Lieutenant Donald Ryerson Macdonald

Lieutenant, 18th Battalion, Infantry (Army).

Son of Francis Edward Macdonald, of The Albany Club, Toronto. Reverted to ranks twice in effort to reach France. Gazetted Lieut. (18th Battalion.) in the Field.

Also listed under no. 511926

Lt. Donald Ryerson MacDonald, 18th Battalion, Royal Canadian
Regiment Killed in action August 16, 1917, at 19 years of age. Born in Toronto, MacDonald was one of
Appleby's original students, having followed founding Headmaster John Guest from Upper Canada
College. He played on the First Rugby (Football), Hockey and Cricket teams, won the Victor Ludorum
Trophy in 1915, and earned admission to the University of Toronto. He was commissioned a Lieutenant
in the Thirty-fourth Regiment, Canadian Militia, but reverted to the ranks twice in an effort to reach
France. On arrival in England he was promised a commission in the Surrey Regiment; he took his course,
but could not be gazetted because he was under age. He went to France as a private soldier in the
Trench Mortar Battery of the Fourth Brigade, and after nine months in the trenches, was promoted
Lieutenant in the field. He was killed by a bomb while reconnoitering ground in front of a newly-won
position in the outskirts of Lens.

From the Appleby College archives.

LIEUT. MACDONALD KILLED
Reverted to Ranks and Won Back His Commission on the Field.

Lieut. Donald R. Macdonald (sic), son of Mr. Frank Macdonald, Rowanwood avenue, was killed in action on August 16th. He his the youngest of three brothers serving at the front. He was only 19 years of age, and although he received his commission in Canada, he reverted to the ranks to get to the front quickly. After nine months' service at the front, he was promoted to the rank of lieutenant with an infantry battalion. He was a native of Toronto and a grandson of the the late Hon. Donald Macdonald. He was educated at Upper Canada College and Appleby Academy. His eldest brother, Capt. F. H.C. Maconald now commands a forestry unit at the front; his second brother, Capt. H.H. Macdonald, is with the Royal Sussex Regiment. He was wounded in August last, and is now on his way to Egypt after recovering.

Source: Toronto Star - August 28, 1917.

MACDONALD, DONALD RYERSON; E. September '07, after private tuition; aged 9-2; L. June '10; son of F.E. Macdonald, Toronto. Enlisted, June 1915; Lt. 46th Regt.; 80th; 93rd;64th; resigned commn. and enlisted as Pte. with M.G.C. in order to go O.S.; O.S., April, 1916; France, June, 1916; transf'd 20th Bn., June, 1916; regained commn. with 18th Bn.; killed in action at Lens, August 16, 1917.

Source: The Warbook of Upper Canada College