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Canadian Virtual War Memorial

Kevin Thomas McKay

In memory of:

Private Kevin Thomas McKay

May 13, 2010
Afghanistan

Military Service


Age:

24

Force:

Army

Unit:

Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry

Division:

1st Battalion

Citation(s):

General Campaign Star – SOUTH-WEST ASIA (GCS-SWA), Sacrifice Medal (Posthumous)

Additional Information


Born:

February 28, 1986
Richmond Hill, Ontario

Enlistment:

August 9, 2007
Barrie, Ontario

Son of Frederick Charles and Elizabeth Clare McKay of Barrie, Ontario. Brother of Riley James McKay.

Commemorated on Page 237 of the In the Service of Canada (1947 - 2014) Book of Remembrance. Request a copy of this page. Download high resolution copy of this page.

Burial Information


Cemetery:

OTTAWA (BEECHWOOD) CEMETERY
Ontario, Canada

Grave Reference:

N/A

Location:

OTTAWA (BEECHWOOD) CEMETERY contains 98 Commonwealth burials of the First World War and 113 from the Second World War. Many of the graves are in the two veterans plots, where there is also a Cross of Sacrifice dedicated to all service casualties buried in the cemetery. The OTTAWA CREMATION MEMORIAL is in a shelter adjoining the newer of the veterans plots in the cemetery and commemorates 26 Second World War servicemen whose remains were cremated elsewhere in Canada and the U.S.A.

Digital Collection

Send us your images

  • Photo of Kevin McKay– fishing in Ontario.
  • Group Photo– Kevin McKay and his younger brother Riley in Ontario.
  • War Memorial– Barrie, Ontario
  • Memorial– Sign in a main hallway in Eastview Secondary School, Barrie, Ontario.  The hallway was named in memory of Private Kevin McKay, who completed his high school education at Eastview.  (Image taken by Gregory J. Barker of Barrie, Ontario, in 2018.)
  • Memorial Plaque– Memorial plaque in Eastview Secondary School, Barrie, Ontario, where Private McKay formerly attended high school.  (Image taken by Gregory J. Barker of Barrie, Ontario, in 2018.)
  • Memorial– A closer view of the memorial plaque on display in a hallway of Eastview Secondary School, Barrie, Ontario.  (Image taken by Gregory J. Barker of Barrie, Ontario, in 2018.)
  • Memorial– Picture displayed in a hallway of Eastview Secondary School, Barrie, Ontario, in memory of Private Kevin McKay, Eastview graduating class of 2004.  (Image taken by Gregory J. Barker of Barrie, Ontario, in 2018.)
  • Memorial– A picture, donated by Private McKay's family, on display in the library of Eastview Secondary School, Barrie, Ontario.  It shows Pte McKay chatting with two Afghan boys, while letting one try on his helmet.  (Image taken by Gregory J. Barker of Barrie, Ontario, in 2018.)
  • Plaque– This was the laser engraved granite plaque that we designed to mark the unfortunate passing of Private McKay.  

It was originally displayed at the Kandahar Cenotaph from the date of his passing - and was repatriated to Canada in 2014.  

Today, it can be seen at the Afghanistan War Memorial located at National Defence Headquarters in Kanata, On.  

Rod A. McLeod, Designer
  • Other– In Barrie, Ontario, banners commemorating local war dead are displayed each year, around October and November.  Pictured here is a banner in memory of Private Kevin McKay.  (Image taken by Gregory J. Barker of Barrie, Ontraio, in 2020.)
  • Photo of Kevin Thomas McKay– Submitted for the project Operation Picture Me
  • Newspaper clipping– Submitted for the project Operation Picture Me
  • Newspaper clipping– Submitted for the project Operation Picture Me
  • Grave marker– Headstone at Beechwood Cemetery, Ottawa.
  • Photo of Kevin McKay– Portrait of Private K.T. McKay, 1st Battalion, Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry.  (Image credit: Department of National Defence.)
  • McKay Road– Street sign on McKay Road (formerly the 10th Line), Barrie, Ontario.  This road was named in memory of Private K. T. McKay.  A remembrance poppy is depicted on the right side of the sign.  (Image taken by Gregory J. Barker of Barrie, Ontario, in 2014.)
  • Kevin McKay Cup– The Kevin McKay Cup, on display in the Oro-Medonte Community Arena, Guthrie, near Barrie, Ontario.  It is awarded annually to the winning team in the Kevin McKay Memorial Tyke Tournament.  This trophy was named in memory of Private Kevin T. ("Mickey") McKay, who as a youngster played hockey in the Oro Minor Hockey Association.  (Image taken by Gregory J. Barker of Barrie, Ontario, in 2013.)
  • Inscription– Name plate on the Kevin McKay Cup.  (Image taken by Gregory J. Barker of Barrie, Ontario, in 2013.)  A written tribute, displayed with the Cup, reads in part:

". . . Kevin grew up in Horseshoe Valley where he attended W.R. Best Public School and Eastview Secondary School. Kevin was a goaltender with Oro Minor Hockey. He trained as a carpenter at Georgian College and helped to build many homes in this area.  Kevin . . . enlisted with the Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry at the age of twenty-one. Deployed to Afghanistan in the autumn of 2009, he was subsequently assigned, with his unit, to the village of Nakonay, Panjwaii District . . . Sadly, Kevin was killed by an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) while on his very last night patrol, just two days before the end of his tour of duty. He was buried with full military honours in the National Military Cemetery, Ottawa . . . "

Learn more about the Canadian Virtual War Memorial

To learn more please visit our help page. If you have questions or comments regarding the information contained in this registry, email or call us. For inquiries regarding the names and information found in the RCMP Honour Roll, please email the RCMP.

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