MacDonald, John

Details
Category: 1918-19

John MacDonald

Royal Garrison Artillery

286th Siege Battery, Royal Garrison Artillery
He is remembered with honour on the Soissons Memorial, the Scottish National Memorial, Aberdeen University Roll of Honour, St Andrew’s Church and Helensburgh War Memorial, Column 4 Line 10.

The family home was at Teasdale, 43, John Street, Helensburgh. The son of Alexander and Margaret MacDonald, 18 Sand, Gairloch.
John MacDonald was the son of a crofter in Gairloch, Ross-shire. He obtained a place at Aberdeen University and graduated with an M.A. in 1902. He taught maths in Castle Douglas and married Mary Conchar in 1907. In 1910 he was appointed mathematics master at Hermitage H.G. School in Helensburgh. In 1914 he was awarded a B.Sc. (London) with highest honours. He joined the local volunteers in 1914 and joined the Artists Rifles in May 1917. He was then commissioned into the R.G.A. and transferred to France in March 1918. Killed in action in May of that year aged 38. He left his wife and two small children, who were at the time of his death residing with her family in Castle Douglas.