Ranald Hume MacDonald AM

b. 22/02/1869 Edinburgh, Scotland. d. 20/01/1935 Egham, Surrey.

DATE OF AM ACTION: 16/07/1898 Lowarai Pass, India.

Ranald H MacDonald AM

Ranald was the third of four children of Sir John Hay Athole and Adelaide Janet MacDonald (nee Doran). He had two older brothers Norman and John (who was killed in WWI). Tragically, in 1870, his mother died giving birth to their fourth child (who also died). Ranald was educated at Cheltenham College, before entering military training. In 1905 he married Margaret Eleanor McLeod. He was commissioned as 2nd Lieutenant in the Royal Engineers in 1889. Ranald and Margaret had two children – Alexa in 1907 and Alexander in 1909. Sadly just 3 months after the death of his brother in France in 1916, he lost his wife Margaret. On 9t November 1921 in St Pancras, London, he married Edith Muriel Stewart Richardson, who was 14 years younger than him. On retirement from the Royal Engineers, he moved to Surrey, where he died in 1935.

 

AM CITATION:

In recognition of their gallantry in saving the life of Sepoy Karm Dad, of the 27th Bengal Infantry, who, with certain native officers and men of that Corps, had been overwhelmed in an avalanche near the summit of the Lowarai Pass on the 16th May 1898.

 

BURIAL LOCATION: UNKNOWN.

LOCATION OF MEDAL: PRIVATELY HELD.