Background
McDonald was born in Geelong, Victoria, on 23 March 1925, the son of Angus Alexander and Olive (née Penny) McDonald.
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Bruce McDonald
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Major General Bruce Alexander McDonald Association for the Study of Internal Fixation, Defence Science Organisation, Officer of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, Military Cross was a senior officer in the Australian Army, seeing service in the Second World War, the Indonesia-Malaysia Confrontation and the Vietnam War.
Education
He graduated from the Royal Military College, Duntroon in December 1944 and was posted to the 2/5th Battalion.
Career
Following the war McDonald served in a number of staff and regimental appointments. From 1963 to 1966 he commanded the 3rd Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment (3 RAR), including operations in West Malaysia in 1964 and in Borneo in 1965 during the Indonesia-Malaysia Confrontation, for which he was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire. During this period 3 RAR took part in the top secret Operation Claret, executing a number of cross border actions including several highly successful ambushes against Indonesian forces.
From early 1971 McDonald commanded the 1st Australian Task Force in South Vietnam until its withdrawal in early 1972, leading the formation during counter-insurgency operations against the Viet Congress and North Vietnamese during the Vietnam War.
McDonald died in Brisbane, Queensland, on 23 March 1993. He was buried on 26 March 1993 in Pinnaroo cemetery, Brisbane.
1945 Military Cross (Military Cross).
Achievements
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1945 Military Cross (Military Cross) 1966 Officer of the Order of the British Empire (Officer of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire) 1972 Distinguished Service Order (Defence Science Organisation) National Medal 1977 Medal 1977 1st Clasp 1978 2nd Clasp 1979 Officer of the Order of Australia (Association for the Study of Internal Fixation).
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Born
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Died
March 23, 1993 (aged 68)