Ian McKay
Recipient of the Victoria Cross
Died when: 29 years 36 days (349 months)Star Sign: Taurus
Ian John McKay, VC (7 May 1953 – 12 June 1982) was a British Army soldier and a posthumous recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces.
Born in Wortley, near Barnsley, South Yorkshire, McKay was the eldest of the three sons of Kenneth John McKay, a steel worker, and Freda Doreen Hargreaves.
He was educated at Rotherham Grammar School.McKay left school at seventeen and in August 1970 enlisted in the Army, training as a paratrooper.
Posted to the 1st Battalion, the Parachute Regiment (1 Para) in early 1971, he served in Northern Ireland, where he is remembered as "Soldier T", Germany, and the United Kingdom.
By April 1982 he was platoon sergeant of 4 Platoon, B Company, 3rd Battalion, The Parachute Regiment, and deployed with his unit for service in the Falklands War.
He was killed during the Battle of Mount Longdon, when the deed described below took place, for which he was awarded the Victoria Cross.
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