Mackey Family WW1

The Mackey Family

When looking for the death of John Mackey (son of Richard and Ellen), not finding it I went to the Commonwealth War Graves Commision site. In there I found the death of John Mackey together with his brother in law Frank Mangan. They both had perished onboard the S.S "Adela" which was sunk by a torpedo 28/12/1917  off the Isle of Anglesea.  So off to the papers I went and found this little piece on January 1st 1918.

John Mackey died of Exposure on that Lifeboat. His body was brought back to Dublin (almost immediately), and he was buried in Glasnevin.

A few days later the following appeared.

Note that John Mackey was down as John Macken, however 2 days later the following appeared in the Irish Independent.

The incapacited Brother in Law, was his own brother Richard. Richard lived with Frank Mangan. Frank had two sons Richard  and John Mangan already fighting with the allies. Both survived and were decorated. Note that Mary Anne Mangan (nee Mackey) died shortly afterwards.

John Mackey's wife Ellen applied in 1922 for his war medals. Here is the Medal Chart.

John and Frank are both remembered in Tower Hill Memorial London. Details are included in the Memorial of the Dead.

Here is the record of those that perished.

Surname        Forename         Rank                            Unit                              Born    

BARRY           William             Fireman                        S.S. "Adela" (Dublin)    Born in Dublin 

BYRNE           Peter                Winchman                    S.S. "Adela" (Dublin)    Born in Dublin 

CORCORAN  Patrick             Cattleman                     S.S. "Adela" (Dublin)    Born at Castledermot, Co. Kildare       

FARRELL       James               Cattleman (Asst.)          S.S. "Adela" (Dublin)    Born at Dún Laoghaire 

FORTUNE      James               Second Mate                S.S. "Adela" (Dublin)    Born at Courtown, Co. Wexford         

HALPIN          Patrick             Able Seaman                S.S. "Adela" (Dublin)    Born at Dún Laoghaire 

JONES            George             Able Seaman and Lamps S.S. "Adela" (Dublin) Born at Clintorp, Co. Dublin    

JONES            Thomas            Fireman                        S.S. "Adela" (Dublin)    Born in Dublin 

KEEGAN        Laurance          Cattleman                     S.S. "Adela" (Dublin)    Born at Coolock, Co. Dublin   

MACKEY       John                 Fireman                        S.S. "Adela" (Dublin)    Born in Dublin 

MANGAN      Frank               Fireman                        S.S. "Adela" (Dublin)    Born in Dublin 

MANNING     Joseph Michael Able Seaman                S.S. "Adela" (Dublin)    Born at Dublin 

McCALLUM   Patrick             Able Seaman                S.S. "Adela" (Dublin)    Born in Dublin 

WALSH          Andrew            Donkeyman                  S.S. "Adela" (Dublin)    Born in Dublin 

WOLFE           Christopher      Winchman                    S.S. "Adela" (Dublin)    Born in Dublin

 Davey  Frederick         2635 A Seaman            S.S. " Adela." Royal Naval Reserve      27/12/1917      28

Further Information      

Employed in the Channel Steamer Service. Killed in action when the SS Adela was torpedoed on her way from Dublin to Liverpool.Son of Thomas Lee Davey and the late Sarah Anne Davey; husband of Sarah Alice Davey, of 3, Crofton Avenue, Kingstown, Co. Dublin. Buried Commemorated Portsmouth Naval Memorial, Hampshire, UK.

 ALEXANDER DONALDSON

 Steward, Mercantile Marine, S.S. "Adela" (Dublin) died 28/12/1917, aged 47.

Son of the late David and Isabella Donaldson; husband of Jessie Donaldson (nee McKenzie), of 38, Cowper Rd.,

Old Swan, Liverpool. Born at St. Andrews, Fifeshire.Remembered at Tower Hill memorial, England.    

TOWER HILL MEMORIAL PHOTO'S

Richard Mangan, son of Frank and Maryann Mangan was a driver in the Royal Engineers. He was in Galopoli. He received the 15 Star with his name and rank engraved on the back, together with the Victory and British War medals.

Here is a photo of Richard in Uniform with his wife Annie (nee murphy), and also his  Medal Card.

Cornelius Mangan

 Cornelius received the British War Medal.

In the Naval Medals and Awards, names appear with their medals, not like the Army with the medal card. Note that the John Mangan (Nr 2172) was not his brother. This John died in 1916, and had a wife Elizabeth.

here is the record

Christopher Mackey

Christopher Mackey enlisted in 1917. He gave the correct day and month but the wrong year for his age. He received the War and Victory Medals.

Cornelius Mackey

Cornelius is seen together with Christopher on this list, Cornelius received the Star, Victory and War Medal.

Patrick Mackey son of Francis Mackey was in the Mercantile Marine. He received the Mercantile Marine Medal and the British War Medal.

Richard Mackey son of Francis Mackey was a soldier when he first married in 1908. In the war he bacame a

sergeant. He was with the Royal Field Artillery initially, thence the Royal Engineers. He was a boilermaker and as such his skills were in much demand. He initially enlisted in 1905.

Here is his Medal Card

He received the 1915 Star, the Victory and the British War Medal.When he returned after the war he moved from the North Strand to Camac Park Bluebell. He and his family were known as the Bluebell Mackey's.

Photo of Camac Park being built. From the National Archives Kew.

William Shortall enlisted in 1908. Here is his Medal Card, note he received the 1914 Star. If you received the 1914 Star you were not eligible for the 1914-1915 Star, or the 1915 Star. His 1914 Star medal may have his name engraved on the back.

Here is a photo of William taken about 1916/1917 with comrades, William is back right.

Williams brother's Bryan (also known as Brian and Bernard) won the 1914 Star, Victory and the British War Medal, he was with the Dublin Fusiliers. James (called himself John James)  a younger brother, enlisted about 1916 and received the Victory and British War medal. A photo of William and James is in the Family Tree.

Thomas Smyth

Thomas, husband of Ellen Brennan a relation to Laurence and Annie Keenan. He was in the Dublin Fusiliers

here is his medal card