Victor MacDonald was born on 20 October 1895 to parents George and Isabella (Leonard) MacDonald of Annandale, Prince Edward Island. He resided in Annandale with his parents and his five known siblings (Mary, Leo, Leonard, Louis, and George) until 1909, when the family moved to Cornwall, Prince Edward Island, to live on the family farm of his mother. Victor was educated at schools in both Annandale and Cornwall.

He enlisted in the 105th Battalion during World War I and following training in England at Witley Camp, Shorncliffe and Seaford saw action in France and Germany with the 26th Battalion in 1918. Shortly after seeing battle he was gassed and when he returned to Canada he spent th remainder of his short life in a sanatorium in Kentville, Nova Scotia.