William Ross Macdonald

Rank:

Lieutenant

Unit at enlistment:

2nd Divisional Cyclists

Force:

C.E.F.

Volunteered or conscripted:

Volunteered

Survived the war:

Yes

Cemetery:

Farringdon Cemetery, Brantford, Ontario

Commemorated at:

Alexandra Presbyterian Church

Birth country:

Canada

Birth county:

York

Birth city:

Toronto, Ontario

Address at enlistment:

35 Peel Street, Brantford, Ontario

Next of kin address:

35 Peel Street, Brantford, Ontario

Trade or calling:

Student

Religious denominations:

Presbyterian

Marital status:

Single

Age at enlistment:

Image gallery:

Letters and documents

BX November 6, 1916

William Ross Macdonald, Local Officer Burned

Lieutenant Ross W. MacDonald of this city, at the front with the 4th Battalion, has been severely burned, according to word received in the city today. The accident occurred while he was at the base, and the burns were caused by gasoline, but particulars are lacking. The burns were principally to his leg. First taken to the base hospital, he was later taken to England in a hospital ship.

BX January 22, 1917

Lieutenant William Ross Macdonald Returning Home

Mr. George Macdonald, secretary treasurer of the Soldiers’ Aid Commission, 35 Peel Street, had word this morning that his son, Lieutenant W. Ross Macdonald, 4th Battalion was returning.

According to the word received he had sailed from Liverpool on the S.S. Northland on January 13. Lieut. Macdonald was accidently burned with gasoline in France last October. He has been in the Royal Free hospital, London, Eng.

Lieutenant Norman Frederick Macdonald, who was wounded last October, is now back in the trenches. He has spent the past three months in England and Scotland, recently visiting relatives in England. In Scotland he was put up at a large mansion. Here an automobile was placed at his disposal and nothing was too good for him. He is now back under command of Major Jones, D.S.O., 4th Battalion.

BX October 18, 1915

Storekeepers Soon Able To Talk English – Lance Corporal William Ross Macdonald Tells of Life in Belgium – His French Came Very Handy – “Good Eats” are Scarce and Parcels are Much Appreciated by the Boys

September 28, 1915
Somewhere in ….

My Dear Folks at Home,

We have now been on the continent for two weeks and this is the first time that I have written home. Norm wrote from France and I intended to write last Sunday, but am sorry to say I had to work all day. You must never worry over us. We will try to write every week, but sometimes that is impossible. I often feel sorry for you people whom we have left behind at home. I suppose you picture us undergoing all sorts of hardships. In truth we do have what you would call hardships. But to us they are not. For instance when you read that we lived for five days on nothing but bully beef and hardtack, do not cry and say “Oh, the poor dears,” but rather have a good laugh at our expense and think no more about it; as we do.

You said something about sending a parcel. We’ll certainly appreciate it, as good eats are not any too plentiful. But I must tell you that in this country I don’t find nearly as much trouble in getting what I want in the way of “eats” as I did in England. Here we are only drawing one franc a day (20 cents). Today at noon I didn’t feel like eating the hash they give us in the mess, so I decided to buy my dinner. I went into a little Belgian store, which before the war was a hardware store, but has since been converted into a lunch room run by Belgians. This is what I got for a franc. A pint of hot milk (the military authorities compel us to drink only boiled milk) with which I made a big bowl of good old bread and milk. After that I had two soft boiled eggs with bread and butter and finished up with a cup of coffee. Not so bad, eh? Tonight I’m going to have the same thing.

You would be surprised to know how easy it is to get along in the way of making yourself understood. Here the people all speak Flemish and a great many of them French also. Since the soldiers have come very many of the people, especially store-keepers have picked up English. Those who know English won’t speak to you in French.

When I landed here I congratulated myself on my knowledge of French. To my surprise I could make myself understood and in a few days I could converse fluently with the people. Now I am trying to pick up a little Flemish.

Thus far I haven’t given you much information as to where we are or what we are doing. The day after Norm wrote you we left France and established ourselves in Belgium. For reasons which the censor knows I may not mention names. All I can say is “Somewhere in Belgium.” At present we are attached to the divisional headquarters sub-staff, about four miles behind the front line of trenches. Some of the fellows are taking despatches; some are in the offices (barns), some on guard, etc. At present I am assisting the quartermaster sergeant and Norm is doing guards. For a while I was working 16 hours a day, but now I am getting relieved more often. Norm’s guards are not very long, with the result that he has lots of time to himself.

