Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Lieutenant

Unit:

No.8 Platoon, "A" Company, The Highland Light Infantry of Canada, 9th Canadian Infantry Brigade, 3rd Canadian Infantry Division, Canadian Army

Recommendation:
On 24 March 1945, Lieutenant George Oxley MacDonald was Platoon Commander in 8 platoon "A" Company, The Highland Light Infantry of Canada. The Highland Light Infantry of Canada was ordered to capture Speldrop, Germany, a strongly held nodal point blocking the expansion of the 51 Highland Division bridgehead North of the Rhine. "A" Company, was attacking the eastern half of the village which was strongly held by the enemy, who had machine gun posts sited in at least three buildings.
Lieutenant George Oxley MacDonald's platoon was ordered to attack in daylight, under covering fire of a carrier section.
Lieutenant George Oxley MacDonald led his platoon across 200 yards of open ground and successfully assaulted the first enemy positions although two more enemy machine gun posts beyond the objective and to the flank subjected the platoon to a withering fire. All NCO's in the platoon became casualties, but Lieutenant George Oxley MacDonald personally organized the consolidation of the objective and encouraged his men to hold the buildings, through it was discovered that at least two enemy tanks were active in the immediate area.
As a result of his courage and determination, the platoon held the buildings and successfully contained the enemy machine gun posts, enabling another platoon to get into a position to clear them. This courageous and brilliant action largely contributed to the success of the Highland Light Infantry of Canada's attack.