47028 Private William MacDonald was a 30 year old bookkeeper originally from Lochcarron Ross-shire Scotland, when he attested into the 17th Battalion at Valcartier in September 1914. In the UK, he was transferred to the 15th Battalion’s Base Company which had been left behind at Tidworth Barracks when the Battalion embarked for France in February 1915. The Base Company joined the survivors of 2nd Ypres in Belgium on April 26th and along with a large draft of almost 300 men from the 30th Battalion, helped to bring the battalion back to near its field establishment. He fought at Festubert in May and following a brief illness and hospitalization in November, he rejoined the battalion for the 1915-1916 front line tour in the Ploegsteert and Hill 60 area.
Private MacDonald was seriously wounded in the thigh and groin by a rifle grenade. He was initially treated at No. 17 Casualty Clearing Station but was evacuated to No. 2 Field Ambulance where he died of his wounds on April 29th 1916. He is buried at Lijssenthoek Military Cemetery.
NOK: Son of William and Margaret Macdonald, of Redbank, Strathcarron, Ross-shire, Scotland.
