Stories - Christopher McDonald

PRIVATE CHRISTOPHER McDONALD, 1896-1972 2nd BATTALION, ROYAL DUBLIN FUSILIERS
BACKGROUND One of eleven children, Christopher McDonald was 17 when he joined the 2nd Battalion of the Royal Dublin Fusiliers, in 1913. His two brothers, Daniel and Peter were also in the army, Daniel becoming a Regimental Sergeant Major of the RDF.	Private Christopher McDonald, as pictured on his I.D. card.
Christopher was one of the 2nd Dubs ('The Old Toughs') who landed at Le Havre with General French's Expeditionary Force, known later as 'The Old Contemptibles', in August 1914. Taken prisoner at Le Cateau, he spent the rest of the war at Limburg POW (prisoner-of-war) camp. After the war, Christopher spent about a year in Dublin before emigrating to Glasgow, where he worked on the Scottish Railways. His friend, Glaswegian and fellow Royal Dublin Fusilier, Bob Downie, was one of the three Dublins who won the Victoria Cross. A commemorative pin.	Limburg POW Camp Clothing Store. A Limburg POW Camp Hospital ward. A memorial to the Irish who died at Limburg.
	Bob Downie, a Royal Dublin Fusilier who received the Victoria Cross.