Private George McDonald

Private (Army).

Although his attestation papers gave his place of birth as Kenora, Manitoba, George McDonald was likely born on 23 November 1893 in Rat Portage (later renamed Kenora), Ontario. His father Duncan Alexander McDonald was from Ontario while his mother Mary Elizabeth Kerr (aka Carr) was from Scotland, the couple marrying on 21 October 1886 in East Selkirk, Manitoba. By the time of the 1891 census the family was living in Rat Portage where Duncan was working as a carpenter. Shortly after the 1901 census the family moved near Beausejour, Manitoba to farm. George’s known older siblings were James Patrick, Ellen, and Duncan Alexander (Alex), and younger siblings were John (Jack), Archibald (Archie), Thomas Hugh, William, and Duncan Donald.

With occupation given as farmer and his father in Beausejour as next of kin, George signed his attestation papers in Brandon, Manitoba on 23 December 1914. While training as a Private with the 45th Battalion, George became ill and died of pneumonia on 4 April 1915 in the Brandon General Hospital. Along with other family members, he is interred in the Saint Mary's Roman Catholic Cemetery in Beausejour.

George is commemorated for his service on page 25 in the First World War Book of Remembrance in Ottawa and on the Beausejour War Memorial.

By Kenora Great War Project