MILITARY HISTORY
MORLEY HORACE MACDONALD – 435329 – Active Service (World War I)
On June 14th, 1915 Morley Horace MacDonald completed the Attestation Paper for the Canadian Expeditionary Force (CEF), in Calgary, Alberta. He was 25 years, and 4 months old, when as a single man, he enlisted for the duration of the War.
Morley MacDonald indicated that he was born in Warsaw, Ontario and gave his birth date as February 18th, 1889. The Attestation Paper does not indicate where he was educated or to what level. His current address was not listed. He indicated that he had no previous Military experience. As far as his Trade or Calling, he lists ”Electrician”. MacDonald was 5′ 7” tall, and had a 34” chest (expanded). He had a dark complexion, brown eyes, and dark hair.
His medical examination took place in Calgary, Alberta, on June 14th, 1915. He had no medical issues or physical limitations, and as such he was deemed fit (Category A), for Overseas duty with the Canadian Expeditionary Force. His next-of-kin was listed as his father, John J. MacDonald, of Lakefield, Ontario. Morley MacDonald signed the Oath and Certificate of Attestation on June 4th, 1915. The Certificate of Magistrate was signed by the Justice on June 14th, 1915 in Calgary. Morley Horace MacDonald was taken-on-strength as a ”Private” with the 50th Canadian Battalion, CEF and was assigned Regimental Service Number 435329.
The Certificate of Officer Commanding Unit was signed August 24th, 1915.
Nothing in the Military File indicates, when Private MacDonald went Overseas, or for that matter, when or where he arrived in England, but based on the dates, it must have been shortly after he enlisted.
The first entry indicates that he was taken-on-strength with the 23rd Canadian Reserve Battalion at West Sandling on September 20th, 1915. On December 3rd, he was admitted to the Military Hospital at Shroncliffe, with what was diagnosed as Bronchitis, and he discharged on December 10th.
On January 1st, 1916, he was transferred from the 23rd Canadian Battalion, and was taken-on-strength with the 9th Canadian Reserve Battalion, on the same day.
Reserve Battalions were ”feeder” Units to the Combat Units, in France.
January 20th, on embarkation to France, Pte. Macdonald was transferred to the 10th Canadian Infantry Battalion. Upon arrival at the Canadian Base Depot at Le Havre, on January 21st, he was taken-on-strength with the 10th Canadian Infantry Battalion. Joining the Unit in the field on February 3rd, 1916.
There are no entries in the Military File from February 3rd to May 29th, 1916, when he was reported as being wounded in the left arm at Ypres.
To fill in this gap, the War Diary of the 10th Canadian Infantry Battalion War Diary was used.
February 1916: when Pte. MacDonald joined the 10th Battalion, on February 3rd, tit had just relieved the 7th Canadian Battalion in the front line trenches, where a ”Gas Alert warning” had been lifted. Pte. MacDonald was part of a party of 39 reinforcements who arrived.
The night of the 4th/5th, a small group went forward to recover bodies of men killed in a previous raid, but due to an enemy party in the area repairing wire, which was supported by strong patrols, the group was unable to get close enough, and as such had to withdrew. For the rest of the night, Battalion artillery, and machine gun fire was directed on the area. Enemy snipers were reported as being more active than normal during the day.
Battalion Companies on the line, were relieved by those Companies in support. During the day of the 6th, Battalion artillery fired on suspected enemy mortar positions, to good effect. In retaliation, enemy artillery fired on Battalion trenches, to minimal effect. At 7:30 pm, on the 8th, the Battalion was relieved by the 7th Canadian Infantry Battalion, and it moved into Brigade Reserve, at Court Dreve – Grand Munque, where they were billeted in huts.
The men were engaged in work parties from the 9th to 13th. The Battalion moved back to the front line trenches, at 7:00 pm on the 14th, relieving the 7th Battalion.
On the 15th, it was discovered that an enemy tunnel had been dug to within 40 feet of the Battalion front line. A counter tunnel was dug, packed with explosives, and detonated. The enemy tunnel collapsed. The night of the 16th/17th, was quite active with numerous Battalion bombing patrols sent forward against enemy positions.
