THREE CAMPAIGNS

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 19998, 25 July 1939, Page 4

THREE CAMPAIGNS

MARCH TO KHANDAHAR AFGHANISTAN VETERAN EGYPTIAN WAR SERVICE MR. T. C. R. McKAY DEAD There passed away in the Cook Hospital yesterday Mr. Thomas Charles Ross McKay, a veteran of two of Britain’s most famous campaigns, and formerly a member of the Seaforth Highlanders, who served under the late Earl Roberts when "Bobs" commanded in the Afghanistan War.

Mr. McKay completed his service with the British Army in 1888, and almost ever since had lived in New Zealand, following the occupation of station worker until his advancing age won for .him a place in the Memorial Home.

Born in Glasgow, Mr. McKay joined the Seaforth Highlanders at the age of 16 years, in 1876. and after 18 months at the regimental depot at the Isle of Wight he was sent out with .a draft to join the First Battalion of the regiment, then engaged in the Afghanistan War.

The headquarters of the British forces, then under General Sir Sam Browne, who gave his name to the service belt worn by officers of the British Army to-day, were at Kabul, capital of the Afghanistan territory, and to reach that point the draft had to .pass through the Khyber Pass, the gateway of the North-west Frontier. In those days it was literally true that a man held hi : s life in his hands in the passage of this route, and a man cut off from his unit could expect at the best a quick death. Epic of Military History Soon after 'Mr. McKay reached Kabul, General Sir Sam Browne was recalled and command of the British forces was taken over ,by Lord Roberts, whose uncompromising action, against the hillmen quickly brought matters to a head. Mr. McKay was one of those who made the march to Khandahar, one of the epic features of British military history, and there he took part in the battle which broke the power of the Afghans for the time being.

The Seaforths had suffered fairly heavily in the desultory fighting prior to this, but they were in full strength ait Khandahar, and were ordered forward to the relief of the 66th Regiment, when that unit was surrounded by the tribesmen and faced annihilation.

Regiment Cut Their Way Out

Together the Seaforths and the 66th Foot .cut their way out, and. added another brilliant chapter to their regimental histories. The cost of the battle was severe, and among the / Seaforths the losses were heavy, those killed including' Colonel Browlow, commanding officer of the First Battalion, Captain Frorrae, a. company officer, and Sergeant Curly Cameron, three outstanding figures in whom the spirit of the regiment seemed to have come to its finest flower.

Those were the days of the infantry square in .'the British Army, when cavalry Charges were met with volleys of musketry and salvoes of light artillery, followed by close work with the bayonet if the enemy pressed so close.

Mr. McKay’s memories of the Afghanistan .campaign included recollections of the Afghan as a great fighter, fearless in action and desperate in resource. Arabi Pasha Revolt Following the dose of the Afghanistan War, the regiment moved downcountry to Lucknow, and after some time there entrained for the coast and embarked for Aden. The term of service abroad was drawing to its close, and the lures of home service were in the air. After some months at Aden, the Seaforths received sudden orders for Suez, the Arabi Pasha rebellion in Egypt having broken out. This delayed for a time the homeward voyage of the regiment, which put in a, fortnight on the canal as garrison troops, and then marched to Zagazig, where British forces were assembling under Lord Wolseley to crush the rebellion. On September 13, 1882, the Seaforths took part in the Battle of Tel-el-Kebir, which led to the defeat of the rebels and was followed by the capture of Arabi Pasha at the Abdin Palace, Cairo. Discharge Taken in India The regiment then embarked for home, but with a- handful of others ■ .vino still had half their enlistment to serve, Mr. McKay elected to transfer to the Second Battalion, returning to India to see his time out. He took his discharge in 1888, and shortly after he came to New Zealand and took up country work in the South Island. Twenty-five years ago he settled in the Gisborne district, and it was not until recent years that he had to give up his occupation as a station worker.

The holder of the Queen’s Medals for the Afghanistan and Egyptian Wars, with a number of clasps denoting the ‘engagements in which he fought, Mr. McKay lived the greater part of his life far from- his birthplace, and without contact with kith or kin. He is believed to have a brother Living in Scotland, but it is many years since they corresponded. During the Great War, he served for ’8 months on home service in the Dominion, in the quartermaster’s department of one of the main camps.