MacDonald, AL
(1897 - 1917)
Key Facts
DATE OF BIRTH:
5th November 1897
YEARS ATTENDED THE COLLEGE:
1910 - 1914
HOME ADDRESS WHEN AT THE COLLEGE:
Braken Knowe, Kilbarchan, East Renfrewshire [grandparents].
REGIMENT
Royal Flying Corps
FINAL RANK:
Captain
DATE OF DEATH:
26th August 1917
AGE AT DEATH:
19
WHERE HE DIED (or was wounded)
Belgium
LOCATION OF GRAVE OR MEMORIAL:
Mendinghem Military Cemetery. III D 10
Captain Alexander Lindsay MacDonald
Alexander was born in Hong Kong on November 5th 1897, the son of a Scottish solicitor named Donald MacDonald. He came to Dulwich in the summer of 1910, and during what would eventually go on to be four and a half years at the College was a boarder in Elm Lawn.
After leaving at the end of 1914 Alexander went on to Sandhurst, passing out in August 1915, when he was gazetted to a commission in the Black Watch. Almost at once he was transferred to the Royal Flying Corps, and the next month became a fully qualified pilot, proceeding to France shortly afterwards. In August 1916 he was awarded the Military Cross, for his “conspicuous gallantry and skill” when flying missions, often at low altitudes and under heavy fire; particular mention was made of an occasion when he had single-handedly dispersed a large number of enemy infantry through his machine-gun fire. Shortly after being awarded the M.C. he was also promoted to the rank of Captain. On August 26th 1917 he was flying behind British lines when he was surrounded by nine enemy planes, and despite putting up a strong fight, was brought down soon after.