Enemy activity on the 17th/18th was reported as very quiet. Both sides engaged in firing sporadic artillery rounds on positions, on the 19th and 20th. At 7:00 pm of the 20th, the Battalion was, once gain, relieved by the 7th Canadian Battalion. It now took up a position in Divisional Reserve, at Bulford Camp. It remained there until the night of the 26th, when it moved forward, and relieved the 7th Battalion in the front line. The rest of the month was reported as quiet.
March 1916: at 8:00 pm, on the 3rd, the Battalion was relieved, and marched back to a position in Brigade Reserve, at Grand Munque Farm, where it remained until the 9th, with all available men engaged in working parties.
At 8:00 pm, on the 9th, it was back to the front line. The 10th to 13th passed relatively quiet, with Battalion firing rifle grenades, and trench mortars on enemy trenches. The 14th, was spent with patrols out in no-mans-land checking out enemy positions. At 11:15 pm, on the 15th, the Battalion was once gain relieved by the 7th Canadian Battalion, and moved to Divisional Reserve at Bulford Camp.
The 16th, was spent cleaning up and resting. The entries in the War Diary for the 17th to 20th were too faint to read. The evening of the 21st, it was back to the front line trenches. Once again, the entries were too faint to read. On the 27th, the Battalion was relieved, and moved into Brigade Reserve at Grand Munque Farm. On the 28th, the Battalion was relieved by the 1st Royal Fusiliers, and moved to an area between Eecke, and Godewaersvelde (northern France, near the Belgium Border), where it was in Corps Reserve. It remained there to the end of the month.
April 1916: the 1st to 3rd, were spent resting, and playing sports. On the 4th, the Battalion marched with the 8th Canadian Infantry Battalion, and the 2nd Canadian Infantry Brigade Machine Gun Company to billets at Poperinghe. The 5th to 7th, were spent in ”short” parades.
The 8th, began with preparations to move back to the front line trenches. At 7:30 pm, the Battalion went by train from Poperinghe Station to Brielen Road Crossing, where it marched to the front line, and relieved the 13th Canadian Infantry Battalion – 3rd Canadian Infantry Brigade, in the trenches. The 9th was reported as sunny and quiet.
On the 10th, enemy aeroplanes and observation balloons were quite active over the front; as well enemy snipers. The 11th, was quiet during day and night. There was considerable enemy artillery activity, in the area around the Battalion, on the 12th. Sniper activity was noticeably less. The 13th/14th, enemy artillery was very active in the evening. The enemy fired numerous rifle grenades on the front line, but the Battalion returned fire, shot for shot. During the 15th/16th, both sides were engaged in exchanging artillery fire.
Late evening of the 16th, the Battalion was relieved, by the 5th Canadian Infantry Battalion, which was complete by 12:30 am. The Battalion moved back to Brigade Reserve, and was billeted in huts at Dickebusch. The 17th to 23rd, the men were primarily engaged in working parties. On the 24th, an order was received, for the Battalion to ”stand to and wait for further orders”.
At 10:00 pm, the Battalion moved to Divisional Reserve at Scottish lines, taking over billets from the 2nd Canadian Infantry Battalion – 1st Canadian Infantry Brigade. The men were settled in by 12:30 am. At 9:30 am, on the 25th, a Gas Alert for the area was ordered. The rest of the day was quiet.
On the 26th, as a result of an enemy attack on the 1st Canadian Division front line, the Battalion was ordered to stand to, and be prepared to move on short notice. Preparations were made for the move.
Later in the evening, word was received that the attack had been repulsed, and the line was secure. On the 27th, the men paraded to Bulford camp, where they were inoculated.
General Sir Douglas Haig Commander-in-Chief of British Army in the field, inspected the Battalion, and lines on the 28th. At midnight, of the 29th, a Gas Alarm was raised.
There were confirmed reports of an enemy gas attack, in the area of Spanbroekmolen, Belgium. The men were awakened, and instructed to be ready to put on their gas respirators, at the first indication of gas, in the area. They were further instructed to dress themselves, and be in readiness, to turn out, at once, if required. As a result, of a change in direction, in the wind, by 6:00 am, everything was back to normal. The men were engaged in Company parades between 8:30 and 11:45 am. A church parade was held at 11:00 am, on the 30th. In the afternoon, a work party of 500 men were engaged in laying 300 yards of communication cable.
