Main CPGW Record
Surname: MACKAY
Forename(s): James Bruce
Place of Birth: Skipton, Yorkshire
Service No: ---
Rank: T/Captain
Regiment / Corps / Service: Prince of Wales’s Own (West Yorkshire Regiment)
Battalion / Unit: 21st (Service) Battalion. (Wool Textile Pioneers)
Division: 4th Division
Age: 32
Date of Death: 1917-05-03
Awards: ---
CWGC Grave / Memorial Reference: I. B. 18.
CWGC Cemetery: ST. NICOLAS BRITISH CEMETERY
CWGC Memorial: ---
Non-CWGC Burial: ---
Local War Memorial: SKIPTON – ERMYSTED’S GRAMMAR SCHOOL, YORKSHIRE
Local War Memorial: SKIPTON, YORKSHIRE
Additional Information:
James Bruce Mackay (born 16 April 1885) was the son of Walter and Emily Kate Mackay, née Bruce. Walter was on at Malham Moor, Yorkshire and Emily at Stafford, Staffordshire.
1891 Skipton Yorkshire Census: 14, Water Street - James Mackay, aged 5 years, born Skipton, son of Walter and Emily Mackay.
1901 Skipton Yorkshire Census: 11, High Street - James B. Mackay, aged 15 years, born Skipton, son of Walter and Emily Kate Mackay.
1911 Richmond, Surrey Census: 10, Townshend Road - James Bruce Mackay, aged 27 years, born Skipton, Yorkshire. [James was boarding with Robert and Mary C. Baird.]
James was married to Maude Watkinson in 1916.
British Army WW1 Medal Rolls Index Cards: Pte James Bruce Mackay, 13th Res. Cav. Rgt.; T/Capt W. Yorks Rgt. Comm[issioned]: 13th W. Yorkshire Rgt. Sept/15. Theatre of War first served in: France. D. of W. 3.5.17. Correspondence: Mrs. J.B. Mackay (widow), 715, Liberty Street, Clarion, Pennsylvania, U.S.A.
British Army WW1 Medal and Award Rolls: Capt J. B. Mackay, W. York. D. of W. 3.5.17.
Army Registers of Soldiers' Effects: Capt J. B. Mackay, 21 West Yorks Regt. Date and Place of Death: 3.5.17. Of wounds. To whom Authorised/Amount: Administratrix - Mrs. Maude Mackay. £122 11s. 2d.
A short biography of James is included in: ‘A Grammar School at War – The Story of Ermysted’s Grammar School during the Great War’ by Steven Howarth (2007).
Data Source: Craven’s Part in the Great War - original CPGW book entry
View Entry in CPGW BookEntry in West Yorkshire Pioneer Illustrated War Record:
MACKAY, Capt. J. B. aged 32, West Yorks Regiment, son of Mr. and Mrs. Walter Mackay, High Street, Skipton and husband of Maud, daughter of the late Mr. and Mrs. J.S. Watkinson, Snaygill, Skipton, died of wounds May 3, 1917.
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T/Captain James Bruce MACKAY
Regiment / Corps / Service Badge: Prince of Wales’s Own (West Yorkshire Regiment)
Divisional Sign / Service Insignia: 4th Division
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View Craven Herald Articles
View Craven Herald Articles
02 June 1916
MACKAY–WATKINSON – June 1st, at Gargrave Church, by the Rev. A.C. Blunt, M.A., Lieut. James Bruce Mackay, of the 21st (S.) Pioneer Battalion West Yorks. Regiment, eldest son of Mr. and Mrs. W. Mackay, of Skipton, to Maude, third daughter of the late J.S. Watkinson and Mrs. Watkinson, of Sandygill House, Bradley.
11 May 1917
MACKAY – May 3rd, died of wounds in France, aged 32 years, Captain James Bruce Mackay, West Yorkshire Regiment, elder son of Mr. and Mrs. Walter Mackay, Skipton, and husband of Maude, daughter of the late Mr. and Mrs. J. S. Watkinson, Snaygill, Skipton.
