A most unusual Great War D.C.M. group of eight awarded to Lieutenant-Colonel G. L. McDonell, Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry, late H.A.C. and C.I.V., who served in Salonika and France before joining the Canadian Siberian Expeditionary Force to Russia in October 1918

Distinguished Conduct Medal, G.V.R. (650 C.Q.M. Sjt. G. L. McDonell, P.P. Can. L.I.); Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 5 clasps, Cape Colony, Paardeberg, Driefontein, Johannesburg, Diamond Hill (1409 C. Sgt. G. L. McDonell, C.I.V.); 1914-15 Star (650 C.S. Mjr. G. McDonell, P.P.C.L.I.); British War and Victory Medals (Capt. G. L. McDonell); Territorial Force Efficiency Medal, E.VII.R., on H.A.C. riband (207 A./Bombr. G. McDonell, B Bty. H.A.C., 2/C. of L.H.A.); Czechoslovakia, War Cross 1914-18; France, Victory Medal 1914-18, mounted court-style as worn, generally good very fine (8) £4,000-£5,000

D.C.M. London Gazette 14 January 1916; citation published 11 March 1916:
‘Company Quartermaster-Serjeant G. L. McDonell, Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry.
For conspicuous gallantry and devotion, when in charge of divisional headquarters transport, which were situated about 250 yards from the headquarters billets. The stables were set on fire by shell fire. Company Sergeant-Major McDonell, in order to save the horses, made four journeys from the billets to the stables, under very heavy shell fire. He succeeded in saving all the horses and other Government property besides.’

Czechoslovak War Cross London Gazette 29 June 1923: ‘Lieutenant-Colonel, Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry.’

T.F.E.M. in AO 163 of 1 July 1910.

Geoffrey Lidbrook McDonell was born in London, England, on 15 August 1873. He served with the City Imperial Volunteers, from 7th Middlesex (London Scottish) Rifle Volunteers, as a Colour-Sergeant in South Africa in 1900 (Queen’s medal with 5 Clasps), and was a member of the Honourable Artillery Company, serving as Acting Bombardier with “B” Battery, 2 County of London Horse Artillery.

At the outbreak of war in 1914, McDonell was living in Canada where he described his occupation as that of a ‘prospector, hunter and trapper.’ He attested at Ottawa on 20 August 1914, as an original recruit for Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry and landed at Havre, France, on 21 December 1914, as Camp Quartermaster-Sergeant to Headquarters, 27th Division. He was recommended for the Distinguished Conduct Medal on 9 April 1915, and received a ‘Green Card’ signed by Major-General T. D. O’Snow on 1 June 1915. He served in Salonica with H.Q. 27th Division from 1 January to 22 May, 1916, when he returned to France and rejoined P.P.C.L.I. at Steenvoorde on 18 June. On 5 July he was recalled to England for a commission and on 14 October 1916, he was appointed temporary Lieutenant and attached to R.C.R. and P.P.C.L.I. Depot. In December 1916 he reported for duty with General Staff Headquarters, London, and in March 1917 he was appointed General Staff Officer 3rd Grade with rank of temporary Captain while so employed. He was brought to notice of the Secretary of Star for War for valuable services rendered in connection with the war, 7 August 1917.

McDonell was promoted to Captain on 3 June 1918, and transferred to the Canadian Siberian Expeditionary Force on 19 September 1918, with the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel. He embarked for ‘Overseas’ with the C.S.E.F. in the S.S. Emperor of Japan at Vancouver on 11 October 1918, and arrived at Vladivostok on 30 October, where he was appointed Acting Assistant Adjutant and Quartermaster-General at Force Headquarters. In March 1919 he was appointed Deputy Assistant Quartermaster General, Base Depot, Vladivostok, but by this time domestic unrest in Canada, partisan guerrilla warfare, and disunity among the Allied nations convinced Canada to abandon their mission and to begin the demobilisation of troops in Siberia in April. Lieutenant-Colonel McDonell embarked at Siberia in the S.S. Monteagle on 5 June 1919, and arrived in Canada on 20 June. He was demobilised on 3 July 1919 and transferred to the Reserve of Officers the following day.