Jun 10, 1889

Born in Greenfield, Ontario to Roderick and Christine (nee MacDonell) MacDonald

Mar 13, 1916

Officer’s Declaration on enlistment into the 154^th Battalion CEF in Cornwall, Ontario

Ø  Rank Lieutenant

Ø  Next of kin given as Mrs. J.L. MacDonald, wife, Greenfield, Ontario

Ø  Previous occupation given as Carpenter

Ø  Previous military experience given as 59^th Stormont Glengarry Regiment, 2 years in Training Camp and 15 months on the Canal Guard

Ø  Religion given as Roman Catholic

The battalion trained in the Barriefield Camp, Kingston, Ontario

Jul 31, 1916

Married to Jessie Laviolette in Greenfield, Ontario

Note that he listed his wife as next of kin 4 months earlier

Oct 25, 1916

Embarked the SS Mauretania in Halifax, Nova Scotia

Oct 31, 1916

Disembarked in Liverpool, England and the battalion proceeded to Bramshott to continue training

Jan 15, 1917

Attended the Lewis Machine Gun Course

Jan 26, 1917

Qualified First Class at the 6^th Lewis Machine Gun Course

Jan 31, 1917

Transferred to the newly formed 6^th Reserve Battalion in East Sandling.

Mar 2, 1917

The 6^th Reserve Battalion moved to Seaford to train reinforcements for the front

Mar 19, 1917

Attached to the Canadian Training School in Bexhill and posted to No. 1 Company

Apr 28, 1917

Completed and passed the 1^st Course

Sep 4, 1917

Transferred to the 21^st Battalion

Sep 5, 1917

Arrived at the Canadian Base Depot in Etaples, France and Taken On Strength of the 21^st Battalion

On joining the 21^st Battalion, he was posted to “D” Company

Nov 3, 1917

During fighting at Passchendaele, Belgium, Lieutenant MacDonald received multiple shrapnel wounds to his upper body in addition to suffering from the effects of poison gas and was evacuated to a field ambulance for first aid before being transported to the No. 3 Australian CCS (Casualty Clearing Station)

Nov 4, 1917

Transferred to the No. 14 General Hospital in Boulogne, France

Nov 9, 1917

Invalided to England

On arrival in England, he was admitted to the Prince of Wales Hospital in Marylebone, London

Transferred to the EORD (Eastern Ontario Regimental Depot) for pay purposes while in hospital

Jan 4, 1918

X-Rays show pieces of shrapnel in the chest cavity

Jan 8, 1918

Discharged from hospital

Jan 19, 1918

Granted 2 months leave to Canada

Embarked the SS Saxonia in Liverpool at his own expense

Feb 7, 1918

Disembarked in Halifax, Nova Scotia

Mar 9, 1918

Granted an extension of his leave until May 1, 1918

Mar 25, 1918

Medical exam at Ottawa, Ontario recommends he be treated at the Sir Sandford Fleming Convalescent Hospital as an Out-Patient for 1 month

May 1, 1918

Retained in Canada for further medical treatment

Aug 27, 1918

Medical Board held at Kingston Armouries recommends he be discharged from service as Medically Unfit

Aug 31, 1918

Discharged from the CEF

Ø  Rank on discharge Lieutenant

Ø  Entitled to War Service Badge Class “A”

Ø  No proposed residence was given on discharge

Following the end of the war, the British War Medal and Victory Medals were sent to him at Pembroke, Ontario

He later found employment as a Telegraphist with the Grand Trunk Railway then with the Canadian National Railway

Aug 16, 1971

John Leo MacDonald died in an Ottawa, Ontario hospital and was buried in the St. Catherines Cemetery, Greenfield, Ontario