Charles's Story.
Charles, born at the Barracks in Chester, was the third son of Robert and Mary Ann. The family moved to Macclesfield when he was six. Educated at Christchurch School
Macclesfield and the Modern School, he was the musical son, being the leading choir boy at Macclesfield Parish Church.
In 1904, aged 16, he joined the 2nd Battalion the Cheshire Regiment as a drummer, in due course rising through the band to become Drum Major. He was posted to India in 1905 together with his brother Herbert, later to be joined by elder brother Frederick. The Battalion spent nine years in India but did not engage in any border disputes or skirmishes, spending their time drilling, in manoeuvres, route marches, and fiercely contesting in hockey matches!!
With the Declaration of War in August 1914 it was inevitable that they would be recalled. When ordered home from their base in Jubbulpore, they travelled by train to Bombay and embarked in the S.S Braemar Castle which; in company with 38 other vessels, all transporting troops; was convoyed by warships to England. lt arrived at Devonport on Christmas Eve 1914.
Charles was transferred to what was left of the 1st Battalion of the Regiment, decimated at Mons, with the rank of Company Quarter Master Sergeant. A bullet passed through his cap at the end of December 1914 and by the spring of 1915 he was invalided out with frostbite.
Charles became a recruiting Officer in Northwich and Birkenhead, involved in the training of the 16th Battalion " Cheshire Bantams." He went abroad to join them as CQMS early in 1917. In April 1917 they were based at Maissemy and Charles received a severe wound to the leg in trenches near Richeburg St Vaast. He was taking a wagon of supplies up to the front line trenches and a falling shell overturned the limber (a two wheeled horse drawn vehicle), a fragment of the shell shattered his leg. He died soon afterwards, aged 29, at no 21 Casualty clearing station at Nestle and was buried in the local cemetery.
A letter to Mary Ann McKay, from Captain Ryalds re Charles, stated "Your son did wonders in a short time. He was absolutely tireless in his work and always wonderfully cheery. Few mothers have sent so many sons to the colours and may we say how proud we were that for a short time we numbered in our midst a member of one of the most heroic and patriotic families in the country"
Charles was the third of the McKay boys to die in WW1
Cheshire Roll of Honour would like to thank Anthea Fairholm for the information on Charles.