Mac McKay ’ s role in obtaining compassionate treatment for German Samoan internees has only recently come to light in the release of Archives NZ documents . Though he returned to Samoa a number of times after the war and was always given a warm reception by his many friends , Mr McKay never spoke of his work on behalf of the German Samoans .
He had gone from a lowly clerk emptying the pockets of deportees in 1920 to a senior civil servant a quarter of a century later who made sure that similar unfortunates were treated with humanity .
Mr and Mrs McKay retired to Whangarei . Mac McKay was awarded the Queen ’ s honour , the Imperial Service Order , in 1954 , for his service in Samoa . He died in March 1976 .
Photo : McKay Family Collection , ‘ Piula College – Farewell for a departing principal .’ Photo shows Mac on the right with his wife Hilda and son Peter .
| To Walk Under Palm Trees - The Germans in Samoa : Snapshots from Albums | Tony Brunt
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