This article or section should be merged with Ian John McKay

Sgt Ian McKay (died 1982) was a British soldier, and was posthumously awarded the highest award for British Military personnel - The Victoria Cross.

On the 11th\12th June 1982, Sergeant McKay lead a grenade attack on an Argentine Bunker during the Falklands War, and was killed in the action. At the time he was Platoon Sergeant of 4 Platoon, B Company, The 3rd Battalion The Parachute Regiment.

3 PARA were at the time fighting Argentine opposition on Mount Longdon in 1982.

This battle lasted 10 hours against a well prepared and dug in Argentine enemy. The Battalion lost a total of 22 men during the battle. Having secured Mt Longdon they then held it for 48 hours under intense artillery fire

The McKay VC Competiton

Yearly troops from 3 PARA take part in a gruelling competition known as "The McKay VC". This involves long marches carrying heavy loads, assault courses and a shooting competition at the end.

Quite why this is inflicted on these troops in the name of Ian McKay is unclear, as it is widely rumoured Sgt McKay preferred playing football to any of the above activities!

Ian John McKay (7 May 1953 — 12 June 1982) was a recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces.

Details

A native of Wortley, Yorkshire, McKay was a Sergeant in 4 Platoon, B Company, 3rd Battalion, The Parachute Regiment, British Army during the Falklands War when the following deed took place for which he was awarded the VC.

VC Citation

During the war on the Falkland Islands on 12th June 1982, Sergeant McKay, his commander having been wounded in the leg, was in command of the platoon. Heavy enemy fire kept them pinned down and several of his men had been either killed or wounded. Realising that something must be done, Sergeant McKay took three men and, breaking cover, they charged the enemy. They were met by strong enemy fire, killing a private and wounding the corporal another private. Single-handed, disregarding his own safety, he charged the enemy position . Using grenades, he disposed of the enemy, but at the point of his success, he was killed. This gallant action allowed his beleaguered comrades to eradicate themselves from an extremely dangerous situation. .

please update if you know where his medal is publicly displayed

Reference

• The Last Eleven? (Mark Adkin, 1991)
• Monuments To Courage (David Harvey, 1999)
• The Register of the Victoria Cross (This England, 1997)
• SCOTLANDS FORgotten VALOUR (Graham Ross, 1995)

External links

• Location of grave and VC medal (http://www.homeusers.prestel.co.uk/stewart/hampshir.htm) (Hampshire)
• Sergeant Ian McKay (http://www.homeusers.prestel.co.uk/stewart/aaholder.htm#McKay)
• VCs of the Falklands War (http://www.britains-smallwars.com/Falklands/vc.htm) (citation details)

This page has been migrated from the Victoria Cross Reference (http://www.victoriacross.net) with permission.