Macdonell, Ian McLean

Lieutenant Colonel I.M. Macdonell, MBE, VD

Lieutenant Colonel Ian McLean Macdonell MBE, VD was born August 8, 1895 in Toronto, son of A. McLean Macdonell. He was a great grandnephew of Colonel John Macdonell, former Attorney General of Upper Canada, who fell at Queenston Heights whilst leading the Canadians after General Brock had been killed. His father was a lawyer in Toronto at Bain, Bickness, Macdonell and Gordon. Macdonell graduated from Upper Canada College and had a B.Sc. from the University of Toronto. He then worked at his father’s law office.

He was called to the bar in May, 1920 and set up his law practice in Toronto and served as an alderman on city council in 1926 and 1927. He was appointed as a judge of the County Court of York in 1933 and was appointed as a judge of the Surrogate Court of York in 1949. He wrote several books covering the field of law, his last one being “Criminal Appeals” in 1989. Macdonell was a member of Loyal Orange Lodge No. 137 and served as the County Master of the Loyal Orange County Lodge of Toronto in 1932.

As Queen’s Own Commanding Officer, he was presented to His Majesty King George VI during the Royal Visit to Toronto in May 1939.

Judge Macdonell died in Toronto in 1992.

Service Record

October 24, 1911 – Enlisted as a sapper in 2nd Field Company Canadian Engineers (University Company) until August 4, 1914
November 9, 1914 – Appointed Lieutenant in No 2 Detachment, Corps of Guides
March 19, 1915 – Transferred to 2nd Divisional Cyclist and served as Platoon Commander
December 12, 1915 – Transferred to 41st Battery, Canadian Field Artillery, CEF
February 3, 1916 – Proceeded overseas with 41st Battery
July 12, 1916 – Proceeded to France with 11th Brigade, Canadian Field Artillery
December 30, 1916 – Appointed Adjutant, 11th Brigade, CFA until May 15, 1917
July 2, 1917 – Appointed Aide de Camp to General Officer Commanding, 1st Canadian Division (a relative – Major General Archibald Cameron Macdonell) until August 3, 1918
News clipping on the wounding of then Lieutenant Macdonell

December 22, 1917 – Wounded
August 14, 1918 – Performed duties of Staff Captain, RA until November 17, 1918
Mentioned in Despatches twice
March 1, 1919 – Appointed Staff Captain, RA 1st Canadian Division
March 6, 1919 – Awarded MBE
May 6, 1919 – Demobilized
November 16, 1921 – Appointed Lieutenant, Queen’s Own Rifles of Canada
September 19, 1922 – Appointed Adjutant, 1st Battalion, QOR
December 13, 1923 – Promoted Captain
May 22, 1925 – Appointed to command “A” Company, 2nd Battalion
May 29, 1926 – Promoted Major
1927 – Passed Militia Staff Course
March 1928 – Appointed to command “C” Company, 2nd Battalion
September 1928 – Appointed to command “B” Company, 1st Battalion
April 1929 – Appointed to command Headquarters Wing
September 1932 – Appointed to command “D’ Company, 1st Battalion
March 28, 1934 – Appointed second in command, 1st Battalion
May 6, 1936 – Awarded King’s Silver Jubiliee Medal (George V)
April 13, 1939 – Promoted to Lieutenant Colonel and appointed Commanding Officer
June 1, 1940 – Relinquished command
October 4, 1956 – Appointed Honorary Lieutenant Colonel
October 6, 1961 – Relinquished appointment as Honorary Lieutenant Colonel