Donald Roger MacDonald

4Nov2009
From: Ellen Rowe [erushton@rogers.com]

Hi Greg,

Here is another photo for my uncle -

Donald Roger MacDonald - South Saskatchewan Regiment

8 Nov 1904 Cockburn Island, Manitoulin, Ontario - 12 Nov 1974 Ogema, Saskatchewan

In 1918 at age 16 Roger left Ontario and went west to work in the harvest. He made Saskatchewan his home. He met and married Violet Millsap 2nd April 1923 in Ogema. They purchased a wheat farm in Hardy, SK. Family and friends out west call him Don.

He joined the South Saskatchewan Regiment. Before leaving for training he rented out the farm and moved the family into Ogema. The Regiment was ordered to take part in the Dieppe invasion. Many men were given forced furlough prior to the impending raid as a ruse to fool the German command. Roger and his brother Wallace (RCR) took their leave together and visited MacDonald relatives in the Isle of Lewis in the Hebrides. (see news clipping photo) [from sister Patsy]

When Roger returned from the war he joined the police force in Ogema. In 1955 he was the Iceman at the Ogema Arena & Curling rink. He suffered a stroke in 1959 at age 63 and could no longer speak. He died at 70 years of age in Regina. He and Violet had six children, four of whom survive. [From daughter Norma 2003].

Above: In Shilo. On Leave. With Brother Wallace in Bernera, Isle of Lewis. With Violet MacDonald.

Image of him in Weyburn Legion.

5Nov2009

Donald Roger MacDonald was the only sibling of 13 who left the province, and the only one who took up farming. A couple of the other boys were fishermen like their father. His parents were Kenneth S. MacDonald and Mary McIvor MacKay from Kincardine and Port Stanley.

I only met D. Roger once when I was young. I got to know more about him from my mom (she was 24 years younger). I also had a chance to talk with his daughters when compiling the family tree.

I have attached a pic of Donald Roger in 1957, and a page from one of the local history books submitted by Opal, Don's daughter. The history page can't be used as I don't remember the source, a local book. (I added the top photo on the page for the family tree).

And the last is a clipping of D. Roger and his brothers from the Port Stanley newspaper. His sister Jean later joined the RCAF. There were 6 MacDonald sibs serving in WW2. All came home except D. Roger's brother Cpl. Norman Stewart MacDonald, HLIC.

Please use whatever you wish. Thank you for taking the time to put this together.

Ellen

GCS/gs 4Nov2009/10Mar2013