MACKAY, Arnott Alfred

MACKAY, Arnott Alfred – A Southern Downs Veteran

CONFLICT : WWI
SERVICE NO : 1591
RANK : Private
UNIT : 5th Light Hose Regiment
ENLISTMENT DATE : 19/07/1915
AGE : 22
PLACE OF ENLISTMENT : Brisbane, Queensland
PLACE OF BIRTH : Tamworth, New South Wales
RELIGION : Church of England
OCCUPATION : Labourer
DATE OF DEATH : 12/07/1917
PLACE OF BURIAL : Miles, Queensland

MEMORIALS : Yelarbon War Memorial, Yelarbon Roll of Honour

View Veteran’s Service File : McKAY, Arnott Alfred

NOTES :

MACKAY, Arnott Alfred or Arnold as he was known, was the fourth child of Thomas Harrison and Mary Jane Elizabeth Mackay. From his mother’s earlier marriage to James Bourne, he had two half-brothers and one half-sister.

Shortly after Australia’s involvement in the First World War, Arnott made the decision to cease working as a labourer in the Yelarbon and Goondiwindi region and to offer his services to the army. At the recruiting office in Brisbane on 19 July 1915, he completed his forms and was assigned to the 5th Light Horse Regiment with the Regimental Number 1591.

A month after landing in Egypt he was taken sick to hospital with a fractured right elbow after being thrown from his horse while in camp. Because he was unable to hold and fire a rifle Arnott was discharged wounded and returned to Australia aboard HT Runicin April 1916.

It was noted on his medical file how he had suffered an injury to the same arm a number of years prior to his enlistment and in the opinion of the medical board, Arnott should never have been accepted for active service.

On the 25 July 1916 he was awarded a War Pension of two pound. His younger brother Thomas Harrison Mackay 1627 enlisted in October 1916 and his half-brother Private James Henry Bourne had enlisted in the February of 1916.

Unfortunately, the brothers’ names were misspelt on the Yelarbon War Memorial and recorded as McKay and not Mackay.

Copyright 2026 Deborah C Wheeler and Duncan McLean, Southern Downs Military History

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