John MacDonald
Born: April 5 1938;
Died: May 2, 2026.
Major General John MacDonald, who has died aged 88, served his country and regiment with distinction and was a noted athlete who won six caps for Scotland, played for the Army XV and became a noted (and passionate) golfer. He enjoyed a distinguished military career with the Royal Corps of Transport and was Garrison Commander Bielefeld, centred in North Rhine-Westphalia. The command post was, during the Cold War, a major hub for the British Army of the Rhine, the headquarters of the 1st British Corps.
On retirement MacDonald served with a special commitment in various charity positions notably as chief executive of The Earl Haig Fund (1994-2003) and on the Officers Association Scotland (1992-2003).
John Donald MacDonald was born in Kirkaldy, the son of Lieutenant Colonel John MacDonald OBE and Isobel MacDonald (née Brown). He attended George Watson’s College where he was an outstanding athlete notably in the 1st XV and an excellent swimmer. He was vice-captain of the school in his final year and remained in touch with the school through being involved with a prize which recognises a pupil’s sporting excellence.
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He went to the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst from which he was commissioned in 1958 as a second lieutenant in the King's Own Scottish Borderers progressing to serve with the Royal Army Service Corps and the Royal Corps of Transport, ultimately becoming a senior officer in its successor, the Royal Logistic Corps.
MacDonald’s military career took him to important postings overseas: notably India, Australia and Germany. In India he attended the Defence Services Staff College where he held a range of command and staff appointments before being transferred to the British Army of the Rhine and Nato Headquarters in Izmir, Turkey. His calm efficiency and ability to focus on challenging logistical operations gained respect and admiration from fellow officers.
In 1988 he was promoted to Brigadier and assumed command of the transport organization for 1 (British) Corps in the British Army of the Rhine. This was a demanding post that necessitated diplomacy and a clear understanding of the political and social tensions in East and West Germany. The unrest in the East led to the Berlin Wall’s collapse the following year.
Promoted to Major General, he concluded his military career as director general of transport and movements at the Ministry of Defence. In 1993, he became Colonel Commandant of the Royal Corps of Transport and, following its amalgamation, the inaugural Colonel Commandant of the Royal Logistic Corps.
Rugby was a major feature of MacDonald’s life. He played for Watsonians and London Scottish and was capped six times for Scotland in the 1966/67 seasons. He was a sturdy tight-head prop for the international team alongside Dave Rollo in the front row with the hooker Frank Laidlaw. The team also included the two giants, Mike Campbell-Lamerton and Peter Stagg, in the second row. Key matches included a 3-3 draw in his first match against France but the most memorable match was the 1966 win over England after 17 years of not winning the Calcutta Cup.
He also appeared with the Barbarians and was a member of the London Scottish all-conquering London Scottish Sevens team winning five Middlesex Sevens titles between 1960 and 1965. For the Army Rugby, he made a lasting contribution, most notably leading 63 (Parachute) Company RASC to victory in the Army Rugby Cup in the late 1960s.
He retired to live in West Lothian and embarked on a busy life being appointed general secretary and chief executive of The Earl Haig Fund Scotland (1994-2003). He worked on behalf of veterans and their families with a dedicated commitment. Through both the Haigh Fund and the Officers’ Association in Scotland, MacDonald was a respected voice in military and charitable circles throughout Scotland. He served as Deputy Lieutenant of the City of Edinburgh, a member of the Sports Council for Scotland and chairman of the Combined Services Rugby.
MacDonald, who was made a CBE in 1987, remained a popular and respected figure with former colleagues – one said of him, “One helluva a soldier and a gentleman”. He enjoyed taking his grandchildren to internationals at Murrayfield and music and skiing but golf maintained his active interest in sport and he was a keen member of both Muirfield and the R&A.
MacDonald married Mary Warrack (herself the daughter of a distinguished medical military officer) in 1964. She died in 2016 and he married Sarah in 2018. She and two daughters and a son of his first marriage survive him.
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