The other day I got a good view of the trenches. I was up on a hill about two miles behind the trenches. With a pair of glasses I could see the men in the trenches with their bayonets fixed. From behind us our artillery was shelling the German trenches, and it was wonderful to see with what amazing accuracy they dropped the shells into them. The range and the time fuse were perfect.

In the newspapers you have read that the Germans have shelled all the towns within range of their guns. That is an exaggerated report. I have visited many towns close to the trenches which have never been touched. In fact around this district the ruined town is the exception and there are some exceptions. In the unbombarded towns the people live as usual. They never seem to worry about the enemy’s guns only a few miles away. All the farm land practically right up to the trenches is being worked by young boys and women. The country is so peace-like at times that an unsuspecting person might walk right up to the line of fire. At other times you are given good warning, if not by rifle report, then by the continual boom of the big guns. For three days of 24 hours’ duration the guns never ceased.

I have been writing this letter in snatches. I just get in the midst of a sentence when I am called away on duty. Therefore you must excuse me as it appears to be rather disconnected.

I don’t think I told you that we are living in the upper storey of the remains of a house which was burnt down. Our room is eight feet high, about 20 feet wide and 24 feet long. You will see that it is a rather good sized room. Three doors in it take up a good part of the space and nine of us sleep on the floor in the remaining portion.
We are all very comfortable, as far as comfort goes in time of war. If we get wet we always have plenty more dry clothes to put on. At night we are good and warm. We are all issued with two blankets. Two fellows sleep together, that means two blankets under us and two blankest over us – “as snug as a bug in a rug.”

I was glad to know that Alex was home and that you had such a good time together. Also that the Thomas family were as well as ever. I got a letter from George and he seemed to be in the best of spirits. Mother said that she was spending her time knitting. Norm and I have a good supply of socks and underwear. Yesterday the government gave up a complete new outfit, so we are well fixed up for the winter.

Now I must close. I do hope you are all having a good time at home. To me it is the height of foolishness for people to say they are not going to have a good time because their boys are at the war.

The first day we were in Belgium we met Ed. Henderson, who used to live near us at the beach. He is a sergeant in the first division Cyclists and has been here since last February. Now farewell to you for the time being. Norm will write next week. Your son,

Ross Mac

BX March 15, 1915

Addressed by Recruit – Congregation of Alexandra Church Heard Something of Life in a Military Camp

Mr. W. Ross Macdonald, a member of the militia cycle corps, who is soon to leave with eh second contingent for the front assisted Rev. D.T. McClintock at the morning service in Alexandra Church yesterday. Mr. McClintock said it was unusual to have a man in a soldier’s uniform address the congregation, but it gave him great pleasure to have Mr. Macdonald present, and he had asked him to give his address pertaining to the life in the concentration camp in Toronto.

The speaker’s remarks were founded on a personal experience and observation. A most interesting description of the life of a recruit was given from the day of enlistment, up to the present. The humorous side was first presented, then the religious. The soldiers he said attended churches, for divine service. All did not go because they wanted, but all soldiers were obliged to go to church, Mr. Macdonald throughout his splendid discourse modestly referred to himself as the recruit, omitting the personal, I. In concluding the speaker asked that all nail their colors to the mast for the Master, so when the call came to them their colors would still be flying. The service concluded with the singing of the national anthem.

BX May 28, 1976

W. Ross Macdonald, the former Lieutenant-Governor of Ontario, died this morning at St. Joseph’s Hospital. He was 84 years old.

Mr. Macdonald had been in and out of hospital several times over the past few months.

He is resting at Beckett-Glaves Funeral Home. Funeral arrangements are still incomplete.

Flags are flying at half-mast today at public buildings thought the city and at the W. Ross Macdonald School.

National and provincial political figures paid tribute to the former lieutenant-governor and federal Member of Parliament and senator this morning.

Prime Minister Trudeau released a statement expressing his “profound sense of sadness” on Mr. Macdonald’s death. The prime minster said he regrets “the loss of someone who has served his country so well. This highly respected statesman will long be remembered for his outstanding contributions to the government of Canada.”

Robert Nixon, Liberal MPP for Brant-Oxford-Norfolk, said Mr. Macdonald had been a close personal friend of both himself and his late father, the Honorable Harry Nixon, a former Ontario premier.

“His integrity and concern for people he represented was unsurpassed. The guy’s enthusiasm and good humor were his trademarks wherever he was known. He commanded more respect than anyone in political life that I know of.”

Ontario Premier William Davis issued a press release stating that “to say Mr. Macdonald became one of the most familiar and best-loved public figures in this province would be no exaggeration.”

