Rank
Pte
Service No.
66267
Unit
24th Btn.
Died
16 September, 1916
Age 29
Age 29
Commemorated
Vimy Memorial, Pas de Calais, France
Remembrance:
First World War Book of Remembrance - Page 124
Additional Info
(Listed as both MacDonald and McDonald in Attestation papers)
Kenneth McDonald was born 30 January 1887 according to his birth record and subsequent censuses, but his attestation papers list 1890 as his birth year. His parents, Alexander and Katherine (McKinnon) McDonald had 6 children before Alexander died sometime after the 1891 census report. In 1897, Katherine married James Parks and the family welcomed 1 more daughter. Listed simply as a labourer, Kenneth first served with the 45th Regiment, and enlisted on 4 March 1915 in Lindsay with the 24th Battalion. His war record notes multiple infractions that led to him being assigned to work crew duties outside of the front lines and infantry responsibilities. In September 1916, the 24th Battalion was positioned near the village of Courcelette, in an area known as Munster Alley near the Sugary Refinery. On 16 September 1916, the 24th Battalion war diary notes a busy day: “the 24th BN was employed all day carrying bombs, ammunition, stretchers, SOS signals, Bengals lights to 2 dumps which the scout officer selected near the HQ of the 25th and 26th BNS in Courcelette. In the afternoon orders were received that the 24th BN had been detailed to carry rations to the front line for the 22nd and 25th BNS, and to the close support lines for the 26th BN. In addition to carrying its own rations, and the battalion was also ordered to relieve the 26th BN in close support so that the latter BN could move up to the front line to complete relief of the 4th Cdn. Inf. Bde. The carrying of rations for the BNS in the Brigade and the relief was successfully accomplished, BN HQ being established at 430am 17th inst., in a dugout at the SUGAR REFINERY.” At some point during this process, Kenneth was in an area known as The Brickfields, which was an old brick factory on the outskirts of the town of Albert. It was described as a “bare and uninviting place”, but its close proximity to the front lines made it an ideal position for soldiers to stay in makeshift shelters and for the storage of materials. His Circumstances of Death registry shows that he was killed in action at The Brickfields, while supplying carrying parties to Courcelette. His body was never recovered. Kenneth McDonald’s name is on the Canadian National Vimy Memorial, which honours all Canadians who served during the First World War and bears the names of those who died in France with no known grave. He was 29 years old. Attestation and other Documents (pdf, 34 pages - 13.6MB)
Kenneth McDonald was born 30 January 1887 according to his birth record and subsequent censuses, but his attestation papers list 1890 as his birth year. His parents, Alexander and Katherine (McKinnon) McDonald had 6 children before Alexander died sometime after the 1891 census report. In 1897, Katherine married James Parks and the family welcomed 1 more daughter. Listed simply as a labourer, Kenneth first served with the 45th Regiment, and enlisted on 4 March 1915 in Lindsay with the 24th Battalion. His war record notes multiple infractions that led to him being assigned to work crew duties outside of the front lines and infantry responsibilities. In September 1916, the 24th Battalion was positioned near the village of Courcelette, in an area known as Munster Alley near the Sugary Refinery. On 16 September 1916, the 24th Battalion war diary notes a busy day: “the 24th BN was employed all day carrying bombs, ammunition, stretchers, SOS signals, Bengals lights to 2 dumps which the scout officer selected near the HQ of the 25th and 26th BNS in Courcelette. In the afternoon orders were received that the 24th BN had been detailed to carry rations to the front line for the 22nd and 25th BNS, and to the close support lines for the 26th BN. In addition to carrying its own rations, and the battalion was also ordered to relieve the 26th BN in close support so that the latter BN could move up to the front line to complete relief of the 4th Cdn. Inf. Bde. The carrying of rations for the BNS in the Brigade and the relief was successfully accomplished, BN HQ being established at 430am 17th inst., in a dugout at the SUGAR REFINERY.” At some point during this process, Kenneth was in an area known as The Brickfields, which was an old brick factory on the outskirts of the town of Albert. It was described as a “bare and uninviting place”, but its close proximity to the front lines made it an ideal position for soldiers to stay in makeshift shelters and for the storage of materials. His Circumstances of Death registry shows that he was killed in action at The Brickfields, while supplying carrying parties to Courcelette. His body was never recovered. Kenneth McDonald’s name is on the Canadian National Vimy Memorial, which honours all Canadians who served during the First World War and bears the names of those who died in France with no known grave. He was 29 years old. Attestation and other Documents (pdf, 34 pages - 13.6MB)
