Capt. Donald Roy MacKay

Berks Cemetery Extension

Commines-Warneton

Hainaut

Belgium

Born in Trafalgar, Halton County, Ontario, in June 1883, Donald signed on in Toronto in December 1914.

A resident of Oakville, and a farmer by trade, Donald had 8 years of previous military experience with the 9th Mississauga Horse noted when he attested into the 4th CMR's original intake on December 4th, 1914.

At the time of his loss, on December 5th, 1915, Donald was only the 7th man of the 4th CMR to lose his life. At that time the 4th CMR had gone back into the front line on December 1st, relieving the 5th CMR at Hill 63 (Ploegsteert).

On the night of December 4th/5th, a patrol led by Lt. Rutter went out under heavy artillery cover. The enemy retaliated with focus on front line trench 131. Capt. Donald MacKay and L/Cpl. Bert Tracey were killed, whilst several others were wounded.

Captain MacKay is one of 8 men of the 4th CMR known to lie at rest in the Berk Cemetery Extension, Commines-Warneton, Hainaut, in Belgium.

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Biography excerpt courtesy of David Kavanagh, headstone image courtesy of 4cmr.com