The premier praised Mr. Macdonald’s genial manner, his interest in all facets of Ontario life, and his obvious affection for his country and his home community of Brantford. These qualities gave him a “close and personal relationship with the people.”

Mr. Davis said Mr. Macdonald, as lieutenant-governor, presented a “very real and very fundamental position of the monarch in our parliamentary system. Canada has lost one of its finest citizens.”

Mr. Davis moved the early adjournment of the Ontario legislature today after learning of the death of Mr. Macdonald.

The legislature usually sits from 10 a.m. until 1 p.m. on Friday, it adjourned at 10.30 a.m.

Mr. Justice Lawrence Pennell of the Supreme Court of Ontario, a former colleague, said Mr. Macdonald had been his “political godfather” during the former’s years as a federal Liberal MP and solicitor-general.

Mr. Justice Pennell said “the country and community has suffered a grievous loss.”

Speaking from his Brantford home, he said Mr. Macdonald had no enemies. “He was a man of courtesy learning and strength. He found more and gave more in friendship than anyone I have ever known.”

Mr. Macdonald’s political colleague and fellow Liberal front-bencher J.W. Pickersgill said his sense of public service was the Brantford man’s outstanding characteristic.

The former transport minister in the 1960’s, Mr. Pickersgill said Mr. Macdonald had been one of his very close friends since he came to Ottawa in 1937.

“No one has made a more charitable impression on all he has met in his long and distinguished career.”

Derek Blackburn, MP for Brant, said today: “the whole community, indeed our country is saddened by the passing of Ross Macdonald.

“An outstanding solider, lawyer, politician and statesman, he was an inspiration to all of us who serve in public life. He was a man who made politics an honorable profession.”

W. Ross Macdonald was many things – soldier, lawyer, and politician – but he will best be remembered as the man who lent quiet warmth and dignity to the office of lieutenant-governor of Ontario.

As lieutenant-governor from 1968 to 1974; the tall, silver-haired man crisscrossed the province making contact with people, often shaking 1,000 hands a day at official functions.

“There is an exhilaration about meeting people,” Mr. Macdonald once said. “You get a very narrow view of Ontario if you stay in Toronto.

“I’m told I received about 30,000 people in the lieutenant-governor’s suite at Queen’s Park during my term. And that’s quite apart from the thousands I met on official visits to various communities.”

Despite his enthusiasm for meeting the people, Mr. Macdonald was basically a quiet, private man with a self-depreciating wit.

“I am the first lieutenant-governor to be succeeded by a woman. That is my distinction,” he remarked after it was announced that Pauline McGibbon, the current lieutenant-governor, would succeed him.

Actually, Mr. Macdonald had often said there was no reason why a woman should not assume the office.

“I just didn’t anticipate it would come about quite so soon,” he said.

He tried to make the office of lieutenant-governor, the official representative of the Queen, more accessible during his tenure. He was always explaining his appointment to the young people he would meet on his travels.

He lied to be lieutenant-governor, although he was not always comfortable in the formal Windsor dress uniform he wore to openings of the Ontario legislature.

“I always took it off as soon as I could and received people in civilian clothes.”

The uniform had been presented to him by the estate of Brantford’s only other lieutenant-governor, the late Col. Henry Cockshutt, who served from 1921 to 1927.

However, he was exhilarated by all the pomp and ceremony. “Life is so drab, so materialistic. Ceremony adds a little spark. Bands cheer us up and the uniforms lend color.

“Other democracies don’ have much color to them, you know. I think we would lose a lot if our ceremonial events were eliminated.”

As a former Liberal Member of Parliament and cabinet minister, Mr. Macdonald admitted he had trouble adjusting to the non-partisan position of lieutenant-governor.

He said he could not get involved in controversial issues and had to guard himself against that.

“I was still an individual though. I still had my own opinions and retained my economic theories.

“I tried to do the things I thought the Queen would do, and not do the things I thought the Queen would not do.”

He said he was prepared for this non-partisan stance by his appointments as Speaker of the House of Commons from 1949 to 1953 and as senator from 1953 to 1967.

Being Speaker brought headaches; “I had to be in the House most of the time paying attention to everything that was being said – and being scrupulously fair.”

He said partisan feeling had not been strong in the Senate when he served there.

The modest Mr. Macdonald said he liked the title “Senator” best, but he did not care what people called him.

“Of course, I certainly hope all my friends still call me Ross.”

Those old Brantford friends recalled the early Ross Macdonald as the son of a Colborne Street merchant with a burning desire to get involved in politics.

Mr. Macdonald was born Christmas Day, 1891, in Toronto. He was the fifth of six children of George Macdonald, a Scot, and his wife, Julia.

