Roll of Honour

Rank: Lieutenant

Regiment: 3rd Battalion Seaforth Highlanders (Rosshire Buffs, the Duke of Albany's)

Biography: Son of Ewen Macdonald ; born Aberdeen, 21 July 1894. He was educated at the Aberdeen Grammar School, and passed on to King's College in 1912. There he specialized in History, reading for Honours, with a view to studying at Cambridge later. Among the men of his year he was known as a keen athlete, excelling especially in running, boxing and hockey ; while his wide interests and knowledge of very varied subjects made him many friends. Commissioned to the Territorial A.S.C. in 1913, he was mobilized with the Highland Division, and served from the outbreak of war. In April 1915 he entered Sandhurst, and in August of the same year was gazetted to the Seaforth Highlanders. After nine months' home service he was sent to Mesopotamia, where he became bombing officer to his Battalion. He was killed at Sanna-i-yat on 22 February 1917, during a bombing attack organized and carried out by him. In a letter from his Colonel the highest testimony is given to his efficiency, bravery and thoroughness. It was the success of that attack, to which he had so greatly contributed, that made possible the taking of Kut-el-Amara, and the further advance up the river. In him the Battalion lost a gallant and skilful officer, and his comrades a charming companion.

Date of Death: 22 February 1917

Burial Details: Buried at Amara War Cemetery, Iraq, Plot 16, Row G, Grave 10.

Publication: Roll of Service, edited by Mabel Desborough Allardyce. Published 1921.

If you have photographs of anyone listed in the Roll of Honour (preferably in service uniform) or have any questions about this resource, please email memoriam@abdn.ac.uk.