Lt Com Mackay/ HMS Ceto or HMS Harrier

[John Burnett]

CWGC has Lt Commander Frederick Black Mackay, date of death 17/4/1916. Theatre of death HMS Ceto.

Scorrish National War Memorial has same except theatre of death is given an RNR HMS Harrier.

Anyone information on him?

Why the difference between Ceo and Harrier?

What is decoration R.D.?

[sotonmate]

John

Scant information do I know,but this: H.M.Yacht CETO and H.M.S HARRIER Minesweeper. I will take a look in the local Library Janes' Fighting Ships for the War period some time shortly,unless someone here has it to hand ! The yacht may have been either a donation or a requisition for the duration.

Sotonmate

[joseph]

John,

Ceto was a Depot ship for Ramsgate. Harrier was a Torpedo Gunboat which survived the war and was sold in 1920. I would think he was attatched to Ceto but served on Harrier, as Lt Cdr probably the Commanding officer.

Regards Charles

Edited 18.56 18/01/2007

[joseph]

John,

RD is Reserve Decoration;

http://www.royal-naval-reserve.co.uk/medals/rd.htm

Regards Charles

[historydavid]

John, his Admiralty record shows:

MACKAY, FREDERICK B., LCDR, RNR (ret), CETO, 17/04/2016, DROWNING.

It would appear that he must have served on Harrier, been drowned (probably accidently), then his body recovered and passed to depot ship Ceto.

Best wishes

David

[John Burnett]

Thanks to everybody for the information. I have a clearer picture now.