Alexander MacKay, 2386017, Unit 136 Heavy Wire Section, Royal Corps of Signals died on 1 July 1943. He was aged 27.
His parents were Neil Mackay (1878- ) and Marion née Matheson (1874-1940) of East Langwell, Rogart. Alexander was born in Sutherland around 1916.
Formed in 1920 the Royal Corps of Signals is frequently among the first in to conflict. The signaller is an intelligent soldier with the technical and tactical skills to provide and operate Field Headquarters, and to ensure commanders have battle-winning information. During the Second World War (1939–45), members of the Royal Corps of Signals served in every theatre of war. By 1945 The Corps had expanded to a serving strength of 8,518 officers and 142,472 soldiers; more than today’s entire British Army.
The Corps’ professionally trained specialist soldiers, from the most junior signallers (‘Siggies’) to the most senior officers, are responsible for installing, operating, maintaining and running telecommunications equipment and information systems as well as support that is essential to all military operations – on and off the battlefield.
He is buried in the Delhi War Cemetery, Grave 4. K. 4. in India. He is memorialised on Rogart War Memorial and on his parents’ gravestone in Rogart’s new cemetery.
Thanks to Ian Mackay, Folkestone for his research on Alexander Mackay and information from the Royal Signals Museum.