Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Acting Captain

Unit:

2nd Battalion, The Sutherland and Argyll Highlanders

Awarded on:

January 5th, 1946

Citation:
"This officer has served as a Pl Comd throughout the campaign from Normandy to the Elbe and has always set an outstanding example of courgae and devotion to duty. He particularly distinguished himself during the withdrawal from the GHEEL brhead when his Pl the last to leave the fwd area, found that an enemy Spandau gp had infiltrated to the bank and was seriously interfering with the crossing. Lt. MacDonald personally led a sec to engage this gp, and having silenced it, remained in posn until the whole of the rest of the bn was across the canal. Lt. MacDonald became one of the outstanding patrol leaders in the bn. On a daylight patrol at OSPELDIJK 9 Nov he led a recce fwd across flat ground dominated by enemy observation and fire, where the only cover was provided by ditches which were known to be thickly sown with mines. Having established his patrol in good coverering he then went fwd alone along one of the ditches to within 30yds of a house where enemy movement could be clearly seen from the Coy OP. In spite of the close proximity of the enemy he completed a very valuable recce which enabled a night OP to be sent up without casualties in a commanding posn.

The gallantry and coolness displaed in these and many similar occasions and the shortage of experienced junior leaders led to his being given at times an unfairly large share of difficult and dangerous ops. He tackled them all with unflagging courage and cheerfulness, and was always able to inspire his tps with the same qualities and with absolute confidence in his ability to lead them."

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)