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Donald McKay, R3207194, Private, 21st Canadian Reserve Battalion

Donald immigrated to Innisfail from Rogart in northern Scotland with his mother, father, and 11 siblings in 1912. During his first few years in Canada Donald lived with his family. He loved the outdoors and hunting for game, which was plentiful on the family farm, located on the Red Deer River.

Donald voluntarily enlisted as a private in the 21st Canadian Reserve Battalion/1st Depot Battalion, Alberta Regiment (R3207194) on May 29, 1918. He was 19 years, 4 months old. He sailed form Montreal on July 30, arriving in Manchester on August 15, 1918. Donald was stationed at Bramshott, at least through October 1918. He was stationed at Ripon, Yorkshire in the spring of 1919. He never got to France. In the fall of 1918 Donald contracted influenza and was hospitalized at Bramshott from October 14-30, 1918.

It was during his army service that the spelling of his family name was changed. There was another person in his unit with the name Donald Mackay. He offered to change the spelling in order to avoid confusion and thus became Donald McKay.

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Christina and Donald Mackay in a formal portrait taken in London.
1945
United Kingdom

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Donald McKay in uniform.
1939

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A photograph of Donald McKay's house.
1930
Alberta

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During the time between November 11, 1918, when fighting ceased in France, and when Donald was shipped back home, Donald arranged to meet his sister Christina (called Tina) in London. Tina had been a nursing sister in France. In London they had a portrait made of the two of them together in their respective uniforms. He and Tina also returned to Rogart, Scotland where they were born to visit some of the relatives they had left behind when the family immigrated to Canada. Fifty years later one of Donald's relatives from Rogart recalled the day when 'young Donald and Tina came up to the window' of their maternal grandmother's house.

Donald sailed from Southampton, England on June 4, 1919, arrived in Halifax on June 20, and was demobilized (discharged) from the army in Calgary on June 25, 1919, one year and one month after he enlisted.

When Donald returned home he farmed in the Summit District, east of Bowden. His sister Agnes (Aggie) did housekeeping and cooked for him during this time. When he was overseas Donald corresponded with Opal Rowland, a young teacher from the area. They married in 1931. When Opal's father died in 1939 Donald and Opal moved to the Rowland family farm in the Nisbet District, the next school district south of the Summit District.