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Henry Fergus Mackain (my 3rd cousin 3 times removed) was born in 1892 in Paris, France, the 2nd eldest son of John Elgin Mackain and Marguerite (nee Lejeune-Vincent).
In 1915 Henry enlisted in the Artists' Rifles. "During WWI, 10,256 officers were commissioned after training with the Artists' Rifles. They went to the Foot Guards, every infantry regiment and to many of the Corps". On 18th March 1916, as reported in the London Gazette, Private Mackain was listed as moving from The London Regiment, Territorial Force to be temporary Second Lieutenant, for duty with the Royal Flying Corps.
We catch precious glimpses of Henry in action, including the extraordinary circumstances surrounding his death, from letters written by Lt Joseph William Greig Clark 13 SQN RFC.
29th January 1917. "I went up (today) with MacKain, a fine young kid, as my pilot and my job was to spot 'Archies', that is to draw fire from their 'Anti's' and then watch for the flames from their guns. The ground was covered with snow and we were flying pretty high and we didn't catch any. But we suspect one and 'Mac' and I are going to spot it and then we will go back and get one of our batteries to strafe it. To spot a Hun battery in action is a triumph indeed and Mac, an old timer, and I are out for gore."
19th March 1917. "Daley ... a boy from Jamaica (eighteen years old) is going to get the MC for one of the nerviest pieces of business that I have ever heard of. They were on a patrol when five huns dived on them. Mackain, a boy I spoke to you about before, I think, was hit and lost consciousness. Mac was his pilot, you see. Daley kept on pumping machine gun ammunition into the Bosches until one of them tilted up and dropped into a spin, done in. The other huns then dived away. Daley, realizing that the bus was getting soggy with Mac done in, climbed out of his seat (the front one) and into Mac's lap, where he took charge of the bus (BE2d 5875) and brought it to earth making a splendid landing". Note:- Incredibly, Daley's citation for the Military Cross was apparently turned down.
With acknowledgement to "Implacably Entrenched" by Stewart K. Taylor - Cross & Cockade International Autumn 2010.
Lieutenant Henry Fergus Mackain died on the ground, of his wounds, on 27th February 1917 according to his CWGC commemoration, and is buried at the AUBIGNY COMMUNAL CEMETERY EXTENSION. The inscription on his headstone reads "IF I AM KILLED / IT WILL BE THE BEST / FOR US ALL / IT BEING HIS WILL". He was awarded the British War Medal and Victory Medal.
