Malcolm Allen MacPherson was born in Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada, the son of Malcolm Henry and Annie Rosetta MacPherson, of Stamford Centre, Ontario, Canada. Prior to enlistment he was a telephone lineman with the Bell Telephone Company. He was 5’ 9”, 166 lbs, Dark complexion, Blue eyes, Brown hair and with 20/20 vision. He enlisted and was accepted into the 1st Canadian Parachute battalion on 6 January 1943.

He arrived in England on 28 July 1943 and attended parachute course No. 80 at RAF Ringway from 30 August to 9 September 1943. His course report stated “Good and able pupil, parachuted well, worked well at all times, ideal temperament”. He took part in Operation Overlord (Normandy).

Private MacPherson and the 1st Canadian Parachute Battalion jumped into Normandy on the night of 5/6 June 1944. He was killed in action on 6 June 1944, aged 23, and was given a field burial at Gonneville-sur-Merville. He was re-interred to grave IVA.J.6 in Ranville War Cemetery, Calvados, France, on 16 July 1945.