Pte Alexander MacKay DCM headstone
A poor quality monochrome photograph of the headstone of Private Alexander MacKay DCM, son of Donald MacKay of 11 Back Street Embo, which is in the Commonwealth War Graves Commision Cambrin Churchyard Extension. The headstone has an engraved Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders badge below which is the inscription: “ S/830 Private A. MACKAY DCM. ARG. & SUTH’D HIGHRS. 17TH JUNE 1916 AGE 37”. At the foot of the cross is a further inscription “TILL THE DAWN BREAKS AND THE SHADOWS FLEE AWAY”. Alexander is commemorated in the Historylinks Museum website ‘Roll of Honour’ (historylinks.org.uk
Roll-of-honour) which includes detail of the citation for his Distinguished Conduct Medal (Gazetted 24 June 2016) “For conspicuous gallantry. He went out in broad daylight, after the enemy had exploded a mine, and, when unable to drag in a wounded man, stood boldly up regardless of heavy fire and carried him into safety.” The regimental number shown on the headstone ‘S/8301’ is not in keeping with the ‘Roll of Honour’ CWGC certificate which shows ‘S/8001’.
Dimensions: A4