Duncan Ronald Gordon Mackay

Duncan Ronald Gordon Mackay (died 11 November 1918) was a Royal Air Force pilot in the First World War.

The son of Duncan Lachlan Mackay of the Indian Civil Service and Marion Gordon Campbell Mackay (née Wimberley). of Gate House Midhurst Sussex, he was born at Inverness. His older sister was the consultant paediatrician Helen Mackay, FRCP (the first woman to be elected to this distinction).[1]

He enlisted in 1914 into the 19th Bn. Royal Fusiliers (2nd Public Schools Battalion) and was subsequently commissioned into the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders,[2] serving in the 13th Battalion. He then transferred to the Royal Flying Corps, being promoted to Temporary Lieutenant on 1 July 1917.[3]

Mackay was the pilot of DH4 F5725 of No 55 Sqn Independent Force RAF, with 2Lt H T C Gompertz as his observer when shot down and fatally wounded whilst providing photography escort over the Thionville - Metz area during a bombing raid on Cologne on 10 November 1918. Both airmen were taken prisoner but Capt MacKay died of wounds the next day, Armistice Day.[4]

He was mentioned in despatches and awarded a posthumous Distinguished Flying Cross.

He is buried in the Joef Communal Cemetery, Meurthe-en-Moselle, the only Empire serviceman buried there.[2]

References
  1. "Honorary Physician | Dr Helen Mackay (1891-1965) | Alumni | From Fever to Consumption - The Story of Healthcare in Hackney". health.hackneysociety.org. Retrieved 2019-04-18.
  2. "Photograph of the final resting place of MacKay, Duncan Ronald Gordon - The War Graves Photographic Project". www.twgpp.org. Retrieved 2019-04-18.
  3. "Royal Flying Corps - people index". www.airhistory.org.uk. Retrieved 2019-04-18.
  4. "Capt Duncan Ronald Gordon MACKAY, RAF". Great War Forum. Retrieved 2019-04-18.


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