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Biography
Roderick William MacDonald was born February 5, 1892 in North Grant, Antigonish county. He was the son of Margaret Chisholm and Archibald MacDougall. By 1901 MacDougall’s father had died and Roderick was living at the home of his Aunt Mary Ann Chisholm and Uncle Donald Fraser of Frasers Mills. His mother had lived in Frasers Mills and eventually immigrated to the United States to work Yonkers, New York, then Massachusetts.
Prior to his enlistment, Roderick W. MacDonald had moved to Western Canada and was living Winnipeg, Manitoba. He worked as an accountant and belonged to the 79th Cameron Highlanders Regiment of Canada.
On October 1, 1915, MacDonald in the 1st Canadian Pioneers of the 43rd Manitoba Battalion in Winnipeg.
On March 3, 1916 MacDonald was admitted to the Moore Barracks Hospital in England. He had sustained a fractured fibula after falling over an embankment, likely related to his training practices at Camp Bramshott where the battalion trained. He remained in hospital until May 11.
On November 8, 1916, MacDonald was admitted to the No. 2 Canadian Field Ambulance, Les Quatre-Vents, Pas-de-Calais, France for influenza. He returned to duty November 12, 1916.
On March 31, 1917 MacDonald requested transfer to the 43rd Canadian Overseas Battalion (The Cameron Highlanders of Canada) for the purpose of “joining an infantry battalion or a machine gunner if possible”. At this time he was Corporal of the 1st Canadian Pioneers Battalion. On April 4, 1917 MacDonald was recruited to Private for 43rd Canadian Overseas Battalion on request. In April 1917 the 43rd Canadian Overseas Battalion participated in the Battle of Vimy Ridge in France. On April 16, 1917 MacDonald was reported missing after action, and was then reported presumed dead. His body was not found or identified. His name is inscribed on the ramparts of the Vimy Memorial, Pas-de-Calais, France in his memory.
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