Bruce Alexander McDonald AO OBE DSO (1925 - 1993)

Ancestors

Biography

Major General Bruce McDonald AO OBE DSO MC was a senior officer in the Australian Army, seeing service in conflicts from the Second World War to the Vietnam War.

Born Bruce Alexander McDonald on 23rd March 1925 at Geelong, Victoria, Australia, he was the son of Angus Alexander McDonald and Olive Penny.

McDonald graduated from the Royal Military College, Duntroon on 13th December 1944. He had not missed the Second World War, as he was commissioned as a Lieutenant in the 2/5th Battalion, 17th Infantry Brigade, 6th Division, already deployed on the northern coast of New Guinea in preparation for the Aitape-Wewak Campaign.^[1] The battalion's role was mainly in arduous patrolling to clear the Japanese from the Torricelli and Prince Alexander mountain ranges. It was still engaged in this role when the war ended on 15th August 1945. He was awarded the Military Cross (MC)^[2] for "bravery and leadership while commanding a platoon during heavy fighting with the Japanese at Ulupu in New Guinea in July 1945",^[3]

during which action he was wounded.

McDonald was attached to the British Commonwealth Occupation Force in Japan following the end of hostilities.

On 11th August 1948 in St James Church of England (Anglican Church), Kyogle, New South Wales, he married Elizabeth Mary Griffiths.^[4]

In 1953, McDonald was posted to Korea as a Captain with the 2nd Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment.^[5] After suffering a slipped disk in March 1954 he was posted to Australian Staff Corps as aide-de-camp to the Commander-in-Chief of the British Commonwealth Force Korea. In October he was appointed aide-de-camp to the chief of the General Staff in Australia, and was promoted to Major in December. Attending the 1956 course at the Staff College, Camberley, England, McDonald impressed its commandant with his potential as a staff officer or commander. His next postings were to the Australian Army Staff, London (1957); Royal Military College, Duntroon (1958–60); and Army Headquarters, Canberra (1960–63).

Promoted Lieutenant Colonel in 1962, he commanded the 3rd Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment from 1963 to 1966, including operations in West Malaysia in 1964 and in Borneo in 1965 during the Indonesia-Malaysia Confrontation, for which he was appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) for 'his exceptional ability, initiative, and drive'.

From early 1971, upon promotion to Brigadier, McDonald commanded the 1st Australian Task Force in his fourth 'war', the Vietnam War, until its withdrawal in early 1972, leading the formation during counter-insurgency operations in South Vietnam against the Viet Cong and North Vietnamese. For this service he was appointed Companion of the Distinguished Service Order (DSO).^[6][7] and appointed to the Republic of (South) Vietnam Legion of Merit.

Promoted Major General, he commanded the 1st Division in Queensland from 1975 to 1977, and later served as General Officer Commanding Training Command. McDonald was appointed Officer of the Order of Australia (AO) in 1979. He retired from the military in March 1982, aged 57 years. Settling in Auchenflower, inner south western suburb of Brisbane, Queensland, he continued to support veterans through his membership of Legacy.

He passed away of lung cancer on his 68th birthday anniversary, 23rd March, in 1993 at Auchenflower, Queensland, and was buried in Pinnaroo Cemetery, Brisbane. His wife, son and daughter survived him.