At Brantford, where the family moved when Ross was 13, his father established a dry goods and clothing store on Colborne Street. The father became an elder at Alexandra Church, resumed his active interest in Liberal politics, and at one time was an alderman.

“I can’t remember a time when I wasn’t interested in politics,” Mr. Macdonald once said.

But when he moved from Brantford Collegiate Institute to the University of Toronto, religion was uppermost in his mind. He was graduated by University College, but he was in residence at Knox.

Mr. Macdonald seriously considered the Presbyterian ministry, which his eldest brother, George, had already joined.

The difficult decision about being ordained was postponed by the First World War. Ross had joined the Officers’ Training Corps as soon as it started and he enlisted in the Cycle Corps. It consisted chiefly of university students and promised to be both exciting and dangerous. But as Ross once told it, the appointment turned out to be dull and the duties were mostly fatigues. So he got himself transferred to the infantry, and was immediately commissioned in the 4th Battalion of the Canadian Expeditionary Force.

It was on the Somme in 1916 that Lieutenant Ross Macdonald got his “blighty.” He didn’t remember how it happened, but when he was brought back to safety, he was badly burned from the waist down. He was supposed to be dead. He didn’t die but was desperately ill and the effects lasted for 20 years.

Standing six foot, one inch in 1917 he weighed 132 pounds. Since he insisted on living, the doctors told him he must lead a very quiet life. “I just found it was impossible,” he said.

Since the ministry was not now to be thought of, Ross decided to go into law, where he could, to some extent set his pace as his health allowed.

He was graduated by Osgoode Hall in 1919 and joined the firm of Slaght and Ager in Simcoe. After one year, Ross moved back to Brantford and established a new firm with his brother, Norman. That firm now is Macdonald, Binkley, McIntosh and Daboll.

In 1921, he married Muriel Whitaker and the couple had two daughters. Esther who is Mrs. John S. Marshall of Ancaster and Muriel, Mrs. Douglas C. Haldenby of Toronto. (Mrs. Macdonald died in 1962).

As soon as the new law practice began to flourish, Mr. Macdonald concerned himself with the lot of the returned soldiers, and was active in the ranks of ex-service men.

He never lost contact with veterans and whenever possible showed up at affairs in Brantford and Ottawa, when the soldiers got together. He also was active among Members of Parliament who were veterans of the First Word War.

He soon became interested in airplanes and was president of the Brant-Norfolk Aero Club. He also was active in Kiwanis and the Shriners and was a keen golfer.

Early in the 1920s, he revealed himself to be a thoroughgoing Liberal, even if the trend in Brantford for a while was Tory. He was active in helping W.G. Raymond’s election and therefore was identified with liberalism in Brantford.

In 1926, he contested Brantford City, but was defeated by R.E. Ryerson, who had won the election in 1925. Mr. Ryerson had three triumphs in a row. In 1935, Ross changed a majority of 3,082 for Ryerson into a majority of 872 for himself. In 1940, he almost doubled his margin of five years before.

Mr. Macdonald was loyal to Mackenzie King, who had inspired him in his early political days. He was appointed deputy speaker in 1945 and got the nod for the leadership following the 1949 general election.

When he became Speaker, Mr. Macdonald decided that the designation “Mr. Speaker” was going to have a shade more meaning. He promptly took French lessons and spent one summer studying at Quebec’s Laval University.

As Speaker in 1950, he was leading the procession of Commonwealth Speakers at the opening of the rebuilt British House of Commons when he was told not to wear his famous tricorn hat in the presence of King George VI.

He quickly pointed out that in Canada the Speaker wears the hat in the company of the Governor-General and recalled that when the King and Queen visited Canada in 1939, the Speaker wore the hat.

Protocol officials looked up the records, admitted he was correct and Ross wore the hat in the presence of the King.

As Speaker, he won the admiration of all members of the House for his impartiality. Later he was lauded by Prime Minister Louis St. Laurent as one of the greatest Speakers the Commons ever had.

“No Speaker has been greater and few have been his peer,” said Mr. St. Laurent.

In 1953, he was summoned to the Senate and appointed leader of the government in the Senate and solicitor-general of Canada the following year.

He acted as Canada’s official representative at the coronation of Queen Elizabeth in 1953. He was a member of the Canadian delegation to the United Nations in 1960.

In 1964, he retired from his Senate offices but retained the seat. He also was made chancellor of the former Waterloo University (Wilfrid Laurier University).

On July 4, 1968, shortly after he had been made a member of the Privy Council, Mr. Macdonald at age 76, took the oath of office as Lieutenant-Governor of Ontario.

