Born in Ballarat, James Leslie McKay was a married 28 year old labourer at the time of his enlistment in Bendigo, Victoria on the 17th of February 1916. His unit embarked from Melbourne, Victoria, on board HMAT A14 Euripides on the 4th of April 1916.
On the 26th of September 1917, James was wounded in action. On the 23rd of October 1917 he was transferred to England with a gunshot wound to his chest, and on the 24th was admitted to the Davenport Military Hospital.
On the 11th of January 1918, James was transferred to the 3rd Auxiliary Hospital in Dartford.
James returned to Australia on the 7th of June 1918, and was discharged as medically unfit on the 25th of July 1918.

Tree No. 2085