Lieutenant Ian Philip MacDonald Picnic Area

Fanny Bay, British Columbia
Type
Parks

The Lieutenant Ian Philip MacDonald Picnic Area is named in honour of Lt. Ian MacDonald, Canadian-Scottish Regiment. It is on the grounds of Rosewall Creek Provincial Park, and was named on September 9, 1995 by British Columbia Parks.

Ian Philip MacDonald was born in March 1920 in Vernon, British Columbia, but moved to Fanny Bay on Vancouver Island at the age of 9. He enlisted in Courtenay on September 14, 1939 and was assigned to the Canadian Scottish Regiment. He sailed for England with the 1st Battalion, Canadian-Scottish Regiment in August 1941. On D-Day, June 6, 1944, this Regiment landed in Normandy, France as part of the 7th Infantry Brigade, 3rd Canadian Infantry Division. By then, Ian MacDonald had been commissioned a Lieutenant. On June 10, 1944, Lieutenant Ian Philip MacDonald was killed in action while leading his platoon during a battle near the Putot-En-Bessin Bridge between Bayeux and Caen. He is buried at the Bretteville-sur-Laize Canadian War Cemetery.

Inscription

[plaque/plaque]

Lieutenant Ian Philip MacDonald

This picnic area is dedicated to the memory of Lt. Ian MacDonald (1920 – 1944) Canadian-Scottish Regiment.

Ian was born in Vernon, British Columbia in 1920. Like many young men and women of his day, Ian was quick to enlist when Canada entered the war against Hitler’s Germany in 1939. On September the 14th 1939, he became a Private in the Canadian Scottish Regiment at Courtenay.

After extensive training, Ian rose to the rank of Lieutenant. On June 2nd 1944, he and those under his command became part of the Allied D-Day invasion force to Normandy. On June 10th, he was killed in action.

His Commanding Officer, Lieutenant-Colonel Cabledu, wrote of Lt. MacDonald, “His drive and daring were an inspiration to his men and to the rest of his Battalion… We mourn his loss but cherish his memory”.

Lt. Ian Philip MacDonald now rests in the Canadian War Cemetery Bretteville-sur-Laize, France, Plot 5, Row C, Grave 14.

The Fanny Bay-Bowser Memorial Fund Committee

At the conclusion of hostilities, residents of the Fanny Bay-Bowser area established the “The Fanny Bay-Bowser Memorial Fund Committee” to perpetuate the memory of the men who served their country in the armed forces. In July 1946, the committee petitioned the Minister of Lands and Forests to establish a park and picnic ground in honour of Lt. Ian MacDonald.

Rosewall Creek Provincial Park was established in 1956 but remained “undeveloped”. Interested in reactivating the original community proposal, the Royal Canadian Legion Branch 211 Bowser, the MacDonald family and friends have been instrumental in the development and dedication of the Lieutenant Ian Philip MacDonald Picnic Area.

Location
Lieutenant Ian Philip MacDonald Picnic Area

Fanny Bay
British Columbia
GPS Coordinates
Lat. 49.4551403
Long. -124.7800629
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