A SAD FATALITY

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 50, 22 November 1919, Page 6

A SAD FATALITY

MAJOR MACDONALD SHOT WHILE FABBITI.NG. By Tclcgraph-Preis Association. Christchurch, November 21. A sail fatality pecurred at Cheviot today. resulting in tho death of Major G. K. Macdonald, late of the Royal Flying Corps, son of Mr. K. M. Macdonald. of Christchurch. Deceased wcut out with lus gun about T a.m. to shoot rabbits A shot, was heard shortly afterwards. Oji deceased not returning for i.reakfast a Koan-'h was .made, and ho .was found dead, lyiiiu beside a fence. Further particulars of Major Macdonnld's death show that his gun was on tho other side of the fence, when it exploded. Tho body hud a gun-shot wound in the right ?ido under the breast. From the wound and tho position of tho body it is surmised that Major Macdonald placed Die gun over tho fence preparatory to gcltiny over himself, and, in doing so, jolted the gun, which went off and knocked him backwards: • Major Macdonald. was tho eldest son of Mr. Ronald M. Macdonald,' of Beulcy Avenue. When aged 25 Major Macdonald enlisted in December, 1914, in tho Canterbury Mounted Rifles portion of the New Zealand Expeditionary Force, and weiit into camp at Trontham. From Egypt be went to England to take up a commission iu the Sherwood Foresters, and in 1315 lie transferred to tho Royal Flying Corps. After spending' soma months in training, ho joined tho 51th Squadron in France in April of the same year. In September, 1916, ho was dangerously wounded in an air fight, but managed to get back to his aerodrome. For several months he. was incapacitated by his wouud and also suffered severely from shock. Afterwards ho was appointed flying instructor at Grantham, England, and at various other aerodromes. In 1918 he was promoted captain, and was appointed wiug examiner in the south-eastern district. . Subsequently, he was promoted major and attached to Headquarters, London. In April last he was demobilised and returned to the Dominion. Major Macdonald was born in 18S9, and urts educated at Christ's College, Christchurch, at Pembroke Collego, Cam* bridge, and later was at. Canterbury Agricultural College, Jjincoln. For soma time prior to enlisting ho was engaged in farming in tho Cheviot district. lie ra married to a daughter of Mr. John Grigg, of Longbeach, and leaves a widow with two young children