Fred McKay "The Winnepeg Giant"

[Caractacus]

Fredrick (McLaglen) McKay (Victor McLaglen's older brother).
One of the more promising "Great White Hopes".
I just now read in a book THE FIGHTERS by Chris Greyvenstein,
that Fred McKay had joined an Australian regiment at the out break of WW I,,

"won several citations for valour before he was killed in action at Gallipoli". (1915)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gallipoli_Campaign

[Caractacus]

To confuse matters,I just read in the book THE GREAT WHITE HOPES by Grahame Kent,
that all six Mclaglen brothers enlisted in the military,but in 1918 five came back
"but Fred was killed while serving in East Africa".

[SenorPipino]

Strange.

I read in an article that Fred never engaged in combat but served in an administrative role in East Africa.

There he contracted severe amoebic dysentery and was sent home, where he died at a local hospital in 1917.

According to BoxRec, Fred (fighting under the name Fred McKay) engaged in only one bout, back in 1910.

He was KOd by one Tony Caponi in 7 rounds. Police reportedly stopped the fight because of the beating McKay was receiving.

[Caractacus]

http://boxrec.com/en/boxer/39791

[Caractacus]

I remember reading somewhere else that he was losing fights in a row and after in 1915
that he was going to "retire from Boxing and to go into the saloon buisness in Canada."
One would figure that if he did die in action in Gallipoli ( a famous battle campaign that stretched over months).
It would have been well known.
The McGlaglens were known to have been full of "Bluster and Blareny",so it makes you wonder?

[Caractacus]

the even made a movie about it back in 1981.

[Caractacus]

check this article out about Leopold McLaglen.

http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/last-po ... 91772960/l

[SenorPipino]

http://boxrec.com/en/boxer/39791

Interesting.

I gave you his 0-1 record under his true name of Fred McLaglen.

It has to be the same person. Both are listed as hailing from Winnipeg Canada.

It appears Fred returned 2 years after his 1910 bout under the McKay name and went on to a fairly lengthy career.

He still wasn't successful as his 6-12 record (11 losses by KO) attests

But surprisingly he went the distance in a loss to King Levinsky, an accomplished 1920s light heavyweight.

McKay's boxing career ended in 1915, which must have been when he entered the service.

[Caractacus]

The British Empire (including Canada) entered WW I on 4.August.1914.

also I came across this in the chapter about Victor McLaglen in the book THE GREAT WHITE HOPES.
"There are no traces of Victor Mclaglen in the Military Archives of the Chesire and Middlesex regiments
or the Irish Fusilers,three of the units he claimed to have served".

[SenorPipino]

Well, as you said, the McLaglens were known for a healthy dose of bluster and blarney.

[Caractacus]

are ypu speaking of "Fred McKay's bout with Tony Caponi on May.16.1910 ?
Maybe he was inactive until 1912 because he was in jail in Winnepeg ?
Reportedly he had been on the Winnepeg Police force
but was sentenced 30 days in jail in February 1911 for robbing someone of 80 dollars.
( according to Boxrec).