Whitcombe & Tombs, 1921, pg. 319-321.
Sources used
Ancestry
http://www.ancestry.co.uk
Further reference
Auckland Cenotaph
http://www.aucklandmuseum.com/war-memorial/online-cenotaph/record/C9662
Sources used
CWGC
http://www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/480348/McKAY,%20GEORGE%20GORDON
Sources used
The Long Long Trail
http://www.longlongtrail.co.uk/army/order-of-battle-of-divisions/new-zealand-division/
Sources used