May 19, 1889

Born in Coldwater, Ontario

Mar 15, 1915

Attested into the 21^st Battalion in Lindsay, Ontario

Ø      Number 59708 (temporary number 1830)

Ø      Next of kin given as Mary Cook, mother, 73 Ontario St., Toronto, Ontario

Ø      Previous occupation given as Carpenter

Ø      No previous military experience given

Ø      Religion given as Presbyterian

Ø      Assigned to the Depot Company

May 6, 1915

Embarked the RMS Metagama in Montreal, Quebec

Transferred to “C” Company

May 15, 1915

Disembarked in Devonport, England and the battalion proceeded to the West Sandling Camp, near Hythe, Kent

May 25, 1915

Sentenced to 10 days detention.  The offence that prompted this punishment is not recorded.

Jun 3, 1915

Released from detention

Jun 10, 1915

Sentenced to 5 days detention for Drunkenness

Jun 26, 1915

Sentenced to 10 days detention and forfeits 5 days pay for being AWL (Absent Without Leave)

Jul 6, 1915

Sentenced to 28 days detention and forfeits 3 days pay for being AWL and Drunkenness

Aug 15, 1915

Forfeits 8 days pay for being AWL from August 8 to August 15, 1915

Sep 9, 1915

Transferred from “C” Company to the Depot Company

Sep 14, 1915

The battalion embarked for France but Private McDonald was left behind in England

Sep 25, 1915

Transferred to the 39^th Reserve Battalion

Oct 7, 1915

Fined $6.00 for being drunk

Oct 13, 1915

Sentenced to 28 days Field Punishment #2

Oct 26, 1915

Transferred to the 21^st Battalion

Oct 27, 1915

Arrived at the CBD (Canadian Base Depot) in the Rouelles Camp, Havre, France as part of a draft of 655 reinforcements from England and TOS (Taken On Strength) the 21^st Battalion

Nov 3, 1915

Joined the 21^st Battalion in billets in the town of La Clytte, France

Nov 20, 1915

Sentenced to 5 days Field Punishment #2 for Drunkenness

Dec 13, 1915

Sentenced to 7 days Field Punishment #1 and forfeits 2 days pay for being AWL for 2 days

Dec 18, 1915

Sentenced to an additional 5 days Field Punishment #2 for being drunk

Jan 20, 1916

Sentenced to 28 days Field Punishment #1 for stealing his comrades rum and for resisting police

Mar 4, 1916

Forfeits 1 days pay for being AWL from 9.00 AM February 24, 1916 till 10.00 PM February 24, 1916, sentenced to 14 hours extra fatigue duty and forfeits 2 days pay for being absent from the CO’s Parade and absent from the Marching Out Parade 4.00 PM February 25, 1916 until being handed over by Military Police at 9.00 AM February 26, 1916

Jun 3, 1916

Received a shrapnel wound to his left hand and admitted to the No. 2 CFA (Canadian Field Ambulance) for first aid then transferred to the Divisional Rest Station

Jun 5, 1916

Transferred to the No. 23 General Hospital in Etaples

Jun 10, 1916

Invalided to England aboard the Hospital Ship Stad Antwerpen

Posted to the CCAC (Canadian Casualty Assembly Centre) while in hospital

Jun 11, 1916

Admitted to the Park House VAD (Voluntary Aid Detachment) Hospital, Tunbridge Wells

Jul 7, 1916

Transferred to the Military Convalescent Hospital at Woodcote Park, Epsom

Jul 28, 1916

Discharged from hospital to base details

Sep 8, 1916

Admitted to the Shorncliffe Military Hospital diagnosed with VDG (Venereal Disease Gonorrhea).  This was later changed to read VDS (Venereal Disease Syphilis)

Sep 9, 1916

Transferred to the Canadian Convalescent Hospital, Etchinghill

Nov 17, 1916

Discharged from hospital

Nov 18, 1916

Reported to the CCAC at Shoreham

Jan 3, 1917

Transferred to the No. 3 CCD (Canadian Convalescent Centre) at St. Leonard’s Hospital for rehabilitation

Mar 10, 1917

Transferred to the EORD (Eastern Ontario Regimental Depot) for pay purposes but remained at the No. 3 CCD to continue his rehabilitation

Apr 9, 1917

Tried by District Court Martial for the charges of 

1. Being AWL from December 16, 1916 to December 29, 1916
2. Escaping custody on December 22, 1916
3. Being AWL from January 15, 1917 until being apprehended January 21, 1917
4. Theft of 4 kit bags, 2 Greatcoats and 2 pairs of boots while AWL

Private McDonald was found Guilty of the first 3 charges and Not Guilty on the 4th charge of theft.  He was sentenced to 6 months in detention.

Apr 10, 1917

Entered the Wandsworth Detention Barracks, London, to begin his sentence

Jun 22, 1917

Transferred to the 6^th Reserve Battalion but shown in the Wandsworth Detention Barracks

Aug 21, 1917

Transferred to the 21^st Battalion

Private McDonald was released early in order to proceed to the front lines in France

Aug 22, 1917

Arrived at the No. 2 CIBD (Canadian Infantry Base Depot) in Etaples, France as part of a draft of 26 reinforcements from England and TOS the 21^st Battalion

Sep 4, 1917

Left the CIBD to join his battalion

Sep 6, 1917

Joined the 21^st Battalion in billets in Villers au Bois carrying out training exercises.

Oct 2, 1917

Sentenced to 28 days Field Punishment #2 for being drunk while on Guard Duty

Nov 9, 1917

While on a work party rebuilding front line trenches on the Passchendaele front, he received severe shrapnel wounds to his back and legs and was removed to the field ambulance for first aid, then transferred to the No. 44 CCS (Casualty Clearing Station) for treatment.

Private McDonald died of his wounds that same day at the No. 44 CCS and was buried in the Nine Elms British Cemetery, Poperinge, Belgium

Following the war the 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal, Plaque (Dead Man’s Penny), Scroll and Memorial Cross were sent to his mother, Mrs. Mary Ann Cook, 5 Cassels Ave., Toronto, Ontario