May 1916: with work, on laying the communication cable, the men rested on the 1st. Late evening, the Battalion moved forward to the front line, and relieved the 15th Canadian Infantry Battalion in the trenches. Relief was complete by 2:10 am, of the 2nd. The 3rd was reported as very quiet. The attitude of the enemy from the 3rd to 9th, was reported as relatively quiet. During this time both sides exchanged rifle grenades, and trench mortar fire.
On the 10th, at 3:00 am, 150 rifle grenades were fired into enemy trenches. These burst accurately, well in the trenches, and were believed to have had good effect, as none were fired in return; but enemy artillery did respond.
During the evening, the Battalion was relieved by the 5th Canadian Infantry Battalion, and moved to billets in 2nd Canadian Brigade Support. Relief was complete by midnight. The 11th to 21st, were spent in work parties.
On the 22nd, the Battalion was inspected by Major General A.W. Currie – Commanding Officer of the 1st Canadian Division. He congratulated the Battalion on its appearance, and steadiness. The 23rd to 25th, the men were engaged in Company parades, work parties, and Platoons practicing attacks over trenches. The 27th to 29th, 28th were quiet. Everything was quiet, and normal on the 30th. The Battalion handed over trenches 38 and 38S, on the the right of the Railway Cutting to 3rd Canadian Infantry Battalion, and took over trenches 45 and 46, and Square Wood from the 7th Canadian Infantry Battalion.
The Military File indicates that Pte. Macdonald was admitted to No. 3 Canadian General Hospital, at Boulogne, France with a gunshot wound to his left upper arm on May 30th. The File indicates that, as a result of his injury, he was invalided to England, where he was treated at: the Edmonton Military Hospital – Middlesex for 3 weeks, followed by treatment at Chiswick West London Hospital for 3 weeks, and the Military Convalescent Hospital at Woodcote Park, at Epsom for 2 weeks.
He was discharged on July 16th, when he was declared fit for duty, and transferred to the Canadian Casualty Assembly Centre – Moore Barracks at Shroncliffe. On the July 21st, he was taken-on-strength with the 9th Canadian Reserve Battalion. He was struck-off-strength, from the 9th Canadian Reserve Battalion, on transfer back to the 10th Battalion.
Pte. MacDonald embarked from England, arriving at the Canadian Base Depot, at Le Havre, France on August 28th, 1916. where, he was taken-on-strength with the 10th Canadian Infantry Battalion. On September 1st, upon an Examination, it was found that the wound to his left upper arm was not completely healed, and was seeping.
He was classified as Category ”C”, and transferred back to England, where he reported to the CCAC (Canadian Casualty Assembly Centre) at Folkestone, on September 23rd. He was admitted to Moore Barrack Hospital, at Shroncliffe, September 25th, for treatment. He was discharged on September 29th. October 2nd, he is shown as being ”on command” to ADMS PBD.
Research failed to find a definition of these abbreviations. October 3rd, he ”ceased to be shown on command” to ADMS PBD. October 8th, he was shown as being ”on command” to the 9th Canadian Reserve Battalion, and attached for ”PBD” at Shroncliffe.
Pte. MacDonald was examined at St. Martin’s Plain, on October 26th, 1916 after complaining his left arm, where he was previously wounded, was so weak, he had been sent back from France. The outcome of the examination was: ”no sign of organic trouble”.
The consensus of the Medical Board was: he was ”fit for duty after 4 weeks of physical training”. November 13th, he ceased to be attached to 9th Canadian Reserve Battalion on return to CCAC, at Shoreham, England. On November 16th, 1916 he reported to the CCD (Canadian Convalescent Depot) for 4 weeks of physical training, at St. Leonards, at Sussex.
On January 3rd, 1917 Pte. MacDonald ceased to be attached CCD, and was struck-off-strength from CCD, as being rated ”fit for duty, Category A”, and was posted to 1st CCTB, (Canadian Convalescent Training Training Base) at Hastings.
