Private DUNCAN MACKAY
Last address in Lewis: 1 Park Carloway
Son of Norman Mackay, of Park, Carloway, Stornoway.
Service unit: 2nd Seaforth Highlanders
Service number: 7443
Date of death: 18 June 1915 at the age of 18
Killed in action at Ypres
Interred: Bard Cottage Cemetery, VI. C. 8
Local memorial: Carloway
Had been at the front for only a few weeks
Duncan appears in the 1901 census aged 4, the son of Norman and Catherine (both aged 34) and brother of John (8) and Catherine (1).
Battalion war diary for 18 June 1915
The battalion is entrenched on the eastern bank of the Yser Canal, north of Ypres. The diary entry refers to the period of 17 to 22 June 1915
Wonderful weather. Comparatively quiet week, with exception of the usual shelling, which was particularly annoying along the canal after dark. The line taken over was pretty good. We've put a lot of work into it and improved it a great deal. On the left of our line at a small salient, the Germans have sapped forward and made a T trench within 25 yards of our trench. They are supposed to be mining or at any rate boring there. Exploded a small mine there just before we took over. Elsewhere, the trenches are about 300 yards apart. The Germans do not seem offensive and are consolidating their line as hard as they can. Several casualties during the week, mostly from shell fire, and some from bullets.
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