(6 July 1908-8 March 2000), soldier, businessman. (Donald F. MacRae; spelling Frasier also found) Born at Glen Roy, GC. Parents: Donald Alexander MacRae and his wife Barbara Jane Sample. He grew up at Williamstown, studied at Queen’s University (B. A., 1937), was a member of the SDG Highlanders before the war, enlisted for active service in 1939, and was wounded while taking part in the Dieppe Raid, August 1942, as an officer attached to the Essex Scottish Regiment. For his part in the raid, he received the Military Cross, the award ceremony being at Buckingham Palace. Subsequently, he was promoted to the ranks of major and colonel. He served as chief staff officer to Gen. H. D. G. Crerar. Towards the end of the war, he was appointed mobilization director for the Canadian troops that were to take part in the invasion of Japan. After the war, on return to civilian life, he was active over many years as a researcher, chemist, developer and businessman, with a special interest in developing water and sewage systems. While his work was mainly in Canada, he was also active in developing irrigation systems in Pakistan and the West Indies. Interested in Scottish heritage, he was a bagpipe player over some 60 years. He lived in Oakville, Ont., after the war, and then for many years in Kitchener, Ont. He died at the Perley and Rideau Veterans Health Centre, Ottawa. The burial was at St. Andrew’s cemetery, Williamstown. Mason. He was married three times. (five children, four surviving him) In John Mellor’s Forgotten Heroes: the Canadians at Dieppe (1975) he is listed (p. 163) among the people who have given the author “advice and assistance.”

     At least two other men of Glengarry County relevance and of the name MacRae were among veterans of Dieppe. See the entry for the Rev. Duncan McRae for Lieut. R. F. McRae. And Kenzie McRae of the Glen Robertson area, who was killed in a car accident in 1961, was a Dieppe veteran.

Glengarry News 15 March 2000 * QAR July/Aug. 2000 (with portrait), cites obituary article Ottawa Citizen 14 March 2000 * Canadian Who’s Who 1952/4 * Fraser, Gravestones I, 185 (parents) * Boss 176 (two refs.), 212, 213, 251 * Henry Koch, “At Age 75 He Launches His 11th Company,” Kitchener-Waterloo Record 16 July 1983: biog. information, with portrait, repr. GN 26 Oct. 1983 without portrait * obituary of his brother Cecil R. MacRae, GN 24 Feb. 1999 (also Williamstown column, GN 17 Feb. 1999) * wounded at Dieppe, Standard Freeholder 26 Aug. 1942, GN 28 Aug. 1942 * Military Cross, SFH 2 Oct. 1942, GN 30 Oct. 1942 * promotions, SFH 2 Dec. 1942, GN 26 Nov. 1943 & 19 Jan. 1945 * Kenzie McRae: dies, GN 16 Nov. 1961