He was taken-on-strength with 1st CCTB January 3rd, 1917. February 3rd, 1917 he was struck-off-strength from the 1st CCTB on posting to 9th Canadian Reserve Battalion, at Bramshott. He was taken-on-strength with the 9th Canadian Reserve Battalion on February 4th, 1917. He proceeded Overseas, to France, for service on April 13th, 1917. He arrived at Canadian Base Depot at Le Havre on April 14th, 1917, and was taken-on-strength with the 10th Canadian Battalion. Pte. MacDonald left CBD (Canadian Base Depot) to join Unit, in the field, April 17th, 1917, arriving on April 20th, 1917.
There are no entries in the Military File between April 20th, 1917 to August 4th, 1917. Once again, to fill in the gap, the 10th Battalion War diary was used.
April 1917: on the 20th, when Pte. MacDonald rejoined the Battalion, the men were resting in the Old British Front Line, and Support Position in the Labyrinthe Sector. At noon of the 21st, the Battalion was relieved by the 16th Canadian Infantry Battalion, and proceeded to billets at Mont St. Eloy. It was reported that they were settled in by 5:00 pm. From the 21st to 25th, the men were engaged in: physical exercise, Section and Platoon drills, and musketry in the mornings, skirmishing and attack drills in the afternoons, with band concerts, and sports in the evenings.
The afternoon, of the 26th, the Battalion moved forward to Support Positions in Farbus Wood. Based on enemy aerial activity, this was as far as they went. At 11:30 pm, the Battalion moved forward into the Assembly Position – Jumping Off Trench and Front Line. Heavy enemy artillery fire in the area hampered the move forward.
The Battalion was reported ”in position” by 3:25 am on the 28th. At 5:00 am, the Battalion, along with the 8th Canadian Infantry Battalion launched an attack on enemy positions, capturing the Village of Arleux-en-Gohelle, and all of its objectives. A line was consolidated 100 yards to the rear of the captured enemy trenches. Reinforcements were brought forward to assist in the consolidation and defense.
At 10:00 pm, the Battalion was relieved by the 13th Canadian Infantry Battalion, and moved back to billets at the Old British Front Line, and Support Position in the Labyrinthe Sector, not arriving until 4:00 am on the 29th. The men rested on the 29th, before moving back to Mont St. Eloy on the 30th.
May 1917: the month opened with the enemy shelling the Battalion rear area with a 13” naval gun, resulting in heavy casualties – 53 all ranks.
The Battalion held bath parades, the morning of the 2nd, and a pay parade in the afternoon. The morning of the 3rd, the Battalion moved to Estree Cauchie. The men were settled in by 1:00 pm. The rest of the day was spent cleaning equipment, and reorganizing Companies. There were kit inspections, the morning of the 4th, and, where possible, shortages were made up. A Muster parade was held in the afternoon. The 5th, was a repeat of the 4th, with the Battalion marching to billets at Ruitz. The 6th, began with church services in the morning, and sports during the afternoon, and evenings. The 7th, was taken up with physical training, and bayonet fighting; Section and Platoon drills, Scouts, Signallers, and Lewis Gunners received specialized training according to their discipline.
With a heavy rain, and a thunder storm, all activities were cancelled on the 8th. On the 9th, the GOC (General Officer Commanding) inspected all Units of the 2nd Canadian Infantry Brigade. He was quite pleased with the appearance of the 10th Canadian Battalion, and congratulated the Brigade on its work during recent operations.
The Battalion paraded by Company, on the 10th, for training per schedule. On the 11th, all the Units of the 2nd Canadian Brigade marched to Hallicourt, where they were inspected by the Canadian Corps Commander. He commented on the ”steadiness” of the 10th Battalion, in recent actions. The 12th was a repeat of the training on the 7th. On the 13th, the Battalion, once again marched to Hallicourt, for church services in the morning, and sports in the afternoon. The 14th to the 31st, were spent in: physical exercises, bayonet fighting, Sections practising attacks, musketry and fire control, rapid loading; Squad, Platoon, and Company drills. As well as use of box respirators (gas masks).
