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Auction: 18003 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 407

(x) A Great War Belgian Croix de Guerre group of six awarded to Sergeant H. M. Mackay, Royal Engineers: 'a very brave man and a born leader', he was also twice mentioned in despatches

1914-15 Star (16511 Spr. H. M. Mackay, R.E.); British War Medal 1914-20 (16511 T. Sjt. H. M. Mackey, R.E.), note surname spelling; Victory Medal 1914-19 (16511 T. Sjt. H. M. Mackay, R.E.); Army L.S. & G.C., G.V.R. (1852098 Sjt. H. M. Mackay, R.E.); Coronation 1953; Belgium, Croix de Guerre 1914-18, generally very fine (6)

Henry Malcolm Mackay was born at Stonehouse, Plymouth in April 1892 and enlisted in the Royal Engineers as a boy recruit at Chatham in May 1907.

Having in the interim served in Egypt, he arrived in France in late October 1915, as a Sapper in 73rd Field Company, R.E. He remained employed in the same unit for the duration of the war and, in addition to his award of the Belgian Croix de Guerre (London Gazette 15 April 1918, refers), he was twice mentioned in despatches (London Gazettes 4 January 1917 and 23 December 1918, refer); a unit of the 15th (Scottish) Division, 73rd Field Company, R.E. was heavily engaged on the Somme in 1916, among other actions taking part in the night attack on the 'Switch Line' on 12-13 August.

Mackay remained a regular soldier after the war and was awarded his L.S. & G.C. Medal in AO 393 of 1925, prior to being discharged as a Sergeant in May 1931.

Sold with a quantity of original documentation, comprising:

(i)
The recipient's Soldier's Small Book, Soldier's Service and Pay Book, and Regular Army Certificate of Discharge.

(ii)
Second and Third Class Army Certificates of Education, dated 29 December 1908 and 27 June 1913.

(iii)
Mention in despatches certificate, in the name of '16511 A. Sjt. H. M. Mackay, 73rd Fd. Coy.', dated 8 November 1918.

(iv)
Three letters of reference from senior officers, including one dated at Lubisi, Belgium on 3 March 1919, this describing Mackay as 'a very brave man and a born leader'.

(v)
Buckingham Palace Certificate for the recipient's Coronation Medal 1953.

(vi)
Several career photographs, among them the interior of a hospital ward with wounded servicemen.


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Sold for
£350