Person Record

Metadata

Name

McKay, Kenneth Russell

Othernames

Ken McKay
Sergeant K. R. McKay

Born

Dec. 29/1897

Birthplace

Sydenham Township, Grey County

Places of residence

Concession A, Lot 28, one mile north of Leith, Sydenham Township. Grey County, Ontario (McKay Homestead)
Owen Sound, Grey County (1916)
Overseas (1916-1918, England / France), returned to Canada 1919
Toronto
Saskatchewan / Western Canada

Father

Hugh McKay

Mother

Jeanette (Jane/ Janet?) McKay (nee Chadw

Nationality

Canadian

Education

Leith school
Owen Sound Collegiate Institute (O.S.C.I.)

Notes

Kenneth Russell McKay was born at Annan, in Sydenham Township on Dec. 29, 1897, and grew up at Annan / Leith area (the McKay Farm was one mile north of Leith). His parents were Hugh and Jeanette (Jane/Jennie) McKay (nee Chadwick). In 1916, Ken was a student residing at 1068 4th Ave.East, Owen Sound (he was likely boarding there as rural students at the O.S.C.I. had to board in town). He was un-married and his next-of-kin was listed as his mother, Jeanette McKay. He enlisted with the 147th Grey Overseas Battalion at Owen Sound on Feb.1, 1916, when he was 18 years old. His regimental number was 838754. He was the youngest student of the Owen Sound Collegiate Institute to join the army at the time.

In England, the fellows who served with the 147th were placed in the 8th Canadian Reserve Battalion, and were transferred a few men at a time to other units as drafts. Quite a few were drafted to the 4th C.M.R., but Sgt. Ken McKay was drafted to the 58th Battalion, which also had a number of Grey County men serving in it. The war ended Nov. 11, 1918, but most of the survivors did not arrive home until 1919. His older brother Godfrey also served in the war. Ken had served in England and France. He was demobilized at Toronto on March 28, 1919. Eventually he moved out west. He became an educator and politician in his post-war career. He was an acquaintance of John Diefenbaker.

After he returned to Canada in 1919, Ken McKay had attended the wedding of his friend, Lieut. Thomas J. Rutherford at Leith, and is seen in a wedding photo, still wearing his uniform.

Ken was the only member of his family to be buried out west.

There are some archival items at Grey Roots that concern the McKays of the Leith area. There is a portrait photograph of Ken McKay in his 147th Battalion uniform, and his military paybook. There is also a typescript thank-you address from the Reeve of Sydenham that had accompanied an engraved gold medal (2011.047.001) that was presented to Ken from Sydenham Township in 1919. Grey Roots Museum has an embroidered 1917 postcard insert artifact (2011.068.001) that he also had kept as a war souvenir. The embroidered insert was found inside his THE BOOK OF PRAISE (1918), where he used it as a bookmark in the post-war period. The Presbyterian Book of Praise book is now 2011.068.002 at the Grey Roots museum. "1917" likely had great significance to him. It was the year that the Canadians won a battle at Vimy Ridge, for example. He likely had known some men who did not return from that battle, or had been wounded there. A lot of Grey County men also died at Passchendaele in October, 1917.

On Dec. 23, 1927, Ken married Isabel Sarah Galbraith in Saskatchewan. In 1963, he was residing in Drayton Valley, Alberta, and was appointed a member of the Canadian Pension Commission. In the Second World War, he served again. In 1957, he ran for office in Alberta (the riding of Jasper-Edson) and John Diefenbaker sent him a thank-you telegraph for his campaign. Ken was working as a School Principal at that time.

Occupation

147th Grey (Overseas) Battalion, later in the 58th Battalion
W.W.#1 Veteran / First World War
Also served in Second World War
Educator / School Principal / Politician

Publications

Rutherford, Jaffray, SIX GENERATIONS OF RUTHERFORDS AT BAYSIDE FARM, p. __ (wedding image includes Ken McKay)

Relationships

Brother: Wesley McKay (J. W. McKay, also known as Wes)
Brother: Godfrey McKay
Brother: Ross McKay ( Hugh Ross McKay, 1901-1978)
Brother: Neil M. McKay (1905-1955)
Brother: Donald Gordon (Doug) McKay b. 1899- d. 2000 m. Olive May Beattie
Sister: Ida Jane McKay (1900-1975)
Sister: Annie McKay
Friend: Thomas J. Rutherford of Leith
Grandson: Jim Parker of Calgary, Alberta
Niece: Donna McKay-Mills

Donna Mills-McKay, is a daughter of Doug McKay of Leith, and is also related to Ken McKay.