Bruce Alexander McDonald

Major General Bruce Alexander McDonald, AO, DSO, OBE, MC (23 March 1925 – 23 March 1993) was a senior officer in the Australian Army, seeing service in the Second World War, the Indonesia-Malaysia Confrontation and the Vietnam War.

Bruce Alexander McDonald
Born(1925-03-23)23 March 1925
Geelong, Victoria
Died23 March 1993(1993-03-23) (aged 68)
Brisbane, Queensland
AllegianceAustralia
Service/branchAustralian Army
RankMajor General
Commands held1st Division (1975–77)
1st Australian Task Force (1971–72)
3rd Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment (1963–66)
Battles/warsSecond World War
Indonesia-Malaysia Confrontation
Vietnam War
AwardsOfficer of the Order of Australia
Distinguished Service Order
Officer of the Order of the British Empire
Military Cross

Early life and education

McDonald was born in Geelong, Victoria, on 23 March 1925, the son of Angus Alexander and Olive (née Penny) McDonald.[1][2]

Military career

McDonald graduated from the Royal Military College, Duntroon in December 1944 and was posted to the 2/5th Battalion.[3] He served in the later stages of the Second World War and was awarded a Military Cross for bravery and leadership while commanding a platoon during heavy fighting with the Japanese at Ulupu in New Guinea in July 1945, in which he was wounded.[4]

Following the war McDonald served in a number of staff and regimental appointments. From 1963 to 1966 he commanded the 3rd Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment (3 RAR), including operations in West Malaysia in 1964 and in Borneo in 1965 during the Indonesia-Malaysia Confrontation,[3] for which he was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire.[5] During this period 3 RAR took part in the top secret Operation Claret, executing a number of cross border actions including several highly successful ambushes against Indonesian forces.[6]

From early 1971 McDonald commanded the 1st Australian Task Force in South Vietnam until its withdrawal in early 1972, leading the formation during counter-insurgency operations against the Viet Cong and North Vietnamese during the Vietnam War.[7] For this service he was awarded the Distinguished Service Order.[8] He commanded the 1st Division in Queensland from 1975 to 1977, and later served as General Officer Commanding Training Command. McDonald was appointed an Officer of the Order of Australia in 1979.[9]

Retirement

McDonald died in Brisbane, Queensland, on 23 March 1993.[2] He was buried on 26 March 1993 in Pinnaroo cemetery, Brisbane.[10][11]

Notes
  1. Long 1963, p. 363.
  2. Ancestry user: ElizKMcM_2012. "Bruce Alexander McDonald". McMillan and family. Ancestry.com.au. Retrieved 15 July 2013.
  3. Ekins & McNeill 2012, p. 521.
  4. Ekins & McNeill 2012, p. 1017.
  5. The Order of the British Empire – Officer (Military) (OBE(M)), Date granted: 1 January 1966, Citation: ARMY – Infantry – Distinguished service in Borneo
  6. Horner 2005, p. 239.
  7. Palazzo 2006, p. 45.
  8. Distinguished Service Order Archived 28 March 2017 at the Wayback Machine (DSO), Date granted: 1 September 1972, Citation: 1 Australian Task Force Vietnam – Commanding
  9. Officer of the Order of Australia (Military) Archived 28 March 2017 at the Wayback Machine, (AO), Date granted: 11 June 1979, Citation: For service in positions of great responsibility, including General Officer Commanding, Training Command
  10. "Grave location search". Brisbane City Council. Retrieved 15 July 2013.
  11. "Funeral notice for McDonald, Bruce Alexander (Major General)". Courier-Mail (Brisbane, Queensland). 25 March 1993. p. 22.

References
Military offices
Preceded by
Major General Ronald Hughes		 Commander 1st Division
1975–1977		 Succeeded by
Major General Phillip Bennett
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