MEDAL, MILITARY

Description: 3.5 (D) BRASS, RIBBON. (ALLIED VICTORY MEDAL 1919) WINGED FIGURE ON FRONT "W?MCM". "THE GREAT WAR FOR CIVILIZATION 1914-1919" SURROUNDED BY WREATH ON BACK. ATTACHED TO RED, ORANGE, YELLOW, BLUE, GREEN & PURPLE RIBBON. "17620 PTE. R.A. MACKAY 7 - CAN. INF" ALONG EDGE. 3.6 (D) CM. BRASS, RIBBON. (1914-15 STAR 1919) CROWN AT TOP, CROSSED SWORDS SURROUNDED BY WREATH, "1914-1915" IN CENTRE, "G" BELOW. "17260 PTE R.A. MACKAY 7/CAN.INF. ON BACK. ATTACHED TO RED, WHITE & BLUE RIBBON. 12.1 (D) CM. BRASS. (MEMORIAL PLAQUE 1919) HELMETED WOMAN HOLDING WREATH BEHIND LION, 2 DOLPHINS SURROUNDED BY "HEDIED FOR FREEDOM AN HONOUR" "ROBERT A. MACKAY" ON RIGHT. "W" IN A CIRCLE ON BACK.

History: ALLIED VICTORY MEDAL AWARDED TO ALL WHO SERVED IN A FIGHTING SERVICE IN A THEATRE OF WAR. 1914-1915 STAR AWARDED TO PERSONNEL WHO SERVED IN A THEATRE OF WAR PRIOR TO DECEMBER 1915 & WERE NOT ENTITLED TO 1914 STAR. MEMORIAL PLAQUE GIVEN TO NEXT OF KIN OF SERVICE PERSONNEL KILLED IN W.W.I. MEDALS WERE AWARDED POSTHUMOUSLY TO ROBERT A. MACKAY, WHO WAS KILLED IN ACTION IN 1915. DONOR IS MARY A. MACKAY, SISTER TO ROBERT A. MACKAY. DONOR RELATES THAT HER BROTHER, BORN IN HAMILTON, ONTARIO, ENLISTED IN VANCOUVER. THEIR SISTER, JANE MACKAY, LIVED IN LETHBRIDGE AND WAS A SCHOOL TEACHER AT CENTRAL SCHOOL. A LETHBRIDGE DAILY HERALD ARTICLE FROM MAY 18, 1916 REPORTS THAT JANE MACKAY HAD RECEIVED OFFICIAL CONFIRMATION OF HER BROTHER'S DEATH AT THE BATTLE OF FESTUBERT. THE ARTICLE REPORTS THAT HE WAS PREVIOUSLY LISTED AS MISSING IN ACTION IN JUNE OF 1915. MAJOR BROOKS OF THE 7TH CANADIAN INFANTRY BATTALION TOLD HER THAT HER BROTHER HAD BEEN IN THE HEAVIEST PART OF THE FIGHTING AND WAS LIKELY BURIED BY OTHER SOLDIERS AT THE FRONT WHO FAILED TO REPORT HIS DEATH. JANE MACKAY RECEIVED HER BROTHER'S MEDALS IN 1919 AS HIS OLDEST SURVIVING RELATIVE. SEE ARCHIVES MANUSCRIPT FILE P19737798000-GA FOR LETTERS AND MATERIALS THAT CAME WITH THE MEDALS. SEE ALSO MACKAY’S ATTESTATION PAPERS ON PERMANENT FILE.