Cameron MacKay enlisted with the 48th Highlanders (militia) on 16 April 1934 and was assigned to the Pipe Band. During the Second World War Cameron MacKay enlisted with the 2nd Battalion, 48th Highlanders on 08 January 1943. He was assigned the service number B486575 in “Band, Bn HQ”. A handwritten comment on the entry stated “Served continuously with the 48th; marked unfit at first. Major Fraser”. With the war over Cameron MacKay enlisted with the 48th Highlanders (militia) on 22 March 1946 and was assigned to Bn HQ/Pipe Band. He was given a new service number B487287. He served until 25 March 1955 when he resigned. Part 2 Orders No. 10/55 state “at his own request”.

MacKay joined the militia battalion on 16 April 1934. He stayed with the Pipe Band of the militia (Home Battalion) before the war and for the early years of the war until the 2nd Battalion was created, taking over from the Home Battalion. People transferred from the home battalion to the 2nd Battalion. Some of those in the 2nd Battalion were there for training and went overseas. Others in the 2nd battalion were training staff, HQ/Orderly room staff, and two bands – the Pipe Band and a Military Band.   For MacKay this is why the statement marked unfit at first is there. He wasn’t going overseas but the fact that he might or might not be “unfit” was not relevant for members of the band. He was fit for service in the band, just not fit for combat. When the 1st Battalion came back from Europe the 2nd Battalion was dismantled and the 48th Highlanders of Canada, militia battalion was created, just as it had been before the war. Members of the returning battalion and the 2nd Battalion who wished to continue with the 48th then were re-enrolled in the recreated militia battalion. MacKay was one who did so. For a couple of years, up to the end of 1947 the army continued to issue service numbers in the same B48XXX grouping so MacKay got a new number. Net, net, he served continuously with the 48th Highlanders Pipe Band from 1934 to 1955.