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Sergeant John MacDonald
Description
TitleSergeant John MacDonaldSummaryA soldier in World War One. DescriptionJohn was born on 16 November 1891 in Rosshire, Scotland, son of Eden and Christina MacDonald. Before enlisting he was a labourer for J. E. Conway at Kirwee. He had outstanding previous experience having served with the Lovat Scouts. The Lovat Scouts were a British Army unit (precursor of the SAS) formed by Lord Lovat during the Second Boer War as a Scottish Highland yeomanry regiment. They have the distinction of being the first military unit to wear a Ghillie or camouflage suit. He was 5ft 9.5in tall with a dark complexion, grey eyes and black hair. He also had a birthmark above his right eye.
John enlisted at Trentham on 17 December 1914 and was assigned to Canterbury Mounted Rifles. His service with the Lovat Scouts probably explains why he was immediately ranked as a sergeant. He embarked with the 4th reinforcements on 17 April 1915 for Suez. He joined the unit at Mudros on 3 October 1915 and then at Gallipoli he was promoted to Company Sergeant Major on 21 October 1915. He was later sent to the School of Instruction for officers and Non Commissioned Officers at Serapeum, which seems to have been also an archaeological excavation. With others in the Mounted Rifles he was transferred to the Infantry before the New Zealand Division embarked for France and the Western Front on 8 April. He was first listed as missing and then as killed in action on 1 October 1916 during the New Zealand Division’s action in the Battle of the Ancre Heights, aged 25. He is buried in the Thistle Dump Cemetery, High Wood, Longueval, Somme. In New Zealand he is remembered on the Malvern County War Memorial.First NameJohnLast NameMcDonaldFamilySingleSon of Eden and Christina MacDonaldDate of Birth16 November 1891Place of BirthRoss-shireDate of Death1 October 1916Place of DeathFrance Cause of DeathKilled in actionAge at Death25
John enlisted at Trentham on 17 December 1914 and was assigned to Canterbury Mounted Rifles. His service with the Lovat Scouts probably explains why he was immediately ranked as a sergeant. He embarked with the 4th reinforcements on 17 April 1915 for Suez. He joined the unit at Mudros on 3 October 1915 and then at Gallipoli he was promoted to Company Sergeant Major on 21 October 1915. He was later sent to the School of Instruction for officers and Non Commissioned Officers at Serapeum, which seems to have been also an archaeological excavation. With others in the Mounted Rifles he was transferred to the Infantry before the New Zealand Division embarked for France and the Western Front on 8 April. He was first listed as missing and then as killed in action on 1 October 1916 during the New Zealand Division’s action in the Battle of the Ancre Heights, aged 25. He is buried in the Thistle Dump Cemetery, High Wood, Longueval, Somme. In New Zealand he is remembered on the Malvern County War Memorial.First NameJohnLast NameMcDonaldFamilySingleSon of Eden and Christina MacDonaldDate of Birth16 November 1891Place of BirthRoss-shireDate of Death1 October 1916Place of DeathFrance Cause of DeathKilled in actionAge at Death25
Connections
CollectionSoldiers of Selwyn World War OneImageMalvern War MemorialMore InformationAuckland War Memorial Cenotaph
Military Service
Memorial or CemeteryMalvern County War MemorialThistle Dump CemeteryOccupation before EnlistingLabourerRegiment or ServiceCanterbury Mounted RiflesEnlistment Details17 December 1914 at TrenthamService Number7/927Embarkation17th April 1915
Attribution
Researched ByL. M. Seaton
Sergeant John MacDonald. Selwyn Stories, accessed 24/06/2026, https://selwynstories.selwynlibraries.co.nz/nodes/view/565