Major Alexander Joseph Macdonald

MAJOR ALEXANDER JOSEPH MACDONALD

Australian Army Medical Corps

Canada was given as the birthplace of Alexander Joseph Macdonald on May 28, 1870. He studied to be a Doctor in Ontario, Canada and gave his qualifications as achieving a Bachelor of Medicine and Master of Surgery.

In 1913 he and his wife Nina Agnes Macdonald were at Laidley, Queensland where he was a Doctor.

At forty-five years of age Alexander applied for a Commission in the A.I.F. on May 28, 1915 in Brisbane, Qld at the 1st Military District Headquarters and passed the medical examination. His description on enlistment as 178cms (5ft 10ins) tall, weighing 90kgs (200lbs) with a chest expansion of 94-102cms (37-40ins) and eyesight testing to good vision. Roman Catholic was his religious faith. Next-of-kin was his wife Mrs N. MacDonald of Laidley, Qld. The Medical Practitioner’s application was accepted by the Officer and was recommended for the position of Captain. The Department of Defence appointed his posting to the 1st Aust General Hospital and recommendation was accepted on June 8, 1915. His Commission was promulgated in the Commonwealth Government Gazette Issue No. 75/16 on June 12, 1915.

Captain Macdonald embarked from Sydney, NSW on August 20, 1915 on board HMAT A9 Shropshire with Capt B.G. Hayward Master of the Ship and after a voyage of about twenty-seven days arrived at the Suez on September 16, 1915. The Officer commanding the Troops was Colonel Gerald R. Campbell.

In October, 1915 he was at Mudros Hospital and sent for observation of debility for several days from October 12 to October 14 on the hospital ship Valdivia and treatment was given as 17-19 days.

He was posted to the 6th Field Ambulance before he joined the Unit at Tel-el-Kebir on February 2, 1916. His medical services were utilised with various postings as follows:

24.2.16Transferred to 12th Field Ambulance at Ismalia

14.3.16Transferred to 52nd Battalion Tel-el-Kebir

25.3.16Transferred to 4th Pioneer Battalion as R.M.O.

On June 3, 1916 the Captain proceeded to join the B.E.F. departing from Alexandria for France on the transport Scotian and disembarked at Marseilles on June 10.

Mrs N.A. Macdonald’s address changed on August 29, 1916 to care of Mrs McWhirter, ‘Novara’, Royal Gardens, Stirling, Scotland.

His service continued in the field:

13.7.17Posted as R.M.O. to 4th Division Training on detachment as R.M.O.

with 4th Pioneer Battalion

20.6.17To be Major

25.10.17Attached as M.O. to 4th Pioneer Battalion

16.11.17Proceeded on leave to U.K. and rejoined on 31.11.17

18.3.18Posted to 4th Field Ambulance

Although not recorded on his Service Card Major Macdonald is mentioned in the Unit Diary of the 2nd Tunnelling Company as follows:

JULY 1918

10/7/18 Major A.J. MacDonald A.A.M.C. reported to take up duty while Major H.R.J. Harris was sick

13/7/18 Major H.R. J. HARRIS A.A.M.C. Medical Officer returned from hospital.

17.8.18Leave to the U.K. and rejoined on 4.9.18

7.11.18Transferred to the 3rd Aust General Hospital

5.1.19Rejoined from Leave in Paris

15.2.19Posted to Aust Base Depot

18.2.19Proceeded to U.K. and disembarked next day at Folkstone

20.2.19Granted Leave from 20.2.19 to 20.5.19 with pay and subsistence

under Non-Military Employment (NME) for medical training at London Eye Hospital

21.5.19Granted extension of leave to continue Ophthalmic studies at

a London Hospital until 21.8.19

In a Statutory Declaration while at the 3rd Aust General Hospital and residing at 10 Willow Road, Hampstead, London N.W.3 he applied to be discharged in England as follows:

“I wish to spend at least twelve months from date on Education I am now doing a course on the Eye, Ear, Nose and Throat and am not sufficiently advanced to start a practice. I will return to Australia in 1920. I have no dependants in Australia wife and child now present in England and I am able to support myself & family.”

21.8.19Returned to the Deputy Assistant Adjutant General’s office for

Disposal and granted leave to September 1.

24.10.19Resigned his appointment at A.I.F. Headquarters being demobilised

31.12.19Taken on strength with D.A.A.G.

On March 7, 1920 while residing at 15 the Vale, Folders Green, London, he completed the Application for Leave prior to return to Australia in which he stated:

“I I wish to sit for examination on Ophthalmology at University on July 19 to 30

III wish to visit my mother in Canada, to fix up the estate of my brother who died in Nov. 17, which estate is held up pending my visiting Canada.”

3.7.20Leave without pay cancelled this date

22.8.20Discharged in England (Post-dated)

On August 3, 1920 he was to embark for Montreal, Canada on the steamer S.S. Scandanavian. On his arrival in Brisbane the following extract acknowledged his service abroad and the family’s return:

The following extract was sent from to the 1st Military District in reply to the inquiry on April 5, 1922:

His appointment was terminated on November 18, 1920 in Brisbane (1st M.D.)

For serving his country Major Alexander Joseph MacDonald, A.A.M.C. was issued with the 1914/15 Star (1975) the British War Medal (35183) and the Victory Medal (31772).

Doctor Macdonald and his wife resided at ‘Carfin,’ 63 Alexander Road, Ascot, Brisbane, Qld and continued as a medical practitioner.

He was an executor for the Estate of James McWhirter was advertised in:

Alexander Joseph MacDonald passed away on March 30, 1951 at 83 years of age. Interment took place in Nudgee Catholic Cemetery, Brisbane.

Notices for his Estate were published in the Legal Notices column:

Mrs Nina Agnes MacDonald died in Sydney, NSW on June 27, 1956 and was laid to rest with her husband at Nudgee Cemetery. Their grave is located at Section A2 within Row 02 in Grave No. 45.

Acknowledgement to Nudgee Cemetery Brisbane for the photograph of their grave