Walter James MacDonald

Walter James MacDonald was born in Pembroke, Ontario on July 6, 1888. He was a lineman working in Calgary, Alberta, when he enlisted in the Canadian Expeditionary Force (13th Canadian Mounted Rifles) on April 21, 1916. On July 6, 1916, he sailed aboard the SS Olympic for overseas duty. He was transferred to the Canadian Engineers - Transport Division, with the Signal Corps training in Shorncliffe, England; later being transferred to the Canadian Engineers Cable Section, with whom he remained throughout his full term of service. On April 6, 1918, Walter was awarded the Military Medal. Unfortunately exact details are not known, but by definition it was awarded “to Warrant Officers, Non-commissioned Officers and non-commissioned members for individual or associated acts of bravery on the recommendation of a Commander-in-Chief in the field”.

On November 11, 1918, the day that the Armistice was signed ending the First World War, Walter lost his arm as the result of the explosion of an artillery shell near Mons. He spent 5 months recovering in England, prior to returning home to Canada, where he remained in hospital in Calgary, until his discharge on August 13, 1919.

Walter James is lovingly remembered by his son, Henry Walter MacDonald, also an honouree in the Uxbridge Honour our Veterans Banner Program.

We Will Remember Them