John Randall Armstrong-MacDonnell was born on 11 Dec 1911 at Congham in Norfolk. His family owned an estate at Ennis, co Clare but had to leave during the Troubles. They settled in Dumfrieshire in 1920. John was educated at Pangbourne College and won a prize for seamanship. He then went to Sandhurst and was commissioned into the East Surreys in August 1931. He was at first in the 2nd Battalion but in 1933 went to India to serve with the 1st Battalion and acted as Field Treasure Chest officer in Waziristan.
In June 1940 he was a Company Commander in 2/6th Battalion East Surreys which was assigned to labour duties, but on 6 June he and his C Company were ordered to provide close infantry support to a Troop of anti-tank guns. At the rendezvout point there was no sign of the guns but German tanks were approaching anyway. He ordered his men to take cover in a ditch. The tanks fired at them and they had to cross the road and get through a hedge to escape. One man was wounded and could not get through as the hedge was interlaced with barbed wire. Armstrong-MacDonnell tore a hole in the hedge while under heavy fire, and dragged him through. Both men were reported missing presumed dead but they hid themselves and tried to get away later. However they were discovered and captured by the Germans.
Armstrong-MacDonnell was awarded the MC for his heroism but had to spend the rest of the war as a prisoner. After the war he went to Staff College then served in East Africa on the staff. From 1951 to 1953 he was with the West Kents but in November 1953 he was appointed CO of the 1st Battalion East Surreys. While under his command they serve in the Middle East, Britain and Germany. He suffered a back injury in May 1956 and was obliged to retire. He devoted his retirement to charitable and voluntary work and was chairman of the Greater London Branch of SSAFA (Soldiers Sailors Airmen and Families Association). He was married to Phoebe Roupell in 1947, and they had a son and daughter.
