Ian McKay


Ian John McKay, VC 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 platoon sergeant of 4 Platoon, B Company, 3rd Battalion, The Parachute Regiment, during 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.

Citation

The medal

McKay's medals were sold by his wife around the year 2000, and his VC is now on display in the Lord Ashcroft Gallery at the Imperial War Museum, London.

Legacy

The Territorial Army centre in Sgt McKay's home town of Rotherham is named "McKay VC Barracks", also an accommodation block at the Defence Academy at Shrivenham was named McKay House in his honour.
In mid October 2011, the Sergeants and Warrant Officers bar at MPA, Falkland Islands, was renamed as "Ian McKay VC Bar" in his honour.
McKay was profiled in the 2006 television docudrama Victoria Cross Heroes, which included archive footage, dramatisations of his actions and an interview with his mother.
The McKay VC Gymnasium is a gym facility and sports hall located across the football fields at Vimy Barracks, Catterick Garrison. A Facility that oversees the training of recruits from The Parachute Regiment and other Units.