MacDONALD, Ronald John

DIVISIONAL UNIT:     5th Canadian Infantry Division                                                                                                                                             13th Infantry Brigade                                                                                                                                                             202nd Edmonton Sportsman's Battalion                                                                        RESIDENCE:             Strathcona - Alberta                                                                                                                  BORN:                       Waycocomaugh - Inverness - Nova Scotia                                                                    CEMETERY:              Brookwood Military Cemetery - Pirbright - Surrey - England                                                                                                 III     A     14                                                                                                                              WIFE:                          Mrs. Jeanette MacDonald - Strathcona - Alberta & Seaforth - Ontario                            PARENTS:                  Mr. Archibald & Jane MacDonald - Strathcona - Alberta                                                    Personal:                    Height was 6' and his weight was 163 pounds. He had a ruddy complexion with hazel eyes and                                       dark hair. He was raised in the Presbyterian faith and he earned his living as a merchant.   

In 1901 Ronald was living in Seaforth - Ontario with his wife Jeanette. While he lived in Seaforth he served with the 33rd Huron Regiment.                                                                                                                                                In 1911 and 1916 the Canadian census tells us he was living in Strathcona - Alberta and was a merchant. While in Alberta he served 6 years with the 19th Alberta Dragoons.                                                                                            The 202nd Edmonton Sportsman's Battalion was raised in early 1916, travelled to Valcartier and trained there before embarking from Canada with a strength of 773 men of all ranks in November of 1916 and arrived in Liverpool on November 30, 1916.                                                                                                                                            On June 23, 1917 he was admitted to Queen Alexandria's Military Hospital - London with severe cardiac asthma. Less than two weeks later he was Taken on Strength with the 9th Canadian Reserve Battalion based at Witley Camp - Surrey. However, by July 12th he is still in the care of the hospital and now his cardiac asthma is very severe and his right hand was amputated. Two days later he is reported as dangerously ill.                                        Captain MacDonald died of reno-cardiac disease at Queen Alexandria's Military Hospital - London at 2:15 am on the morning of July 27, 1917. The cause of death was Bright's Disease and Uraemia.