Pte 269819 Robert Gerard McKay

• Age: 28
• From: Liverpool
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 17th Btn
• K.I.A Wednesday 8th May 1918
• Commemorated at: Tyne Cot Memorial
  Panel Ref: Panel 31-34

Robert Gerard McKay was born 27th July 1889 in Liverpool and was baptised 8th September 1889 in Liverpool. He was the son of John Robert McKay and his wife Helen Scott (nee Elder), of 10 Eardinley Rd, Mossley Hill, Liverpool. John Mackay married Hellen Scott in December 1877 at Carlisle. (Note on the 1901/1911 census Hellen is the spelling and Mackay is the surname).

The 1891 Census shows the family living at Boswell Street, Toxteth Park, Liverpool.

The father John Robert aged 40, born 1851 is a clerk with Mersey Docks and Harbour Board and was born in Gresford, North Wales. His wife Helen Scott is aged 35, born 1856 in Liverpool and has no occupation listed. They have four children at the time of the Census, Ethel Christian aged 9, born 1882 and Douglas Elder aged 6, born 1885 are both scholars, James aged 3, born 1888 and Robert Gerard aged 2, was born 1889. The children were all born in Liverpool. 

Robert was educated at Sefton Park County Primary School.

The 1911 Census shows the family living at 36 Gresford Avenue, Liverpool.

The father John Robert aged 60 is a cashier with Mersey Docks and Harbour Board and his wife Helen Scott is aged 35, born 1856 in Liverpool and has no occupation listed. They have been married for thirty four years and have had six children of which one had died. They have four children at the time of the Census, Ethel Christian aged 29 has no occupation listed, Douglas Elder aged 26, is a book-keeper for a jewellers, James aged 23 with Cunard Shipping Company and Robert Gerard aged 21 is an accountant.   

He enlisted in Liverpool and was serving in the 17^th Battalion, The King’s Liverpool Regiment as Private No 269819 when he was killed in action on the 08^th May 1918 aged 28 during the German Spring Offensive.

The 17th Battalion were at this time in the Vierstraat Sector. the diary reports that the day passed quietly until the afternoon. The front line ran through Klein Vierstraat Cabaret. At 4.30 pm it was reported that the Germans had advanced and were now in " our original front line". At 7.10 pm A and B company's of the 17th Battalion were ordered to move forward in artillery formation from support line with object of co-operating with French troops who were advancing towards the enemy. At 08.10 pm the advance was reported to be going well on the left but nothing could be seen on the right. The situation at the end of the day was that the 17th Battalion were holding the line alongside several other units but casualties were heavy. Captain Norman Henry and Second Lieutenant Dudley Hammond Black were killed in action alongside 17 other ranks one of whom was Robert Gerrard McKay.  

He has no known grave and is commemorated on the Tyne Cot Memorial.

Those United Kingdom and New Zealand servicemen who died after August 16th 1917 are named on the Tyne Cot Memorial, a site which marks the furthest point reached by Commonwealth forces in Belgium until nearly the end of the war.

The Tyne Cot Memorial now bears the names of almost 35,000 officers and men whose graves are not known. The memorial, designed by Sir Herbert Baker with sculpture by Joseph Armitage and F.V. Blundstone, was unveiled by Sir Gilbert Dyett on 20 June 1927.

The memorial forms the north-eastern boundary of Tyne Cot Cemetery, which was established around a captured German blockhouse or pill-box used as an advanced dressing station.

A local newspaper reported his death:

McKAY - May 8th, killed in action, aged 28 years, Private ROBERT GERARD, K.L.R., son of J. R. and H.S. McKay, 10 Eardisley Road, Mossley Hill.

Robert is commemorated in the Hall of Remembrance at Liverpool Town Hall at Panel 25.

Soldiers effects to father John Robert and pension to his mother Helen Scott.

His father John Robert died March 1920, aged 69 and his mother Helen died in 1944 aged 88. 

 We currently have no further information on Robert Gerrard McKay, If you have or know someone who may be able to add to the history of this soldier, please contact us.