A Victory Medal to Lieut. McKinney who was Wounded at Passchendaele

A Victory Medal to Lieut. McKinney who was Wounded at Passchendaele - (LIEUT. A. MC KINNEY.). Naming is officially impressed. Crisp detail, contact identations and bruising on the rim, better than very fine. Accompanied by copies of his Attestation Paper, Medical Records, Service Records, Pay Records and Will.Footnote: Alexander McKinney was born on September 27, 1885 in Letterkenney, County Donegal, Ireland. He signed his Attestation Paper with the 156th Battalion (156th Leeds and Grenville Battalion) on Janauary 12, 1916 in Brockville, Ontario, stating that he had no previous military service, that he was married and that his trade was that of Merchant (Bank Clerk). The Battalion was raised in Leeds and Grenville Counties of Ontario, with mobilization headquarters at Brockville under the authority of G.O. 151, December 22, 1915. The Battalion embarked Halifax, Nova Scotia aboard the S.S. Northland on October 18, 1916, under the command of Lieutenant-Colonel T.C.D. Bedeil with a strength of 28 officers and 778 other ranks, including McKinney, arriving on the 28th. McKinney was taken on strength by the 119th Battalion on transfer from the 156th Battalion on November 1, 1916 at Bramshott, reverting to the rank of Private at his own request. He later was promoted to Acting Corporal, then Acting Sergeant. The first three weeks of January 1917 were busy for McKinney, as he was On Command with the 56th Battalion, then joining the 119th Battalion and later transferred to the156th Battalion. Before leaving for the French theatre, he was given the rank of Temporary Lieutenant on August 2, 1917. McKinney arrived in France on September 3, 1917, leaving for the 2nd Battalion on the 8th and joining them in the field on the 14th. Two months later, he was wounded by shrapnel at Passchendaele (Third Battle of Ypres) on November 5, 1917, listed as a G.S.W. (gun shot wound) to the left buttock, the left thigh and behind the right knee. He was subsequently invalided wounded and attached to the Eastern Ontario Regimental Depot at Seaford on November 12, 1917. His Medical Board Report of a Disabled Officer dated April 27, 1918 stated "This officer now reports after two months leave spent in Ireland & England that he is much improved, His scars are slightly painful and his knee pains after walking for a while.", with the Board recommending him for "General Service" on May 27th, having been previously taken on strength by the 6th Reserve Battalion on April 30, 1918. As documented in January 1916 and June 1919, he suffered from myopia (nearsightedness) and astigmatism (refractive error of the eye), with glasses being recommended to correct the issues. McKinney again made his way to the French theatre in the fall of 1918, taken on strength upon arrival from England on October 9th and joining the 2nd Battalion in the field on the 12th. Upon conclusion of hostilities, he returned to England, embarking Southampton aboard the Cunard Steamship Royal George on September 20, 1919, disembarking in Halifax on the 29th. McKinney was struck off strength upon general demobilization on October 1, 1919, having served his country in Canada, England and France with the 156th Battalion, 119th Battalion, On Command with the 56th Battalion, Attended 8th Reserve Battalion, 2nd Canadian Ontario Regimental Depot, 2nd Battalion, Eastern Ontario Regimental Depot, 6th Reserve Battalion and D.D. #5, earning a War Service Badge Class "A" along the way. He died on February 9, 1961 at the age of 75.