Ronald McDonell spent the whole of his service as an officer in the 10th BLC, his career spanning the life of the regiment. He was commanding them at the time of the Mutiny at Ferozepore and his effective leadership delayed the 10th from joining the mutiny for 3 months.
He was born in Kilmonivaig, co.Inverness on 1 Mar 1809. His father was Captain Alexander McDonell of the 92nd Highlanders, his mother was Mary Fraser. He was a Ward of Anthony McDonell of Lochgarry. In 1825 he was a cadet at Sandhurst. He was posted to the 10th BLC on 26 Sep 1826 and promoted to lieutenant on 3 May 1829. He was appointed Acting Interpreter and QM on 31 May 1833. His active service included the First Afghan War of 1842, in which year he was promoted to captain, and the Gwalior Campaign when he was at the battle of Maharajpur in 1843. He is noted as having served in the Second Sikh War, at Jullunder Doab. He was on furlough from Jan 1853 to Jan 1855 and was promoted to major on 27 Nov 1853. After the Indian Mutiny the 10th were disbanded and McDonell was promoted to lieutenant-colonel on 23 July 1858 and appointed to the newly raised 4th European Bengal Light Cavalry in 1859.
Colonel Ronald McDonell retired on 31 Dec 1861 with the honorary rank of Colonel. He died on 19 June 1897. He was married to Mary Johnston at Ludhiana on 12 Oct 1844 but she died at the age of 33 on 9 July 1852 at Kartarpur.
