Sergeant Major S. C. McKell was born in Ireland in 1858 to Thomas McKell and Sarah Corrigan. He emigrated to Canada September 20, 1874 at the age of 16 in search of work and a new life. In 1876 he joined the Queen’s Own Rifles and by 1883 he was a Sergeant in D Company where he was presented a Sergeant’s cane by his comrades.

By 1885 he was promoted to Color Sergeant of his Company and he was serving as part of the North West Field Force where he fought at the Battle of Cut Knife Creek. During the battle he was acknowledged to have helped recover a wounded soldier under fire but he was also grazed in the temple during the process. From 1886 to 87 he was President of the Sergeants’ Mess which was noted to be like a second home to him.

Outside of the regiment McKell had a position as a clerk at the firm of Hickson, Duncan & Co. purveyors of “fancy goods”, he was also a member of the Doric Lodge.

By 1889 he was promoted to Staff Sergeant and appointed Sergeant Major of the Queen’s Own Rifles.

Unfortunately McKell would not be in the position long, by December of 1890 he had died from blood poisoning. The funeral service was a large one as McKell was not only popular within the regiment but also outside of it so there were scores of soldiers from the Grenadiers and the Body Guard as well as around 460 Riflemen from the Queen’s Own in attendance. McKell is buried at St James Cemetery in Toronto with a large memorial erected by his comrades.

Inscription on gravestone:

In memory of
Sergeant Major S. C. McKell
2^nd Battalion
Queen’s Own Rifles of Canada
Died 12, Dec 1890
Aged 33 years
Erected by his comrades
The Queen’s Own Rifles

• Born: 1858, Ireland
• Former Svc:
• Religion:
• Trade: clerk
• Date of attestation: 1876
• Died: 12 Dec 1890

Timeline of service:

• 1877 26 Oct, Pte McKell earns Corporal’s certificate, regimental orders;
• 1883 Jan 9, he received a cane from his comrades in D Company, “To Sergt S.C McKell From His Comrades D Co. Q.O.R 9th Jan 1883”;
• 1885, Fought at Cut Knife Creek where “Sergt. McKell, Privates Lloyd and Acheson, distinguished themselves in assisting wounded men to places of safety under heavy fire” Canada Gazette July 4 1885, he was also wounded in the head during the campaign;
• 1886 30 Oct, Col Sgt McKell earns good attendance badge;
• 1886, he is in the photo of the Sergeants’ Mess as Color Sergeant;
• 1886, listed as Color Sergeant and president of Mess committee in Globe article;
• 1887, listed as Color Sergeant and president of Mess committee in Globe article;
• 1889 May 5, listed as Color Sergeant and participates in parliamentary debates in relation to substandard uniforms being provided by government;
• 1889, listed as Acting Sergeant Major in Globe article;
• 1889 15 May, promoted Sergeant Major, regimental orders;
• 1890, listed as Sergeant Major in Globe article;
• 1890 12 December, date of death on gravestone erected by regiment and comrades