June 1917: on the 1st, the Battalion marched 13 miles to tents, in Divisional Reserve, near St. Eloy. It marched, on the 2nd, to Brigade Support area, where it was accommodated in the old Rhine and Elbe trenches, just south of Neuville St. Vaast. The men were kept busy from the 3rd to 8th, in work parties improving defensive positions. On the 9th, the Battalion marched to Winnipeg Huts at St. Eloy. The 10th to 16th, the men were training per the syllabus, which was probably similar to what took place in May. On the 17th, the men paraded to bathes at Bois-de-Bray, before moving off to the forward area, and relieving the 14th Canadian Battalion in the Ridge Support Line.
The Battalion moved forward, on the 18th, relieving the 4th Canadian Battalion in a Reserve Position on a Railway Embankment. The 19th to 21st, was reported quiet. In the evenings, work parties were detailed to dig a new Brown Line trench. On the 22nd, the Battalion relieved the 2nd Canadian Mounted Rifles in the front line, and immediate support positions opposite Mericourt.
The attitude of the enemy, on the 23rd, was reported as generally quiet. Battalion heavies fired on enemy rear positions. Patrols were sent out into no-mans-land during the night, but nothing unusual was reported. Work parties started work on improving trenches. The enemy artillery were quite active on the 24th, firing numerous 4.1”, and high explosive shells on Battalion front line, resulting in a number of casualties.
Work continued on improving trenches. On the 25th, enemy artillery fired at intervals on Battalion positions. Battalion 18 pounders and 4.5” guns retaliated, and enemy guns went silent. Work continued on trenches. The night of the 26th/27th, the Battalion was relieved by the 15th Canadian Infantry Battalion, and moved to Brigade Support Position at Thelus Caves. Relief was complete by 3:00 am. Artillery on both sides was quite active, in the general area, the 27th to 29th.
Work parties engaged in improving defenses and erecting wire entanglements. On the 30th, the Battalion was relieved and moved to Rear Brigade Support Position in the vicinity of Neuville St. Vaast. Work parties continued.
July 1917: nothing unusual was reported on the 1st to 3rd. A large group of men were engaged in work parties; improving Ottawa trench, and burying communication cable forward from Vimy Ridge.
To celebrate Dominion Day, Battalion artillery fired 3 salvos. The morning of the 4th, the Battalion moved to Divisional Reserve to Ottawa Huts at Mont St. Eloy. The afternoon was spent cleaning equipment, in preparation for training. The 5th, was spent training per syllabus, bath parades, and cleaning general camp area. The Battalion was at the La Motte range, on the 6th and 7th, practicing musketry (rifles).
Church services were held on the 8th. The 9th was training per syllabus, with a route march in the afternoon. It was training per syllabus on the 10th. In addition, there was bayonet fighting, Company drills (in attack), and Battalion drills with a Ceremonial March Past. All box respirators were inspected. On the 11th, the Battalion carried out a morning route march. It was inspected, during the march, by His Majesty the King, on the Lens Arras Road. Sports were held in the afternoon. It was back to the La Motte Range on the 12th. The morning of the 13th, it moved to Cauchin Legal. It moved again, the evening of the 14th to Brigade Support position in the area of Les Brebis. It was in position by 11:45 pm.
The evening of the 15th, the Battalion moved forward to the front line trenches. ”B and D” Companies in the front line, ”A” Company in support, and ”C” Company in reserve. Trench strength was shown as: 32 officers and 702 other ranks. By 3:30 am, on the 16th, the Battalion was in position in the left Sub Section – Loos Sector. Although, there was enemy activity on the Battalion’s left and right; it was relatively quiet on the Battalion front. With the wind blowing from the south west, at 7 miles per hour, a Gas Alert was on.
