Airborne Assault MuseumArticle
North Africa (Operation Torch)
On 12 November the 3rd Parachute Battalion (3 Para Bn) jumped onto and seized the vital airfield at Bone between Algiers and ...
Allan Connel MacDonald was the son of Allan and Margaret MacDonald, of Oban and the husband of Margaret MacDonald, of Hawick, Roxburghshire. He lived at 121 George Street Oban and enlisted in Oban on 6 February 1939 into the 204th Battery of the 51st (West Highland) Anti-Tank Regiment, Royal Artillery, Territorial Army. On the 10 October 1942 the 204th Battery converted into the 2nd (Oban) Airlanding Anti-Tank Battery RA.
He served with the BEF in France from 2 February to 21 June 1940.
In North Africa from 13 April 1943 to 4 January 1944 and during this period took part in the Taranto landings in Italy. North West Europe from 18 September 1944 to 5 April 1945.
Sergeant MacDonald successfully completed parachute training at RAF Ringway, on course number 14 from 25 May to 4 June 1942 and also completed glider training at RAF Stoke Orchard, Gloucestershire on 20 October 1942.
[Please note: The dates for the Parachute Course (No 14) are before the unit becomes airborne. The first RAF Ringway Para jump Course that has been identified with any 2nd A-Tk Bty personnel on is No 30. The Sgt. McDonald (service numbers are not recorded in these early courses) listed on Para Course No 14 is listed with the 4th Para Battalion. This is also before the official date that The 2nd A-Tk Bty becomes 'airborne'. Archive records also suggest only Glider Pilots were trained at RAF Stoke Orchard. Service records will be needed to clarify the exact details of Sgt MacDonald's airborne training.]
He was then sent for wireless instruction on the number 18 and 38 Radio Sets which he completed on 8 December 1942. Sgt MacDonald served with F Troop (17 Pdr Anti-Tank Guns), 2 Airlanding Anti-Tank Battery, Royal Artillery, and took part in Operation Market Garden (Arnhem).
He was listed as missing on 26 September 1944, and later confirmed as being a POW in Germany. He returned to the UK on 6 April 1945, and died of malnutrition at the American Hospital, Stockbridge, the next day, 7 April 1945, age 31. He is buried at Oban (Pennyfuir) Cemetery.