11 May 1917
SKIPTON'S ROLL OF HONOUR – CAPTAIN JAMES BRUCE MACKAY
We deeply regret to announce that a telegraphic message was received on Saturday of the death on May 3rd, from wounds received in action, of Captain James Bruce Mackay, West Yorkshire Regiment, elder son of Mr. and Mrs. Walter Mackay, 11 High Street, Skipton. Thirty-two years of age, he enlisted as a private in the Hussars during the month following the outbreak of War, and after twelve months’ training at Colchester he accepted the offer of a commission and was gazetted Sec.-Lieut. and posted to the West Yorkshire Regiment, proceeding to France in July 1916, ready for the opening stages of the British advance. He took part in the Battle of the Somme and much subsequent fierce fighting, and his promotion to the rank of captain came on the battlefield. He was educated at the Skipton Grammar School, and prior to enlisting was an inspector in the London district for Messrs. Freeman, Hardy and Willis, boot manufacturers, for which firm his father is also a much-respected official. Deceased was married only last June to Miss Watkinson, daughter of Mrs. J. Watkinson, Snaygill, Skipton.
04 July 1919
PEACE SUPPLEMENT TO THE 'CRAVEN HERALD' – CRAVEN'S FALLEN OFFICERS
CAPTAIN J. B. MACKAY
West Yorks. Regiment, elder son of Mr. and Mrs. Walter Mackay, 11 High Street, Skipton, killed in action May 3rd, 1917, aged 32 years.
View West Yorkshire Pioneer Articles
View West Yorkshire Pioneer Articles
11 May 1917
MACKAY – Died of wounds, in France May 3rd, aged 32 years, Captain James Bruce Mackay, West Yorks. Regiment, elder son of Mr. and Mrs. Walter Mackay, Skipton, and husband of Maude, daughter of the late Mr. and Mrs. J.S. Watkinson, Snaygill, Skipton.
11 May 1917
SKIPTON SOLDIERS KILLED
Captain James Bruce Mackay, West Yorkshire Regiment, elder son of Mr. and Mrs. Wa1ter Mackay, of 11, High Street, Skipton, died from wounds received in action in France on May 3rd. The late officer, who was 32 years of age, enlisted as a private in a regiment of Hussars just after the declaration of war, and after a year’s service at Colchester was given a commission and attached to the West Yorkshires. He went to France in July, 1916, and took part in the Battle of the Somme. He was gazetted to a captaincy last October. Educated at the Skipton Grammar School, he was formerly an inspector in the London district for Messrs. Freeman, Hardy and Willis, boot manufacturers. He was married only last summer to Miss Watkinson, daughter of the late Mr. J. Watkinson, of Snaygill. Captain Mackay’s father is also an inspector for Messrs. Freeman, Hardy and Willis.
14 December 1917
FOUNDER’S DAY AT SKIPTON GRAMMAR SCHOOL
A Fifteenth Century Foundation – War Memorial Proposed
COMMEMORATION SERVICE
Wednesday’s proceedings were opened with a service in commemoration not only of the founders and benefactors of the school but also of the gallant men who formerly passed through the school and who had given their lives for their country in the present war. The service was conducted by the headmaster (Rev. F.G. Forder) in the big school and there was a good attendance of old boys and others interested in the school. The names of the fallen heroes are as follows:– 2nd Lieut. T.B. Bellamy, Captain C.D. Bennett, 2nd Lieut. T.D. Broughton, Captain C.W. Brown, Gunner Philip Brown, Corporal H.S. Caw, Sergt. J. Cockerill, 2nd Lieut. H. Colley (master), Major M.E. Cookson, 2nd Lieut. E.G. Goodman, 2nd Lieut. F.H. Gill, Private W. Hartley, Rifleman W.M. Jowett, Lieut. H. Knowles, 2nd Lieut. C.H. Lee (master), 2nd Lieut. J.C. McIntyre, Captain J.B. McKay, Lance-Corporal A.J. Metcalfe, J.H. [E.] Metcalfe, Private E. Platt, Private C.T.W. Rigby, 2nd Lieut. W.A. Rodwell, Sergt. A.F. Ryder, Lieut. E.J.C. Supple (master), Private F. Thornton, Rifleman H. Tindall, Sergt. H. Walker, Gunner Herbert Watson, 2nd Lieut. Alec Wilson, Private Cameron Wilson, 2nd Lieut. Ian Wilson.
Among the old boys who have gained distinctions are the following:– Military Cross, Second-Lieutenant J.G. Berry, Second-Lieutenant J.B. Hartley, Captain J.T. Hurst, Lieut. P. Jowett, Lieut. J. Petty, and Capt. T.B. Pollard (master); Distinguished Conduct Medal, Corpl. W.A. Murgatroyd; Mentioned in Despatches, Lieut. J. Pethybridge, Capt. Allan Wilson, and many others.
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