BORN HULL 1886. ONLY SON OF EDWARD MACKEY (1850-1929) & CHRISTINA M FOX (1862-1928), OF 133, PLANE STREET, HULL (CWGC ADDRESS). SON OF A RETIRED POLICEMAN. HE HAD FIVE SISTERS. WORKED AS A TELEGRAPH MESSENGER.
HE JOINED THE ARMY AGED 16. DESCRIBED THEN, AS 5 FOOT TALL, 95 LBS WEIGHT, 29 INCH CHEST, GREY EYES, BROWN HAIR, SCAR ON RIGHT SHIN.
HE ENLISTED IN HULL, ON 17/07/1902. FORMERLY, PRIVATE, 6462, WEST YORKSHIRE REGIMENT. SERVED IN MALTA AND SOUTH AFRICA. LEFT THE ARMY ON 16TH JULY 1914 AFTER 12 YEARS SERVED. MOBILIZED AS A RESERVE WHEN WAR BEGAN A MONTH LATER.
POSTED TO FRANCE, ON 16TH FEBRUARY 1915. HE WAS PROMOTED TO SERGEANT IN THE MACHINE GUN CORPS AND AWARDED THE DISTINGUISHED CONDUCT MEDAL (DCM) ON 11/03/1916. COMMISSIONED TO 2ND LIEUTENANT IN THE ROYAL FLYING CORPS, ON 05/05/1916. HE WAS KILLED IN A FLYING ACCIDENT AT ST ALBANS, ON 15/03/1917, AGED 31. HE IS BURIED AT ST. ALBANS (HATFIELD ROAD) CEMETERY, HERTFORDSHIRE.
HE IS COMMEMORATED ON THE WW1 MEMORIAL, ST JOHN THE BAPTIST CHURCH, NEWINGTON, HULL.
