A Erii Memorial Cross To Group Captain Hubert O. Mcdonald Rcaf

ERII (G-1334 G/C H.O. McDONALD). Naming is officially impressed. Very crisp detail, light contact, near extremely fine. Accompanied by copies of his Service Records, his WWII Officers Application and Record Sheet (dated September 6, 1939 at Toronto), a letter of confirmation from the Inter-Alled Commission of the Repatriation of Prisoners of War, Headquarters, American Commissioner (dated January 10, 1919 at Berlin) and various other correspendence.

Footnote: Hubert Orr McDonald was born on October 31, 1896 in Arnprior, Renfrew, Ontario. He was educated at Kent Street Public School, Ottawa (1902-1909). He left Canada for further education in Europe, being prepared for Cambridge at Laleham, Margate, England (1909-1912), taking a French course at La Villette, Yverdon, Switzerland (1912-1913) and a German course at Charlottenburg, Berlin, Germany (1913-1914), just before the outbreak of hostilities, at the young age of 18. With World War I in full swing, he was named Lieutenant (Platoon Commander) with the 59th Regiment (Militia) on December 1915, remaining in the position until June 1916. He took courses in Musketry (Instructor) 1916, Machine Gun (Instructor) 1916 and Ground & Pilot 1916. He is also documented as a Lieutenant (Machine Gun Officer) with the 230th Infantry Battalion in June 1916 but it is unclear as to how long he remained at the position. McDonald then joined the Royal Flying Corps/Royal Air Force as a Lieutenant, and later Captain (Pilot), from 1916 to 1919. He flew various aircraft, including Vickers, F.E. 8, Martinsyde, Bristol Fighter, two-seater Sopwith, Sopwith Pup, Camel. He lost his log book when he was taken prisoner on July 29, 1917. McDonald was Mentioned in Despatches in the London Gazette on December 16, 1919 for "valuable service whilst in capitivity". Upon his repatriation, he was named Captain, Aide de Camp, British Military Mission, Berlin, Germany for the Royal Air Force in 1919. Flight Lieutenant McDonald did not proceed to Berlin from England upon the termintion of hostilities but served on the mission in Germany upon release as a prisoner of war. It is felt that this fact may account for the disparity between the officer's continued claim that he was in the position that he actually held after the war, versus the records available from the Air Ministry. He was promoted to Captain while in Berlin and was unaware of such, until assuming his civilian life. He relinquished his commission and was permitted to retain the rank of Lieutenant on September 1, 1921. McDonald sought employment in the civilian world, landing a Technical job with Massey-Harris Company (1919-1922). He later took a position as a Bond Salesman with four firms: Canada Bond Corporation (1922-1924), National City Company (1924-1928), Fry, Mills, Spence and Company (1928-1931) and Bell, Gouinlock and Company (1931-1938). It was during his time with Fry, Mills, Spence that he married Sheila McDonald (nee Higgins) on September 13, 1930. He was with Cochran, Murray and Company (1938-1939), as a Managerof the United States Department when he returned to military service with the Royal Canadian Air Force. C-1334 McDonald signed his RCAF Officers Application and Record Sheet on September 6, 1939 in Toronto, Ontario, applying for appointment to the "Reserve of Officers, RCAF (Non-Flying List)" and to the "Auxiliary Active Air Force (Special List) (General List) (Non-Flying List)". He had three postings during his World War II service: Air Training Command, at Toronto on September 12, 1939, No. 3 Training Command, at Montreal on April 15, 1940 and No. 1 Manning Depot, at Toronto on February 22, 1942, where he was Commanding Officer. He attained eight rank appointments and promotions from September 12, 1939 to November 1, 1943, including Acting Flight Lieutenant (A/F/L), Temporary Flight Lieutenant (T/F/L), Acting Squadron Leader (A/S/L), Temporary Squadron Leader (T/S/L), Acting Wing Commander (A/W/C), Temporary Wing Commander (T/W/C), Acting Group Captain (A/G/C) and Temporary Group Captain (T/G/C). While at Manning Depot as Commanding Officer, the depot was awarded honourable mention in the competition for the Minister's Pennant twice (January 1 to March 31, 1943 and April 1 to June 30, 1943). McDonald himself was an exceptional officer, as it was noted that he "worked extremely hard, keen, conscientious and possesess a good personality. Painstaking in his work and a good organizer. Has the ability to assist and train other personnel. Good reliable officer." His health was in question in the latter part of his war service. In a letter from T.K. McDougall, Group Captain, to J.G. Godsoe, Chairman, Wartime Industries Control Board, Ottawa, it was noted that McDonald was being "retired on medical grounds", as a medical board categorized him as "ApBp" as a result of "Coronary Thrombosis" on May 5, 1944. Coronary thrombosis is a form of thrombosis (formation of a blood clot inside a blood vessel, obstructing the flow of blood through the circulatory system) affecting the coronary circulation (circulation of blood in the blood vessels of the heart muscle). McDoanld died on April 17, 1957, with his widow, Sheila, receiving his Memorial Cross and leaving behind two children, Patricia and Robert. His records show that he was entitled to War Medal 1939-1945, the Canadian Volunteer Service Medal and the WWII War Service Badge (number 064694).