RootsChat.Com
General => Armed Forces => World War One => Topic started by: RSMACL on Friday 28 August 09 07:01 BST (UK)
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Anyone help with details of a maternal ancestor of my husband - WILLIAM MACDONALD, whose attestation papers - on 8 Dec., 1915, show he joined the 123 Bn. B.E.F. 'Royal Grenadiers'm Canadian Overseas Expeditionary Force. His residence address was 26 Bulwer St., Toronto, Canada, and he was born in Cullicuden, Resolis, Ross & Cromarty, Scotland on 21 June, 1886. He was married to Mary, and was a driver at time of his enlistment. I would be interested in details of his service record, and/or anything about his family, and his death. Ruth MacLeod
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Hi Ruth,
You can order his complete military file from Library and Archives Canada.
http://www.rootschat.com/links/06zt/
You can also search the war diaries on-line.
http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/archivianet/020152_e.html
Karen
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Hello
My Great Grandfather was in the 123rd Bn CEF, went by the name Daniel William Macdonald, everyone referred to him as Mac and he was was deceased before I was born. (he died in 1960, age 73 and is buried in Toronto. His wife's name was Mary (we called her Ma) and she lived to be 100. They were born in GB or UK not sure exactly where.
Is this a possible link?
Ian Macdonald
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Sounds like he could be. I will send you a p.m. with email address of a direct descendant who lives in Toronto, Canada. I have also forwarded on to him the rootschat info. Ruth MacLeod, Australia
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Thanks Karen and Ian. I have passed on your messages to Stephen MacDonald, a direct descendant, who lives in Toronto, Canada. If he hasn't already, he may care to chase up the files.
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Ian, can you give me any more info. about William and Mary's life - any children, etc.? Both 'our' William and Mary were born in Scotland and travelled to Canada, where they were married. Ruth
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I will have to get more info from an Aunt in Vancouver (whose name is Mary as well) she will be able to provide more info, but the chances are seemingly very high. I will try to scan a picture of William (Mac) soon,
thanks for your replies and sorry for the delay
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I am writing a book about the history of the 123rd Battalion, and I am interested in stories of the soldiers themselves. I would be interested in hearing from you.
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Hey Ian,
Are you the Ian I've been chatting with because we have such a close 67 DNA match?
Just checked our William's birth certificate and census records and there's no indication our guy ever used the name Daniel. So I don't think there's a match there. AND our William was killed in 1918 in the war. Buried in the Aubigny Communal Cemetery Extension. Where is your Daniel William buried?
Was his Mother's name Isabella by any chance?
My William's Brother, Thomas Calder Mcdonald, was a 48th Drill Instructor in Toronto.
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William Daniel ("Mac") MacDonald, Service Number 766871, Attested in the 123rd Battalion on December 9,1915, when he was 30 years old. He was married to Mary MacDonald, and they were living on James Street in Orillia, Ontario at the time. He sailed with the Battalion from Halifax on August 9, 1916 and arrived in Liverpool 10 days later. He was trained as a stretcher bearer, mobilized to France on March 10, 1917. He served with the Battalion at Vimy Ridge. I hope this helps.