DONALD, CUTHBERT ST. JOHN (1875-1958)

DONALD, CUTHBERT ST. JOHN, military officer and general merchant; b. Upper Blackville, 15 Jan 1875, s/o Charles Donald and Martha Arbeau; m. 1903, Alice Maude Menzies, sister of Frank Archibald Menzies; d. Upper Blackville, 23 Jul 1958.

When he was around twenty years of age Cuthbert Donald joined the 73rd Battalion of militia as a private. He was promoted to corporal in 1898, lieutenant in 1900, captain in 1905, and major in 1910. In 1915 he went overseas with the 26th Battalion. He was at the front in Europe for a short time and was then stationed in England until 1917. He was discharged as a major. In 1920, when the Northumberland County militia was revived, he was designated as lieutenant colonel and commanding officer. He was in charge in 1922 when the 73rd Battalion was reorganized as the North Shore (N.B.) Regiment and until 1925, when he was succeeded by Lieut. Col. Herman S. Murray.

During most of his lifetime Donald made his home in his native village of Upper Blackville, where he conducted a general store and kept the post office, while his wife taught school. He was also given several special provincial assignments. Between 1928 and 1932 he was New Brunswick's representative on the Maritime Provinces Trade Commission, and in 1936 he was appointed to conduct a study of industry in the province.

Donald and his family were leading members of the Upper Blackville Baptist Church, and he was clerk of the church for twenty-five years. He was a member of the Masonic order and the Highland Society, and was elected Highland Society president for 1954. He and his wife, Alice M. Menzies, had three daughters and two sons who survived to maturity.