Originally from Skye, MacKinnon served in the RAF during WWII and later became pipe major of the King's Own Scottish Borderers, with whom he saw action in Korea. Later he emigrated to Australia, where he died at some point before 1985.

<<https://pipingpress.com/2017/05/16/history-pipe-major-donald-mackinnon-skye-and-australia/|Here>> are some more details about him.