Douglas Bertram MacDonald MM RCAMC (March 7, 1917 – June 6, 1944) was born [1] in Queen's Park, London where his parents had met and married in 1916. The family lived together in London until they emigrated to Canada in 1919.
At the age of 14 Douglas joined the 22nd Field Ambulance of the Royal Canadian Army Medical Corps in Halifax Nova Scotia. Douglas enlisted into the Canadian Army the day before war was declared by the British Government in 1939, he was then transferred to Aldershot in England in July 1940 to begin training.
On the morning of June 6, 1944 his unit landed at Juno Beach, sector Nan Red during the initial assault. He was killed in action, age 27 that morning while assisting wounded on the beach. [2]
Corporal Douglas Bertram MacDonald is buried at the Bény-sur-Mer Canadian War Cemetery in France.
Douglas was awarded the Military Medal posthumously for bravery in battle together with five other medals for his service. On the 19th August 1944 the following citation was issued by the Canadian Active Service Force (CASF):
The KING has been graciously pleased to approve the following awards for gallant and distinguished conduct in the field.
Details of Douglas' action on Juno Beach are also recorded in the book Valour on Juno Beach. D-Day - June 6, 1944. [3]
Douglas died saving life on the beaches and was awarded the third highest military medal posthumously at Rideau Hall, Ottawa in 1944 by Lord & Lady Athlone then Governor General of Canada. His Mother Grace attended the investiture and became a silver cross mother. Six members of the MacDonald family including Douglas' parents and his three brothers have been awarded a total of 36 medals for their service during World War I and II.[4]
Significantly Corporal Douglas MacDonald lost his life caring for the lives of others in order to help establish a crucial bridgehead at the beginning of the most important military operation in world history. Without him and men of his fortitude and bravery, the entire endeavour could not have succeeded.
Two articles appeared in the Chronicle Herald, Halifax, NS. about the naming of streets in Halifax after war veterans of World War II.[5] In the year 2000 the regional council of Halifax, Nova Scotia named a sports field after Douglas B MacDonald.[6] [7] [8]
References
edit- ^ "Birth Register Index entry". FreeBMD. ONS. Retrieved 6 June 2023.
- ^ "No.-22-Canadian-Field-Ambulance-R.C.A.M.C.-War-Diaries-June-July-1944" (PDF).
- ^ https://www.amazon.co.uk/Valour-Juno-Beach-D-Day-June/dp/189618202X
- ^ "DECORATED AT GOVERNMENT HOUSE". The Halifax Herald. Halifax, Nova Scotia. December 14, 1944.
- ^ Brooks, Patricia (November 11, 1999). "Veteran's memorial detoured - family". The Chronicle-Herald. Halifax, Nova Scotia.
- ^ Elliott, Brendan (July 14, 2000). "City fulfils pledge to honour D-Day medic after 51 years: Park to be named after medal-winning soldier killed in action". The Daily News. Halifax, Nova Scotia. p. 3. ProQuest 343100913.
- ^ Flinn, Brian. "City honours vet". The Daily News. Halifax, Nova Scotia.
- ^ Dorey, Barry (July 15, 2000). "Honoring a D-Day hero". The Chronicle-Herald. Halifax, Nova Scotia.
Sources
editThe London Gazette, 29 August 1944 Supplement:36679 Page:4051 [1]
Posthumous recommendation [2]
DECORATIONS-C. A. S. F. MILITARY MEDAL, C.G.34 19-8-44 page 3546
Chronicle Herald article, Halifax, NS. Nov 6/7 Nov.7, 1999
Private Correspondence of Senator Bernie Boudreau dated July 18, 2000
Invitation to the unveiling of the Douglas B MacDonald Memorial Sportsfield signed by the Mayor and members of the Halifax Regional Council dated July 26, 2000.
Map Link to Douglas B MacDonald Memorial Field [3]
Canadian Virtual War Memorial [4]