A rare ‘Casualty’ Queen’s South Africa Medal awarded to Private W. MacKay, 2nd Battalion, Seaforth Highlanders (Ross-shire Buffs, The Duke of Albany’s), a Piper spared by Boer troops during a massacre in camp, who then had the temerity to escape at daybreak and continue with his regiment in the pursuit of De Wet across the Transvaal

Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 5 clasps, Cape Colony, Paardeberg, Driefontein, Transvaal, Wittebergen (5692 Pte. W. Mc’Kay [sic], 2:Sea: Highrs:) contact marks, nearly very fine £300-£400

William MacKay was born at North Calder, Lanarkshire, and educated in the small village of Bower, located at the very north-eastern tip of the Scottish mainland. Attesting for the Seaforth Highlanders in 1896, he transferred from the 1st to the 2nd Battalion and embarked for South Africa aboard the S.S. Mongolian on 21 October 1899. Arriving at Cape Town, his life from this time is carefully recorded on pages 516-517 of Sword from the North:

‘Proceeded to De Aar, the Orange River, Enslin, and the Modder River. At the Battle of Magersfontein, Piper Mackay was wounded in the right leg. Later he went to Koodoosberg under General Sir Hector Macdonald. On 2 February 1900, under Lord Roberts, he started for the Relief of Kimberley. He next went to Paardeberg, where the Seaforths took part in one of their greatest battles, having very heavy casualties; but the result was the unconditional surrender of General Cronje and 3,912 of the Boer Army. The Seaforths then went to Doorfontein, and were engaged successfully at Bloemfontein on 15 March; at Sanna’s Post on 31 March; and at Winburg-Lindley, Heilbron, Frankfort and Bethlehem.

At Bethlehem the engagement resulted in the biggest capture of the South African War, General Prinsloo on 30 July surrendering with over 4,000 men. The Seaforths were next back at Heilbron, and then went on to a succession of places, including Bethulia, Rouxville, and Jagersfontein. Piper MacKay and thirteen others were in camp when the Boers coming upon them killed eleven of them, only MacKay and two comrades escaping death. MacKay was taken prisoner but escaped at daybreak. After this the Seaforths were “all over the place” in pursuit of De Wet. On 21 March 1901, they were sent to Pretoria. Later, they went to Bethulie Bridge to erect block-houses; and on 20 January 1902, to Kroonstadt; and on 29 March to Klerksdorp. Here the Peace Delegates came in on 9 April, the 2nd Seaforths furnishing an Officer’s Guard over the Orange Free State Delegates, William MacKay being Piper to the Guard... Piper MacKay holds the Queen’s South Africa Medal with five bars, and the King’s South Africa Medal with two bars.’

MacKay returned home via Dublin, and later served during the Great War with the 2nd Volunteer Battalion, Seaforth Highlanders; of a distinguished musical family, his brother John became Piper to King Edward VII.

Sold with copied research including a photographic image of the recipient, titled: ‘William MacKay, Piper, 2nd Seaforth Highlanders’, the service number upon the QSA Medal further corresponding with that offered by Sword from the North.