Comments on: The Missionary and the London Air Raid

By: Ardis E. Parshall

Ardis E. Parshall — Fri, 23 Sep 2011 19:12:00 +0000

Yes, Thomas E. (brother to David O.) was the father of Fawn McKay Brodie — she was named for her mother Fawn Brimhall McKay. (Not trusting myself, I’ve just checked all that on New Family Search.)

By: Steve C.

Steve C. — Fri, 23 Sep 2011 18:52:40 +0000

Thomas E. McKay was David O’s brother and had served verious missions in the German-speaking areas of Europe. He was called as president of the newly created Swiss-Austria mission in 1938. He was also, if I recall correctly, an Assistant to the Twelve. When World War II broke out he was called as European mission president. He spent the first little while in Europe after the war began but by 1939 was back in the United States where he did keep up with the various European missions via correspondence. After the United States entered the war in 1941, communication with the German missions was cut entirely.

Maybe someone knows this for sure, but I think Thomas E. was also the father of Fawn Brodie. Is that correct?

By: Ardis E. Parshall

Ardis E. Parshall — Fri, 23 Sep 2011 17:43:23 +0000

… let me try that again.

This isn’t the first time I’ve mixed up the McKay men — I don’t know why I can’t get it right, or at least can’t remember to check ALWAYS because I ALWAYS get it wrong.

James Gunn McKay is not, so far as I can tell, related to David O. McKay. Other than that, what is written here is right — right name, right dates, right wife, and he is definitely the author of the quoted account about the air raid.

The OTHER man, the one I keep mixing him up with, is Thomas Evans McKay, who was nominal president of the European Mission during World War II (nominal because he had to leave Europe, and was only able to “preside” from afar through what little word could be sent through in either direction. He — Thomas Evans McKay — was the brother of David O. McKay.

*smacks forehead because this is at least the third time on Keepa I have made this identical mistake*

By: The Other Clark

The Other Clark — Fri, 23 Sep 2011 16:49:37 +0000

Wasn't there another McKay brother who also served as a Church leader in England? Named Thomas, or something? Great account. I was trying to imagine how primitive biplanes managed a bombing raid of this magnitude. I'd forgotten about the zeppelins. Thanks Steve C for filling in the missing details for my mental picture. (Which, thanks to Google, I can say looks something like this.)

By: Bruce Crow

Bruce Crow — Fri, 23 Sep 2011 14:58:56 +0000

This was a fascinating read. I also had no idea of the WWI bombing raids in London.

By: Kent Larsen

Kent Larsen — Fri, 23 Sep 2011 13:26:14 +0000

For a minute I was confused between World War I and II — and since I had noticed that he died in 1941, I was worried where this was going. I had no idea there were air raids like this during WWI.

It may be interesting for readers to know that this was the father of K. Gunn McKay, who represented Utah in the House of Representatives and was a Mission President in Scotland.

By: Maurine Ward

Maurine Ward — Fri, 23 Sep 2011 03:38:55 +0000

His graphic way of words put me right in the middle of his experiences. It is really amazing who we will associate with when our lives are in danger.I thought it was great that he told the four women he was a Mormon missionary but they hung onto him anyway because they associated him with safety.

By: Ardis E. Parshall

Ardis E. Parshall — Thu, 22 Sep 2011 21:43:03 +0000

Oh, boy! A real world use for a Keepa post! I’m glad it was so timely.

By: Steve C.

Steve C. — Thu, 22 Sep 2011 21:30:11 +0000

Anne: I think your insights on this are correct. In my 20th Century Europe class I lectured over the World War I era and mentioned this account–i.e. an eye-witness account of this horrendous event. It fit in well. Thanks Ardis.

By: Anne (U.K)

Anne (U.K) — Thu, 22 Sep 2011 17:14:21 +0000

presumably this would be amongst the first experiences civilians would have had of air raids- up to that point the only opportunities presented to the enemy to attack civilians would have been the shelling of seaside towns by the enemy fleet. It must have been absolutely terrifying to watch your neighbourhood being bombed, when up to that point warfare was something which involved trained soldiers on far-away battlefields, or sailors at sea.