boer war .5765 cpl.f.mackey.manchester regt.

[harribobs]

hehe


this sorts of makes all the hard work all worth while!!

really well done to all the grafters on the thread, tea and custard creams all round!!

[MackeyM]

I've recently discovered another medal of his in the family with an inscription that reads "Signaller, 1927, Dr. J. Mackey" would anyone happen to know what the Dr stands for?  He was a bandsman while with the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders but I believe he was a cook with the Manchester Regiment.  He retired from the service in 1914 which makes it all the more interesting as this medal is dated 13 years later.  So if anyone could shed some light on what this medal might be, it would be much appreciated!

[harribobs]

i'm guessing here, but if he was a bandsman, i would have thought drummer

[MackeyM]

That's what I had suspected as well, but the only instrument that he played that I have evidence of is the clarinet but it wouldn't be unheard of for a musician to play more than one instrument!  Could you be a bandsman with the Manchester regiment even after you've retired from the service?

[harribobs]

Could you be a bandsman with the Manchester regiment even after you've retired from the service?

i wouldn't have thought so...

[Wendi]

I wonder if he could have joined the Militia a Volunteers Battalion or the TA ?

Wendi 

[MackeyM]

I really haven't given you much to go on.  I'll know more once I can get some pictures of the medal and find out what it was for.  Thank you for the replies!

[hoggie]

WHOA - this is a huge co-incidence.  I live in Alderney and am helping a friend research his great grandfather who married an Alderney girl.  I just received the marriage certificate for them, and it turns out that he was in the 2 Manchester Regt (hence my coming to this site in the first place).  The photocopy of the marriage certificate has a second marriage on it - between a Francis Mackey Sergeant Manchester Regiment and a Louisa Simon.  Further co-incidence is that both men married girls from the Simon family (although they had different fathers so probably cousins rather than sisters)

If this is any help to either of you Mackey researchers feel free to get in touch.

Also - can anyone point me in the right direction to find out any more about my friends G - grand father

Sorry - was so excited by the co-incidence that I forgot to say hi

hoggie

[MackeyM]

I will most definitely be getting in touch with you!

I had just come back to post what I had found out about the "Medallion"!

It was in fact issued to my Grandfather, and not my Great Grandfather.  It was not known to the family that my Grandfather had been with the Territorial Artillery prior to joining the RAF.  Because they moved back to the Manchester area it was assumed that it had belonged to my Great Grandfather who had been with the Manchester Regiment.  This is not the case.  The medallion is actually a prize medal issued at field competitions at the Territorial Camps.  This was issued to my Grandfather (the Dr. is Driver in the artillery circles) and was awarded for his prowess in Signalling.

Thank you all!

[harribobs]

this thread seems to attracting people!!

[Tabbitha]

Just joined this site today and found this thread whilst looking for info on my own family.

What a great story these posts tell and such a positive outcome.

Was a pleasure to read it all through to its conclusion

Thanks for sharing.

[Wendi]

Hi Tabbitha and Welcome 

Thanks for your kind words, we are glad you enjoyed !

Wendi 

[harribobs]

i said this thread was attractive 

here is something else for MackeyM, go to this thread and have a look what Brad has posted

i think you might recognise a name there

http://themanchesters.org/forum/index.php?topic=1431.0

[MackeyM]

Thank you so much! 

[MackeyM]

I had considered starting a new thread seeing as the last time I posted was quite some time ago.  However, I think in this case it is worthwhile tacking on the existing thread.

In previous posts in this thread it identifies QSA, KSA and LSGC for Sjt Francis Mackey 2nd Bn Manchester Regiment, which I was very fortunate to acquire completely through a chance reading of this forum.  (Thank You themanchesters.org!).  What is not mentioned is his first medal,  an India General Service Medal with Punjab Frontier Bar 1897-98 (which he received while with the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders).  This one was still missing.  For the following year between June 2008 and June 2009 I set up ebay email notifications for any sales with "India General Service Medal" in the description.  Although I received many many emails in that year, I was not successful in finding his medal.  In June of 2009 I happened to do a google search and ended up downloading a catalogue of medals for sale from a shop in Bury, Uk and sure enough there it was, a new item as of May 2009. 

Needless to say, all four of Sjt Francis Mackey's medals have been reunited.  I also took a trip last summer to Alderney, Channel Islands and took some pictures from outside Fort Albert where the 2nd Bn Manchester Regiment was stationed in the early 1900's.  It is in fair shape considering the age of the fort.  I would be happy to post some images.

So for those of you looking to find your ancestor's medals, keep hunting!