Studio Portrait of William Campbell Macdonald in his 48th Highlanders Uniform (black and white, matte finish, wearing his North West Canada Medal and Colonial Auxiliary Forces Officers’ Decoration, under glass in a period dark wooden frame, 260 mm x 365 mm)

An original officer, William Macdonald was appointed Major upon joining from the Queen’s Own Rifles. He was Adjutant of Canada’s Bisley Rifle team in 1892 and a shooting member in 1896. He became the Regiment’s third Commanding Officer serving in that role from 1900 to 1906. Macdonald subsequently commanded the 16th (Toronto) Infantry Brigade in 1908 and during the First World War the 1st Canadian Infantry Training Brigade at Exhibition Camp in Toronto. On Jan. 21 1917, while seeing off Canadian Army Service Corps soldiers Brig. Macdonald was killed at Union Station by a reversing train engine.

His son, Captain Frederick William (Wyld) Macdonald, MC, VD followed his father’s footsteps, joining the 48^th in 1912 at age 21. He went overseas with the 15^th Battalion (48^th Highlanders) in 1914 and was captured at 2^nd Ypres on 22 April 1915 during the first chlorine gas attack of the war. He was awarded the Military Cross. Upon repatriation to Toronto he rejoined the 48^th Highlanders. When the Second World War broke out he volunteered again to serve overseas.