The following year he set a precedent for all Canadian governments when three women, members of the armed forces, joined his 35 member staff of honorary aides-de-camp. No woman had ever had such a role before in any Canadian jurisdiction.

He retired from the post on April 4, 1974, the second Brantfordian to occupy a vice-regal position. Col. Henry Cockshutt was Ontario’s Lieutenant Governor from 1921 to 1927.

During his lifetime, Ross was honored many times especially in the community where he had lived most of his life – his selection as Brantford’s Citizen of the Year and his appointment as Honorary Colonel of the 56th Field Regiment, Royal Canadian Artillery – to just name two.

In 1974, Ontario Premier William Davis honored Ross by renaming the Ontario School for the Blind, the W. Ross Macdonald School.

He was also appointed officer of the Order of Canada in 1974.

BX May 28, 1976 - Editorial

W. Ross Macdonald

“Full of years and honors,” is an ancient phrase that comes readily to mind with the passing of W. Ross Macdonald, long Brant’s most distinguished citizen. But to him these words apply with special meaning and absolute truth.

His 84 years were in fact packed, as few men’s lives have been, with service to his fellows, community and country, and it was from this outstanding record that the honors flowed as a tribute to his wide-ranging abilities and qualities of heart and character.

The list of important public offices he held from MP to federal cabinet minister, Speaker of the Commons, senator, government leader in the Senate and finally lieutenant-governor – the Queen’s representative – of Ontario at age 76, not to mention the astonishing width of his active interest in over a score of Brantford area and other organizations, symbolizes him best – a man dedicated to public service without thought of the personal sacrifice it involved. His kind of person is rare.

Then there was the private man, the “Ross” so many Brantfordians and near neighbors knew and liked for his friendliness, modesty and unfailing charm. A conversation with him at a street corner in Brantford was a fragmented affair as citizen after citizen came up to shake his hand and exchange a few words.

It is not mere triteness to say that Ross Macdonald will be missed. Though he towered among us as a figure of national distinction, he remained one of us, and it is saddening that we shall no longer enjoy his genial, kindly presence.

BX May 31, 1976

Many Dignitaries Attend Funeral for Former Lieutenant-Governor

W. Ross Macdonald, former lieutenant-governor of Ontario, was buried this afternoon.

The funeral service was attended by federal, provincial and municipal officials who gathered to pay final tribute to a man who gave a lifetime of service to his country and community.

The service for Mr. Macdonald, who served as lieutenant-governor of the province from 1968 to 1974, was held at Brant Avenue United Church at 2 p.m. Rev. J.L.G. Brown, Brant Untied Church minister, assisted by Very Rev. Deane Johnston, former minister of Central Presbyterian Church, conducted the service.

Pallbearers for Mr. Macdonald, who died at the age of 84 on Friday, were Constables David Burnham and James Peer of the Brantford detachment of the Ontario Provincial Police, Constables Leo Minutillo and John Timon of the Brantford police force, Brantford firefighter William Clawsie, Alex McIntosh, representing St. John Ambulance, Ted Gerow, president of Branch 90 of the Royal Canadian Legion, and David MacPherson, president of the Brantford Ex-Imperial Club.

Representatives of the 56th Field Regiment formed an honor guard at the church. Following the procession from the church to the Brantford Armories, marchers taking part in the procession boarded buses for the trip to the Farringdon Burial Ground.

The 56th Field Regiment formed an honor guard at the cemetery. Reveille was played by Fred Nicholas of Branch 90 and the lament was sounded by piper Sandy Foster of the Ex-Imperial Club.

A federal delegation, led by Gen. Charles Drury, attended the services. Other federal dignitaries on the list were J.W. Pickersgill, former transport minister in the 1960’s Senators John Connolly and William Petten, Alistair Fraser, clerk of the House of Commons and former Prime Minister John Diefenbaker.

Provincial government representatives included Ontario Lieutenant-Governor Pauline McGibbon, Premier William Davis and Speaker of the Legislature Russell Rowe.

Brantford Mayor Charles Bowen welcomed federal and provincial dignitaries. Members of the city council and various groups in the city also attended the service.

Mr. Macdonald was highly regarded and both national and provincial political figures paid tribute to the former lieutenant-governor, Member of Parliament and senator following the announcement of his death.

As lieutenant-governor, the tall, silver-haired man crisscrossed the province making contact with the people and often shaking 1,000 hands a day at official functions.

Mr. Macdonald was many things – soldier, lawyer, politician – but he will best be remembered as the man who lent quiet warmth and dignity to the office of the lieutenant-governor of Ontario.