| Force | Army, Reconnaissance |
| Service Number | D/3555 *Original* |
| Rank | Lance Sergeant |
| Engagement | 1941-02-20 | Montreal, Quebec, Canada |
| Overseas | 1941-08-23 | Glasgow, Scotland |
| Disembarked | 1944-07-15 | France |
| Date of Death | 1944-10-11 | Netherlands |
| Died | Killed in action |
| Records | Study the full service records |
| Birthdate | 1915-10-09 |
| Birthplace | Paisley, Scotland, United Kingdom |
| Age | 29 |
| Parents | Son of Neil and ? MACKAY |
| Religion | Church of England |
| Occupation | Aircraft Production |
Promoted to the rank of Lance Sergeant on October 10, 1944.
Service records report date of death October 12, 1944 but this is probably a write up mistake. L/Sgt. MacKay most likely was killed in action on October 11, 1944.
That afternoon, 'C' Squadron made an attack on the position where the German 20mm had been the night before. They used our flame throwers and the carrier section. Although the attack was successful, we lost L/Sgt. "Bill" MacKay and his buddy. Both were killed when they attempted to take some prisoners. Bill was a good friend of mine, we joined up the same day, my number was D/3515 and Bill's number was D/3555. Bill's buddy that day was a Sengalise French soldier. He had been picked up in France and given a Canadian uniform. He followed Bill very closely all the time and died beside him. Sgt. J.F. McGowan.
Plot 5 | Row F | Grave 11
Tags
Portrait: Canadian Virtual War Memorial.
Photograph temporary burial: Eeklo Archive, Belgium.
Photos: MacKay: Regimental Association (with special thanks to John Cochrane), Temporary marker Adegem: LAC, Monument and grave marker 'unknown French soldier': Michael van de Velde.
Info from War Diary and Service Records: LAC (Library Archive Canada).
Photographs Cap Badge, Regimental and Division patch: JM-Militaria.
Photograph headstone: Michael van de Velde.
