THREE CAMPAIGNS

Opotiki News, Volume II, Issue 229, 4 September 1939, Page 4

THREE CAMPAIGNS

MARCH TO KHNDAHAK AFGHANISTAN VETERAN EGYPTIAN WAR SERVICE There passed away/’in the Cook Hospital recently Mr, Thomas Charles Ross McKay, a veteran, of two of Britain’s most famous campaigns, and formerly a member of the Seaforth who served under the late Earl Roberts when “Bobs”.'commanded in the Afghanistan War. Air. McKay completed his service with the BrßTfnpWmy in 1888, and almost ev«n ;; siiice,. bad lived in New Zealand, following -the occupation of station worker until his advancing;-age won for him a place inrtlie Memorial Home. Born in Glasgow, Air. McKay joined the Seaforth Highlanders at- the ago of 1G 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-ei.Tgnged .-jn the Afghanistan War. ' The headquarters of the British forces, then under General Sir Sam Browne, who gave his -name to the serviceHbelt .worn by officers of the British Army to-day,, were at Kabul, capital- of the Afghanistan territory, and tor. 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 his life im 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 1 was taken over by Lord Roberts, whose uncompromising action against the hilhnen quickly brought matters to a head. Mr. McKay was one of.those who made the march to Kliandahar, 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 tlie time being. The Seaforths had suffered fairly hc-avily in the desultory fighting prior to this, hut they were in full strength at Kliandahar, 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 Sea forth s and the 66tli Foot cut their way out, and added another brilliant chapter to their regimental histories. The cost of tho battle was severe, and among the Seaforths the losses were heavy, those killed including CJolonel Browlow, commanding officer of the First Batallion, Captain Frome, a company officer, and Seigeant Curly Cameron, three outstanding figures in whom the spirit of the regiment seemed--to., 1!a-v^v-Mine to its finest flower. Those were the day.s of the infantry squalre j,n. 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. Mi-. McKay’s memories of the Afghanistan. campaign included recollections of the Afghan as a great figfffer, fearless in action and desperate in resource. Arabi pasha Revolt Following the close 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 hires of lio-me service were in the air. After some months at Aden, the Seaforths received sud 1 - deu 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 fortnighti on the canal as garrison troops, and then marked to Zagay.ig, 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-Kehir, which led to the defeated the rebels and was followed by the capture of Arabi Pasha at the Abdiu Palace, Cairo. Discharge Taken in India Tho regiment then embarked lor home, hut with a handful of others who 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 Gisborne, and it was not until recent years that he had to give up his occupation as a station worker.; . The holder of i*the Queen’s Medals for tlie Afghanistan and Egyptian Wars, with a number of clasps denoting the engagements in which lie fought, Mr. McKay lived the greater part of iiis life far from his birthplace, and without contact with llith or kin. He is believed to have a {mother living in Scotland, hut it- is many years since they corresponded. , 'During tho Great War, he served for 18 months on home, service in the Dominion, in the quartermaster’s department of one of the main camps.