The 17th, was quiet during the day, but enemy artillery and trench mortars were quite active during the evening. Battalion guns retaliated. Patrols were sent out the night of 17th/18th, to inspect Battalion wire, and look for enemy patrols. Everything quiet. Some inter-Company relief took place on the 18th. The enemy shelled, all Battalion positions with 77 mm, 4.1” and 5.9” guns. Company patrols continued to scout out no-mans-land around advance posts. The night of the 18th/19th, the Battalion was relieved by the 15th Canadian Infantry Battalion. Due to intense darkness, and heavy rain, the relief was not completed until 6:30 am. It, in turn, relieved the 5th Canadian Infantry Battalion in the right Sub Section – Loos Sector. During the 20th, the enemy bombarded Battalion positions on frequent intervals. Battalion guns responded, firing on enemy support and reserve positions. Men were engaged in repairing trenches and dugouts, and digging a communication trench from North Street to Battalion Headquarters. The night of the 20th/ 21st, the Battalion was relieved by the 7th Canadian Infantry Battalion, and it moved to a Brigade Support position in Les Brebis. It was settled in by 4:30 am. The evening of the 22nd, the Battalion was relieved by the 4th Canadian Infantry Battalion, and moved to billets in Foose 7 and Barlin, in Divisonal Reserve. The 23rd to 28th, were spent in preparations for a planned Brigade attack. All rifles were inspected.
The Battalion marched to and from a ”taped” course, where they practiced attacks on enemy positions that had been constructed. These marches were by Company, in battle dress order, with 45 minute intervals between Companies. Church services were held. On the 30th, the Battalion moved forward to a Brigade Support position at Le Brebis.
The entire Brigade was inspected on the 30th, by the General Officer Commanding the 2 Canadian Infantry Brigade, and the General officer Commanding of the 2nd Canadian Infantry Division. The 31st was spent, once again, carrying out a practice attack in detail.
August 1917: the month opened with the Battalion in billets at Les Brebis. Nothing unusual was reported from the 1st to 3rd. 100 men were engaged in carrying trench mortar bombs to the front line. On the 4th, the Battalion moved forward, and relieved the 5th Canadian Battalion in the front line. ”A and D” Companies in the front line trenches, and ”B and C” Companies in close support.
The Military File indicates that on August 4th, 1917 Pte. MacDonald was at the Canadian Corps Infantry School. Nothing indicates the duration of his time at Corps School, or the Course content. For the purpose of this exercise, it was assumed that he was there until the end of August. Rejoining the 10th Battalion on September 1st.
September 1917: the Battalion was in billets in the area of Caucourt. The morning of the 1st, the men paraded to Divisional Gas School; where Box Respirators were inspected, and defective ones replaced. The afternoon was devoted to sports.
Church services were held the morning of the 2nd. A draft of 98 men reported for duty, and were given medical examinations. On the 3rd, the Battalion marched to billets in the area of Barlin. The 4th and 5th were spent in ”training per syllabus”, and sports. The morning of the 6th, the Battalion moved to Nouelette Huts, in Brigade Reserve, and relieved the 52nd Canadian Infantry Battalion – 4th Canadian Division.
The relief was complete by 1:00 pm. The afternoon was reported quiet. The 7th to 9th were spent in: physical training and games, instruction in grenades, and Companies were inspected by their respective Commanders. Lewis Gunners, Scouts, and Signallers received their own training. A work party was detailed to help erect a new Camp, near Marqueffles Farm. The 10th to 12th were repeats of the previous days. With all Companies spending time on the ranges, firing their weapons.
The Battalion moved off, by Company, the evening of the 13th, and took up a position in Brigade Support at Lievin. Enemy artillery was reported quiet on the 14th. Battalion artillery (light and heavies) firing on enemy front, support, and rear areas, with what was reported as ”good effect”. Friendly aeroplanes quite active overhead. On the 15th, both sides exchanging artillery fire.
Several friendlies flew over Lens. A work party was detailed to carry Stokes Bombs to the front. It was recorded, that nothing of importance happened on the 16th. On the 17th, area around Lievin was bombarded by enemy firing high explosives and shrapnel rounds on front line trenches. The night of the 17th/18th, the Battalion moved forward and relieved the 5th Canadian Infantry Battalion in the front line, in the area of Lens, France. Battalion artillery shelled enemy support and rear areas, at intervals, throughout the day. Enemy artillery retaliated. Three other ranks were wounded.
The Military File indicates that on September 18th, 1917 Pte. MacDonald was wounded at Lens. The wound to the left forearm was dressed in the field, and he was passed on to the No. 6 Casualty Clearing Station, on September 19th, 1917. He was invalided to England, aboard the HS Peiter de Conick, where he was admitted to No. 2 Military Hospital Old Park, at Canterbury on September 23rd, 1917. The File shows Pte. MacDonald at the Military Convalescent Hospital Woodcote Park, at Epsom, on November 22nd, 1917.
