May 10, 1891

Born in Ottawa, Ontario to Harry Percy and Ada May (nee Baxter) Macdonell

Granted a commission with the rank of Lieutenant in the Governor General’s Foot Guards per Canada Gazette January 1, 1916

Attached to the 77^th Battalion in Ottawa from the Governor General’s Foot Guards

Transferred to the 238^th Battalion in Ottawa, Ontario

Officer’s Declaration on enlistment into the 238^th Battalion in Ottawa, Ontario

Ø  Rank Lieutenant

Ø  Next of kin given as Harry Percy Macdonell, father, 148 Marlborough Ave., Ottawa, Ontario

Ø  Previous occupation given as Surveyor

Ø  Previous military experience given as Governor General’s Foot Guard and 6 months in the 77^th Battalion CEF

Ø  Religion given as Protestant

Embarked the SS Scandinavian in Halifax, Nova Scotia

Sep 22, 1916

Disembarked in Liverpool, England

Nov 23, 1916

Transferred to the CFC (Canadian Forestry Corps) and posted to No. 111 Company in Castle Douglas

Dec 2, 1916

Transferred to the CFC (Canadian Forestry Corps) and posted to the Director of Timber Operations in London

Jun 22, 1917

Transferred to the 6^th Reserve Battalion in Seaford

Sep 4, 1917

Transferred to the 21^st Battalion

Sep 5, 1917

Arrived at the No. 2 CIBD (Canadian Infantry Base Depot) in Etaples, France and Taken on Strength of the 21^st Battalion

Sep 9, 1917

After leaving the base depot, he joined the 2^nd Canadian Entrenching Battalion in Hersin, France

Sep 15, 1917

After leaving the reinforcement camp, Lieutenant Macdonell joined the 21^st Battalion in the front line east of Vimy Ridge, France and was posted to “C” Company

Sep 30, 1917

Proceeded on course

Oct 27, 1917

Rejoined the battalion in Godewaersvelde, France from course

Dec 11, 1917

Attached to the 4^th FCCE (Field Company Canadian Engineers) for duty

Dec 18, 1917

Rejoined the battalion near Acheville, France from duty with the engineers

Jan 6, 1918

Proceeded on course

Jan 18, 1918

Rejoined the battalion from course

Jan 31, 1918

Granted 14 days leave

Feb 15, 1918

Admitted to the No. 13 Canadian General Hospital in Hastings with diagnosis that reads Bronchitis.  He had been slightly gassed during the fighting at Passchendaele, Belgium in November, but was not serious enough to be hospitalized.  His bronchitis was attributed to that exposure

Granted an extension of his leave until February 25, 1918 to cover his time in hospital

Feb 25, 1918

Granted a further extension of his leave until March 7, 1918 to cover his time in hospital

Mar 7, 1918

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

Mar 23, 1918

Transferred to the Officer’s Convalescent Hospital in Matlock, Bath

Apr 20, 1918

Discharged from hospital and transferred to the 6^th Reserve Battalion in Seaford

Jul 13, 1918

Attached to the 1^st Officer’s School in the Brocton Camp, Staffordshire, England

Sep 9, 1918

Rejoined the 6^th Reserve Battalion in Seaford from the Brocton School

Oct 8, 1918

Transferred to the 21^st Battalion

Oct 9, 1918

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

Oct 11, 1918

After leaving the base depot, he joined the CCRC (Canadian Corps Reinforcement Camp) in Aubin St. Vaast, France

Oct 15, 1918

After leaving the reinforcement camp, Lieutenant Macdonell rejoined the 21^st Battalion north-east of Iwuy, France

Nov 9, 1918

While “C” Company was advancing east of Warquignies, Belgium, Lieutenant Macdonell received shrapnel wounds to his neck, head, back and right arm.  He was evacuated to the No. 6 CFA (Canadian Field Ambulance) for first aid before being transported to the No. 33 CCS (Casualty Clearing Station).  Surgery was performed here to remove shrapnel and clean his wounds. 

Nov 12, 1918

Transferred to the No. 20 General Hospital in Camiers, France

Nov 20, 1918

Invalided to England aboard the Hospital Ship Stad Antwerpen

On arrival in England, he was admitted to the 2^nd Western General Hospital in Manchester

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

Nov 23, 1918

Reported to be dangerously ill from his wounds

Feb 28, 1919

Transferred to the Granville Canadian Special Hospital in Buxton

May 5, 1919

Embarked the Hospital Ship Essequibo in Liverpool

May 17, 1919

Disembarked in Portland, Maine, USA and proceeded to Kingston, Ontario where he was Taken On Strength of District Depot No. 3

On arrival in Kingston, he was admitted to the Queen’s Military Hospital

May 30, 1919

Transferred to the Sir Sandford Fleming Hospital, Ottawa, Ontario

May 31, 1919

Transferred to District Depot No. 2 in Toronto, Ontario for pay purposes while in hospital

On Arrival in Toronto, he was admitted to the Spadina Military Hospital

Jun 2, 1919

Transferred to the Dominion Orthopedic Hospital, Christie St., Toronto

Aug 31, 1919

Transferred to District Depot No. 3 and admitted to the Sir Sandford Fleming Hospital in Ottawa, Ontario

Nov 1, 1919

Transferred to the Sydenham Hospital in Kingston, Ontario

Nov 13, 1919

Discharged from the CEF while in Kingston hospital

Ø  Rank on discharge Lieutenant

Ø  Entitled to War Service Badge Class “A”

Ø  Proposed residence on discharge Belvedere Hotel, Kingston, Ontario

He was discharged to the care of the SCR (Soldier’s Civil Re-establishment) department for ongoing care

Following his discharge, the British War Medal and Victory Medals were sent to him at 81 Somerset St. W., Ottawa, Ontario

Dec 31, 1919

Discharged from hospital and proceeded to Ottawa, Ontario

Jun 6, 1925

Married to Aileen Lilian Maxwell in Ottawa

Employed in the civil service in Ottawa until his retirement in 1954 when he moved to British Columbia

Jun 21, 1962

Donald Kenneth Macdonell died while a patient of the King’s Daughter’s Hospital in Duncan, British Columbia and was buried in the St. Mary’s Anglican Cemetery in Duncan