A Great War ‘Western Front’ D.S.O., M.C. group of five awarded to Major Donald Ramsey Macdonald, Royal Field Artillery - his name appearing on the very first list of awards of the M.C. in January 1915

Distinguished Service Order, G.V.R., silver-gilt and enamel, with top bar; Military Cross, G.V.R. reverse inscribed, ‘Lieut. D. R. MacDonald, R.F.A.’; 1914 Star, with clasp (Lieut., R.F.A.); British War and Victory Medals, M.I.D. oak leaf (Major) mounted as worn; together with a mounted set of five miniature dress medals, contact marks, good fine and better (lot) £2000-2400

D.S.O. London Gazette 26 July 1918. ‘For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. On various occasions he was the last to withdraw his battery, and his handling of a sub-group placed under his command enabled the infantry to prolong the defence by many hours. His courage and skill were admirable’.

M.C. London Gazette 1 January 1915.

M.I.D. London Gazette 19 October 1914; 23 December 1918.

Donald Ramsey MacDonald was born on 4 February 1884. Educated at Harrow and the Royal Military Academy, Woolwich, he entered the Army as a 2nd Lieutenant in the Royal Artillery on 15 July 1903. He was promoted to Lieutenant on 15 July 1906, Captain, 30 October 1914, and Major on 3 July 1916. He served in France/Flanders, 18 August 1914-16 August 1915, 25 September 1915-8 October 1916, 4 May-27 October 1917, and 21 February-11 November 1918. Macdonald was twice wounded. For his services he was twice mentioned in despatches and awarded the D.S.O. and M.C. Major MacDonald died at Hollymount Carlow on 28 December 1934.

Sold with a framed commission document appointing him a 2nd Lieutenant, dated 1 August 1903; a framed D.S.O. bestowal document, dated 26 July 1918; two hard-backed exercise books, entitled, ‘D. R. Macdonald, War Diary ...’, being a fascinating hand-written, day by day personal account, covering the period 17 August 1914 to 22 May 1919 - this a post-war transcription. Also with a Princess Mary’s Christmas Tin, with accompanying card and wrappers for the cigarettes and tobacco; a photograph album - mainly ‘India’ of the 1920’s, and a photograph of a memorial to Major Macdonald and his two sons.

For the medals of his two sons, see lots 508 and 711.