There are no entries in the Military File from November 22nd, 1917 and March 8th, 1918. During this time, he would have been engaged in recovering from his wound, and physical conditioning, getting him ready to rejoin his Unit.
On March 8th, 1918 he is shown ”on command” to the 2nd CCD (Canadian Convalescent Depot). May 23rd, 1918 he ceased to be attached to 2nd CCD, when he was taken-on-strength with the 21st Canadian Reserve Battalion. July 9th, 1918 he was admitted to No. 12th Canadian General Hospital with fever, cough, and a rash; where he was diagnosed as having measles.
July 24th, 1918 he was transferred to the Canadian Convalescent Hospital at Bearwood. August 27th, 1918 he was at Granville Casualty Specialist Hospital at Buxton with old gunshot wound to left wrist. He was discharged on October 4th, 1918, and on October 5th, 1918 he was struck-off-strength from the 21st Canadian Reserve Battalion and was taken-on-strength with 2nd CCD. On October 11th, 1918 he was posted to Alberta Regimental Depot at Bramshott.
Pte. MacDonald was struck-off-strength from the CEF Overseas, on embarkation to Canada on November 22nd, 1918. He arrived at the Port of Halifax, on November 29th, 1918. He was taken-on-strength with the Casualty Company No. 3 District Depot, at Kingston, Ontario on December 5th, 1918. he was granted a leave from December 5th to December 15th, 1918. Pte. MacDonald was discharged from the Canadian Expeditionary Force upon demobilization on December 27th, 1918.
The Military File indicates that Pte. MacDonald was not eligible to receive the 1914-15 Star, but based on established Military criteria, he would have been eligible to receive: the British War Medal and the Victory Medal.
Private Morley Horace MacDonald served a total of 3 years, and 6 months, with the Canadian Expeditionary Force: 3 months and 19 days in Canada; 15 months and 15 day in the U.K., and 9 months, and 15 days in France.
An excerpt from an article in Maclean’s by Barbara Ameil, September 1996:
”The Military is the single calling in the world with job specifications that include a commitment to die for your nation. What could be more honourable”.
PERSONAL HISTORY
MORLEY HORACE MACDONALD
Morley Horace MacDonald was born in Dummer Township on February 18, 1890, the son of John James MacDonald and Hannah Payton. Morley received his education in the local school and went through for an electrician. By June 1915 Morley was working in Calgary and decided to enlist to serve his King and Country.
After the war, Morley came back to Lakefield and owned and operated general stores in Lakefield and Omemee. On June 22, 1936 Morley married Myrtle Jane Payne, daughter of George Payne and Charlotte Taylor, a former teacher in the area. Myrtle retired from teaching after her marriage and worked with Morley in the stores.
Morley passed away on January 9, 1977 and Myrtle died on April 1992; both are buried in Lakefield Cemetery.
Morley Horace MacDonald was a member of the Lakefield Methodist Church and is included on a Memorial Plaque which remembers with honour their members who served in the Armed Forces during World War I. This plaque hangs in the Sanctuary of the Lakefield United Church on Regent Street.
FAMILY HISTORY OF MORLEY HORACE MACDONALD
Morley’s paternal grandparents were Malcolm MacDonald and Margaret McColl. His maternal grandparents were Edward and Hannah Payton.
Morley’s parents were John James MacDonald born in Smith Township on May 23, 1855 and Hannah Payton born on August 22, 1854. John James and Hannah married in Lakefield on October 9, 1878 and farmed in Dummer Township. John worked as a carpenter as well and the family had five children – Edward, Florence, Roy, Morley and Hazel MacDonald. Hannah died on August 5, 1908, age 55 years and is buried in Lakefield Cemetery.
On October 19, 1910 John James MacDonald married Clara Louise Burgess, daughter of John Alexander Burgess and Charlotte Adderley. John retired from farming and they moved into Lakefield. John worked as a canoe builder. Clara passed away on June 16, 1924 and is buried in Hillside Cemetery and John James died on August 24, 1931 and is buried with his first wife in Lakefield Cemetery.
