In Memory of
Mckay, Eugene Joseph, E J
Rank: Lance Corporal
Service: H/16895
Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry, R.C.I.C.
who died 22 age
on 22 July 1943
AGIRA WAR CEMETERY, SICILY
Born on 14 October 1920
Portage la Prairie Census Division, Manitoba.
Eugene's parents lived in Winnipeg together with his three sisters.
He had two twin brothers who both served in the Canadian Armed Forces:
Raymond overseas in the 1st Division Signals of the Royal Canadian Corps of Signals and Donald in the RCAF.
Eugene was part of the non active militia from November 1935 until February 1940.
He officially enlisted on 19 February 1940 in Winnipeg. He was part of Force III which raided Spitzbergen in August/September 1941.
Eugene was married to Mary Cruikshank who was a nurse in the Isolation Hospital Catherin de Barnes in Solihull near Birmingham, England. They married in 1942 and her photo is in his Soldiers Service Paybook.
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"A force consisting out of one troop of tanks, 90th Anti Tank Battalion and 1 platoon of C-Coy and one of Battalion HQ of the PPCLI mounted on quads of the 90th Anti Tank Battalion went through Leonforte. They relieved the cut off Loyal Eddies, consisting of around 30 men of all ranks in center of town, at 09.30 hrs in the morning. The Loyal Eddies were completely out of contact with the rest of the Battalion. Machine guns from the Brigade Support Group provided covering fire against snipers from the escarpment on the east side of town. The relieve of the Loyal Edmontons was a complete success and three enemy tanks in town were brewed up. The men from C-Coy then pushed forward through town against stiff opposition and occupied the area around the railway station. The C-Coy of the PPCLI was the counter attack Company for the Battalion and were placed under Loyal Edmonton command. A and B-Companies of the PPCLI moved forward mounted on Shermans. At noon the PPCLI engaged the enemy on the high ground on the northern outskirts of Leonforte. The battle continued throughout the day. During the battle the Regiment reorganized at its original base. In the evening the Patricias went back into town due to a threat of a counter attack.
At 13.30 hrs the wreckage of a German tank was cleared away which blocked the main road going into town. The leading tank of the Three Rivers Regiment was knocked out by a dual purpose gun.
At 15.20 hrs A-Coy of the PPCLI made a spirited attack on a high feature to the left of town. In this action Lieutenant Carey, commander of 7 Platoon, together with Private Reilly distinguished themselves by their bravery and resourcefulness in clearing out three enemy machine gun positions and were later awarded with a Military Cross and Military Medal.
At 17.30 hrs A-Coy, despite their heavy casualties, had gained their objective and in the face of sniping and mortaring never relaxed their grip. 8 Platoon had come up against strong opposition which was finally overcome, and it was here the Private Cousins so distinguished himself that he was recommended for the Victoria Cross.
The Regimental Aid Post made use of Leonforte Hospital where casualties poured in from the PPCLI and other units. During the afternoon Corporal Middleton of the RAP earned a Military Medal for his coolness under fire in aiding the wounded.
D-Coy of the PPCLI were entering the town and had the task of clearing it from snipers."
Eugene was initially buried near Leonforte hospital and later reburied at Agira.
Information courtesy of the 