The First World War
Officers of The Royal Canadian Regiment

The Hon. Archibald Hayes Macdonell, C.M.G., D.S.O.

Soldiers of the First World War database entry - A.H. Macdonell

Major-General A.H. Macdonell, C.M.G., D.S.O.

Service:

• South African War; Captain, 2nd (Special Service) Bn, The RCR; Despatches (2). Queen's South Africa medal with four clasps (Cape Colony, Transvaal, Driefontein, Paardeberg)
• Mentioned in Despatches: THE LONDON GAZETTE, 8 February, 1901 - Lieutenant and Adjutant A. H. Macdonnell, Captain, Royal Canadian Regiment of Infantry.
• Mentioned in Despatches: THE LONDON GAZETTE, APRIL 16, 1901; Earl Roberts' Despatches: Captain A. H. Macdonell, Royal Canadian Regiment.
• Brevet Major, Adjutant, No. 2 Depot, Toronto, Ontario, 1901
• THE LONDON GAZETTE, JANUARY 21, 1902; Lieutenant A. N. Macdonell, D.S.O., Royal Canadian Regiment of Infantry (Major Canadian Militia), is granted the local rank of Lieutenant in the Army whilst employed with the West African Frontier Force. Dated. 28th December, 1901.
• West Africa (S. Nigeria) 1901-02. Aro Expedition - Medal Clasp. Operations in the Ibeko Olokoro (Clasp).
• West Africa (S. Nigeria) 1902-03. Operations in the Afikpo Country - Despatches (Clasp).
• West Africa (S. Nigeria) 1903. Operations in the Mkpani Country (Clasp).
• West Africa (S. Nigeria) 1904. Operations at Obokum (Clasp).
• D.A.A.G., M.P. 1907.
• D.A Q.M.G,. M.P. 1908.
• C.S.0. Western Ontario, 1910.
• A.A.G. i/c Adm. 1 Div. 1911.
• Assistant Adjutant General for Administration (A.A.G.A.), 1st Divisional Area (London), 1912
• Attached to the Royal Military College for General Staff Duties, 1912
• G.S.O 2nd Grade, 1st Div. 1913.
• (Great War) O.C. 5th Inf. Bde. 1916. Despatches (3). C.M.G., 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal.
• SUPPLEMENT TO THE LONDON GAZETTE, 3 JUNE, 1916; Additional Members of the Third Class, or Companions, of the said Most Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and Saint George. - Lt.-Col. Archibald Hayes Macdonell, D.S.O., R. Can. R.

Listed in The Canadian Who's Who, 1936-1937:

MACDONNELL, Hon. Archibald Hayes, C.M.G. 1916, D.S.O. 1900; senator; late Canadian military service; b Toronto, Ont, 6 Feb. 1868; s Angus Duncan of U.E.L. descent, and Pauline Rosalie (de Lehaye) M., both Candns.; e model sch. and coll. inst,, Toronto; m Mrs. C. J. Coster, 6 June 1934; joined Candn. vol. mil. Feb. 1886; perm, corps., Apl. 1892; served with 1st Candn. contingent in S. Africa; mentioned in despatches twice; D.S.O. bt. maj.; awarded Queen's medal with four clasps; served in W. Africa with Southern Nigeria Aro Expdn., 1901-02 (medal and clasp) ; Ebeko Expdn. (clasp) ; Ibeko-Olokoro Expdn.; Afikpo Expdn. (clasp and despatches) ; Mkpani Expdn. (clasp) ; Northern Ibibio Expdn.; operations at Obokum (clasp) ; passed Staff Coll., 1906; served in World War, 1914-17; on 1st Divn. Staff until Aug. 1915 as lieut-col.; commanded Roy. Candn. Regt. in trenches until Apl. 1916; and then commanded 5th Candn. Bgde. until 23 July 1917 mentioned in despatches three times; organ. N.B. into a mil. dist, 1 Nov. 1917, and commanded it up to time of being summoned to the Senate, 1921; retired to pension, 15 Jan. 1922; Conservative; Roman Catholic; recreations big game hunting, sports; Club Sevogle Salmon Fishing (N.B.) ; Address The Senate, Ottawa.

Biography - Natural History Society of new Brunswick (Source.)

Archibald Hayes Macdonell (Toronto, Ontario 6 February 1868-12 November 1939 Rothesay, N.B.), a descendant of United Empire Loyalist, began his military career in 1886, when he joined the militia in Toronto. In 1899 he joined the first Canadian contingent serving as captain of 'H' Company, Nova Scotia. In December of that year Macdonell was given command of 'G' Company at Belmont, South Africa. At Bloemfontein in early April of the following year Macdonell became ill with enteric fever. During his illness his command was taken over by Frederick Caverhill Jones. After recovering, Macdonell was to return to his Regiment when the Boers attacked his camp. Macdonell and the others present at the station quickly realized that they were surrounded by the Boers led by General Christiaan Rudolf de Wet (1854-1922). Macdonell refused to surrender but after six hours of constant enemy fire, with ten dead and seventeen severely wounded, and no chance of reinforcements, he was forced to do so. De Wet marched the prisoners to his farm at Vaal Krantz, but learning that the British were approaching, De Wet fled leaving the prisoners behind at Farriesburg. Macdonell and the other prisoners were able to escape and rejoin 'G' Company. In recognition of his bravery during the war Macdonell received the Distinguished Service Order and rank of brevet major along with the Queen's medal with four clasps.

In 1901 Macdonell joined the British again, this time to fight in the Aro Expedition in Southern Nigeria. For gallantry in action, he received the following medals: Ebeko Expedition (clasp), Ibeko-Olokoro Expedition (clasp), Afikpo Expedition (clasp and despatches), Mkpani Expedition (clasp), and for Operations at Obokum (clasp).

Like Frederick Caverhill Jones, Macdonell went on to serve in World War I, first as part of the First Divisional Staff and then serving at the front lines commanding The Royal Canadian Regiment. After returning to Canada, he came to New Brunswick and organized the province into a military district on 1 November 1917. He served as commander until November 1921, when he was summoned to the Canadian senate.

Date of Birth - 6 Feb 1868, at Toronto, ON.

Date of Death - 12 Nov 1936, at Rothesay, NB.