Canadian Virtual War Memorial

Memorial – Photo from the National Memorial Album of Canadian Heroes c.1919. Submitted for the project, Operation: Picture Me.

Photo of RONALD MACKINNON – Photo from the National Memorial Album of Canadian Heroes c.1919. Submitted for the project, Operation: Picture Me.

Newspaper clipping – From the Toronto Telegram October 1916. Submitted for the project Operation Picture Me

Newspaper clipping – From the Toronto Telegram April 1917. Submitted for the project Operation Picture Me

Photo of Ronald MacKinnon – Pte. Ronald MacKinnon in uniform of 81st Battalion. Photo taken in Toronto 1915. Killed at Battle of Vimy Ridge while serving in PPCLI.

Photo of Ronald MacKinnon – Pte. Ronald MacKinnon wearing "Hospital Blues", the standard outfit for soldiers convalescing from wounds. He was wounded in the right thigh and right hand while serving with the Royal Canadian Regiment in Sanctuary Wood, near Ypres, Belgium, on 26 June 1916. After almost six months of convalescence in England he was transferred in December to the Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry and served at Vimy Ridge until he was killed in action on 9 April 1917. Pte. MacKinnon was born in West Toronto on 27 August 1893, son of Archibald MacKinnon, a Scottish immigrant, and Annie Wright, born in Armagh, Ireland. He was married to Lily Field and was the father of two children. He joined the 81st Bn in Toronto on 10 September 1915 and arrived in England in May 1916 where the 81st was broken up and the men used as reinforcements for exsting units.

Family Photo – Lily McKinnon nee Field (1892-1978). Wife and widow of Private Ronald MacKinnon with their two chirdren. Archie (1912-1971) is dressed in a child's version of the PPCLI uniform. He served in the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders of Canada in WWII. Annie (1914-1919) died in the Spanish Flu epidemic. The photo taken by William Kessler, Toronto Junction in December 1916.

Newspaper Clipping – In honoured memory.

Attestation papers – Attestation Paper-Front (signed on 10 Sept 1915 at Toronto, Ontario, Canada). In his book, "Valour At Vimy Ridge", author Tom Douglas includes several poignant letters written by Private Ronald MacKINNON to his family back home in Canada.

Attestation papers - Reverse – Attestation Paper-Back.

Grave Marker – The grave marker at the Bois Carre British Cemetery located on Vimy Ridge at the eastern edge of the town of Thelus, France. The cemetery is about 6 kilometres from Canada's Vimy Memorial. May he rest in peace. (John & Anne Stephens 2013)

Cemetery – Bois Carre British Cemetery - The Bois Carre British Cemetery located on Vimy Ridge at the eastern edge of the town of Thelus, France. The cemetery is about 6 kilometres from Canada's Vimy Memorial.(John & Anne Stephens 2013)