Daniel William McDonald - Lest We Forget

Daniel William McDonald was born at Cape George, Antigonish, Nova Scotia on March 3, 1890. His parents were D.J. and Christina McDonald, also of Cape George. In 1914 he was working as a brakeman for the Canadian Pacific Railroad.

There is a possible mention of him in a letter sent back from the front by William McInerny in April 1915.: Letter from William McInerney from No. 4 Co., 30th Battalion, 2nd C.E.F., Shorncliffe Camp, Napier Barracks, Kent, England to Allan McDonald. Both men later perished in the war.

“Arrived safe and sound in Liverpool.  The first Canadians are there now and got pretty badly chewed up.  Remember me to Dan (Daniel McDonald?) and the folks and all the rest of the boys in Revelstoke and write soon and tell me all the news.  Yours, Wm. McInerney.”

Daniel William McDonald signed his enlistment papers October 20, 1915 at Vancouver. He was 25 years old, single, 5’ 11” tall with brown hair and grey eyes. His religious affiliation was Roman Catholic. He arrived in England on May 7, 1916 on the Empress of Britain, and was in the battlefield by June 19th, 1916.

Daniel William McDonald died October 8, 1916 in the battle of the Somme, perhaps during the attempts to take Regina Trench. He was 26 years old. At the time of his death he was a Private with the 16th Battalion, Canadian Infantry (Manitoba) Regiment. He is buried at the Adanac Military Cemetery, France. His name is inscribed on the Courthouse and Cenotaph plaques.