Major Andrew Evans carries Captain Paul McKay’s sword in Anzac Day march, 10 years after his death

Captain Paul McKay tragically took his own life after serving in Afghanistan. But 10 years later, a good friend has found a way to honour him.

Major Andrew Evans honoured his late friend Capt Paul McKay by carrying his sword in the Anzac Day march. Picture: Russell Millard

Major Andrew Evans proudly marched through the streets of Adelaide with his regiment on Thursday, carrying the infantry sword of his late friend – and fellow soldier – Captain Paul McKay, who took his own life in 2013.

Major Evans received special permission to carry the sword and honour Adelaide-rised Captain McKay 10 years after his death – whom he served shoulder-to-shoulder with in Afghanistan in 2011.

Those who served alongside Captain McKay, including Major Evans who is is a sub-unit commander at 16th Regiment in Woodside, had bracelets made that they wear every day to honour his life.

Major Evans said he carried Captain McKay’s legacy with him everyday - both the discipline and commitment he brought to everything in his life, as well as the massive contributions he made to the conversation on welfare of service members after his death.

“He was an incredibly dedicated man who was just a consummate professional. Remembering Paul like that, and how was as an officer, is very important to me,” he said.

Major Andrew Evans honoured his late friend Capt Paul McKay by carrying his sword in today’s Anzac Day march. Picture: Russell Millard

Major Andrew Evans honoured his late friend Capt Paul McKay by carrying his sword in today’s Anzac Day march. Picture: Russell Millard

Major Andrew Evans with a commemorative bracelet of Capt Paul McKay Picture: Russell Millard

“Because of how Paul took his own life as well – having his sword and wearing this bracelet every day is a reminder to make sure to look after my mates, look after my soldiers and just make sure everybody’s looked after.

“With veteran suicide being such a big thing and mental health … as an organisation we have different ways of looking after each other but then it’s down to one-on-one relationships and making sure that we look after the soldiers under our command, and look after our peers and our mates.”

Captain McKay, 31, went missing on New Year’s Eve 2013.

He was last seen walking a trail in upstate New York.

Paul McKay took his own life in 2013 after serving in Afghanistan. Picture: Australian War Memorial

Paul McKay took his own life in 2013 after serving in Afghanistan. Pictured: Supplied by family

Funeral of Captain Paul McKay at St Peter's Cathedral Adelaide, 2014. Copyright: Commonwealth of Australia.

He had sent an email to his father, John McKay, the previous day saying he was leaving him all of his possessions.

Mr McKay reported his son missing two weeks before he was found by a New York forest ranger.

Reports in America said an autopsy found Captain McKay died of hypothermia.

A coroner ruled the death a suicide.

Captain McKay was suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder after a tour of Afghanistan and was on annual leave from the Army.

Last weekend, Major Evans met Captain McKay’s mother Angela McKay for the first time and described her as a “very strong woman”.

“Paul and I worked together on operations in 2011 and 2012,” Major Evans said.

“When he passed, I flew down for his funeral but at that time I had never met his mum.

“I had sort of followed her through social media and the stuff that she had been doing with the inquest into veterans suicide. It was great to meet her.

“It was through a random friend of a friend that she found out that I wore a bracelet and she reached out to me in 2020,” he said.

“It was really great to talk to her. She is a very strong woman and I honestly think Paul would be very proud with how she’s kind of been an ambassador with the veteran suicide inquest.

“She loves her son, and she wants to make sure that all soldiers are looked after when they return from service.”