Private John Roderick McKay
Survivor of WW1
Service Biography
John Roderick McKay was born at St. Urbain, Quebec, on 13 April 1896. A farmer and a Presbyterian, he was drafted under the Military Service Act and joined the Canadian Expeditionary Force at Montreal on 1 March 1918 as Private 3082333. He sailed for England aboard S.S. Scandinavian on 24 March 1918 and, after service with the 23rd Canadian Reserve Battalion, proceeded to France in August. He briefly served with the 5th Canadian Mounted Rifles before transferring to the 43rd Canadian Infantry Battalion, his principal operational unit. During early 1919 he underwent hospital treatment in France and later returned to England for demobilization. McKay returned to Canada and was discharged at Montreal on 27 May 1919.
General Information
Conflict:
WW1
Regimental No.:
3082333
Cause of Death (in war):
Survived
Branch:
Army
Regiment:
Battalion:
43rd Canadian Infantry Battalion
Company:
Date of Birth :
Place of Birth:
St. Urbain, Quebec
Date of Enlistment:
Age at Enlistment:
21 years 10 months
Date of Discharge:
Age at Discharge:
23 years 1 month
Date of Death:
Age at Death:
Country Born:
Canada
Trade or Calling:
Farmer
Next of Kin:
Alexander McKay, father, St. Urbain, Quebec
Address at Enlistment:
St. Urbain, Quebec
Religion:
Presbyterian
Place of Enlistment:
Montreal, Quebec
Was a Prisoner of War:
No
Height:
5 ft 9.3 in / 176 cm
Weight:
137 lbs / 62 kg
Chest:
33.0 in / 84 cm
Expansion:
2.0 in / 5 cm
Marital Status:
Single
Prior Military Experience:
No
Saw Service in:
Europe
Place of Discharge:
Montreal, Quebec
Discharge Type:
Regular/End of Service
Discharge Notes:
Battle Died/Wounded:
Length of Service:
452 days in service
Buried at:
Links
Ranks
| Conflict |
Rank |
Regiment |
Branch |
Unit |
Company |
Date From |
Date To |
| WW1 |
Private |
|
Army |
43rd Canadian Infantry Battalion |
|
|
|
| Default representative combat unit. Later records-list, hospital, depot and demobilization administration do not displace it. |
| WW1 |
Private |
Canadian Mounted Rifles |
Army |
5th Canadian Mounted Rifles Battalion |
|
|
|
| Landed/TOS in France 18 Aug; SOS on transfer 26 Aug. |
| WW1 |
Private |
|
Army |
23rd Canadian Reserve Battalion |
|
|
|
| TOS effective 4 Apr; posted to 5th CMR effective 17 Aug. |
| WW1 |
Private |
1st Quebec Regiment |
Army |
1st Depot Battalion |
|
|
|
| Initial Canadian depot service. |
Service Chronology
1896-04-13 — Born
1918-03-01 — Joined under the Military Service Act as Private 3082333
1918-03-24 — Embarked for overseas service aboard S.S. Scandinavian
1918-04-03 — Arrived in England
1918-04-04 — Taken on strength of 23rd Canadian Reserve Battalion
1918-08-17 — Posted for service with 5th Canadian Mounted Rifles Battalion
1918-08-18 — Landed in France and taken on strength of 5th Canadian Mounted Rifles Battalion
1918-08-23 — Left for and arrived at Canadian Corps Reinforcement Camp
1918-08-26 — Struck off strength of 5th Canadian Mounted Rifles Battalion on transfer to 43rd Canadian Infantry Battalion
1918-08-27 — Taken on strength of 43rd Canadian Infantry Battalion
1919-01-23 — Admitted with gonorrhoea
1919-01-29 — Transferred for continuing treatment
1919-02-09 — Transferred/admitted with gonorrhoea
1919-02-18 — Struck off strength of 43rd Battalion on transfer to Canadian Records List
1919-03-01 — Discharged from hospital treatment; subsequently taken on strength of Canadian General Base Depot
1919-04-03 — Taken on strength from 43rd Battalion for demobilization administration
1919-04-23 — Specialist report states venereal-disease condition apparently cured
1919-05-18 — Struck off strength on proceeding to Canada for demobilization
1919-05-27 — Discharged on demobilization
Notes
At enlistment McKay was recorded as a single Presbyterian farmer, born and resident at St. Urbain, Quebec. His initial medical history records height 5 ft 9 1/4 in, weight 137 lb, chest 33-35 in, hazel eyes and dark brown hair. His discharge medical examination described his general health as good and recorded a vaccination mark on the outer left arm and a scar behind the left ear. The same examination noted his wartime treatment for gonorrhoea and the later specialist finding that the condition was apparently cured.
Additional Service Notes
Drafted under the Military Service Act, John Roderick McKay joined the Canadian Expeditionary Force at Montreal on 1 March 1918 as Private 3082333 with the 1st Depot Battalion, 1st Quebec Regiment. He embarked for England aboard S.S. Scandinavian on 24 March 1918, arrived on 3 April, and was taken on strength of the 23rd Canadian Reserve Battalion at Bramshott effective 4 April. He was posted to the 5th Canadian Mounted Rifles, landed in France on 18 August 1918, passed through the Canadian Corps Reinforcement Camp, and transferred to the 43rd Canadian Infantry Battalion effective 27 August. In January and February 1919 he was treated for gonorrhoea at the 51st Casualty Clearing Station, No. 4 Canadian Stationary Hospital at Camiers, and No. 9 Canadian General Hospital at Camiers. He was transferred to the Canadian Records List on 18 February, returned to demobilization administration in England in April, and proceeded to Canada in May. He was discharged at Montreal on 27 May 1919 on demobilization.
Additional Next of Kin Notes
His father, Alexander McKay of St. Urbain, County of Chateauguay, Quebec, was named as next of kin at enlistment. The family form records both Alexander McKay and McKay's mother, Mrs. Annie McKay, as living at St. Urbain. Assigned-pay records show $15 per month paid to Miss Maggie McKay of St. Urbain, for a recorded total of $210. The service file does not state Maggie McKay's relationship to him, so no relationship is inferred.
Version: 3 Last modified: 2026-09-30 14:54:38
by: marc
