Dougal MacGillivray

Dougal MacGillivray is a son of the late “John Archie” MacGillivray and his wife the former Mary MacMaster. Dougal was born April 16th, 1918, on the original MacGillivray homestead farm, Pine Grove, Lochiel.

Dougal MacGillivray attended Pine Grove public school and the old Alexandria high school. Not only was Dougal kicking a soccer ball around in his youth, he was also quite skillful in handling a hockey or lacrosse stick.

Soccer was his uppermost desire relative to athletic relaxation and sport. He was always among the leading scorers with Lochiel, Pine Grove, RCAF Wireless and Ottawa RCMP. His fondest memory of greatness in soccer was the season of 1939 and 1940. Pine Grove finished first in 1939 but lost to Dunvegan in the playoffs. In 1940 they played the entire season without a loss, continuing on to win the Glengarry championship, and then challenge and defeat the Ottawa Corinthians for the Ottawa and District championship. This legendary Pine Grove team was inducted in 1997.

Dougal MacGillivray’s team play and leadership was best exemplified as a bombardier with the RCAF in World War Two. Attached to the Z-Zebra crew of a Lancaster bomber, the “Gost” Squadron, after 54 raids they were flying their final bomber run over Dortmund, Germany, number 55, and being one of the last to approach target their Lancaster flew into heavy flack from the ground defences. As a result the pilot was gravely wounded. “Mac”, as Dougal was known to his confreres, took over the cock pit controls despite the fact he had never piloted an aircraft. Dougal was successful in guiding the crippled Lancaster, minus an engine, back to the east coast of England safely. Dougal was awarded the Distinguished Service Order for gallantry and devotion to duty in execution of air-operations against the enemy.

Dougal MacGillivray, now retired, has become an accomplished curler and golfer. He resides in Alexandria with his wife the former Christena MacSweyn.