After more than a century since his passing, Ranald (Big Mac) Macdonald, a veteran of the First World War, will have his name included on the Guelph War Memorial. Former colleagues from the Guelph Mercury newspaper, where Macdonald worked as an agricultural editor before and after the war, pushed for his recognition at the cenotaph despite his lack of familial ties in the southern Ontario city.
Phil Andrews, the former editor of the Mercury, highlighted the significance of honoring Macdonald, emphasizing his contributions beyond the newsroom. Local historian Ed Butts discovered Macdonald’s story while researching the cenotaph names in 2014 and later featured it in his 2024 publication, “Guelph Stories.”
Macdonald, a graduate of the Ontario Agricultural College, enlisted with the Canadian Expeditionary Force at the onset of World War I, despite being older than many of his peers. He sustained injuries in battle in 1916, leading to a mistaken belief among his Mercury colleagues that he had perished. Following his return in 1919, Macdonald resumed his work at the Mercury and took on leadership roles within veterans’ associations.
Tragically, Macdonald passed away in 1920 due to a war-related illness, with no immediate family identified by his former coworkers. Through genealogical research, a living relative, Nancy Macdonald Jordan, was located in Ohio.
The City of Guelph plans to hold a ceremony to commemorate Macdonald’s addition to the cenotaph, with expectations of it taking place before Remembrance Day. Those connected to Macdonald express satisfaction and gratitude for the long-overdue recognition of his service and sacrifices.