CAMERON, Donald Charles
| Service Number: | Officer |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 30 September 1914, Brisbane, Queensland |
| Last Rank: | Lieutenant Colonel |
| Last Unit: | 5th Light Horse Regiment |
| Born: | Aberdeen, New South Wales, Australia, 19 November 1879 |
| Home Town: | Longreach, Longreach, Queensland |
| Schooling: | Toowoomba Grammar School and Brisbane Grammar School |
| Occupation: | Clerk/Station manager |
| Died: | Natural causes, Barcaldine, Queensland, Australia, 19 November 1960, aged 81 years |
| Cemetery: |
Privately Cremated Cremated with Presbyterian forms. In accordance with his wishes his ashes were buried near the grave of his grandfather in the family cemetery on Home Creek station near Barcaldine |
| Memorials: | Ballarat Australian Ex-Prisoners of War Memorial, Brisbane Grammar School Boer War Honour Board, Toowoomba Grammar School South African Honour Roll, Toowoomba Grammar School Sudan War and Boxer Rebellion Honour Roll, Toowoomba Grammar School WW1 Bravery Deeds, Toowoomba Grammar School WW1 Honour Board, Toowoomba Grammar School Wall of Achievement |
Boxer Rebellion (China) Service
| 2 Nov 1899: | Involvement |
|---|
Boer War Service
| 1 Jan 1900: | Involvement Australian and Colonial Military Forces - Boer War Contingents, Lieutenant, 6th Queensland Imperial Bushmen |
|---|
World War 1 Service
| 30 Sep 1914: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Lieutenant, Brisbane, Queensland | |
|---|---|---|
| 21 Dec 1914: |
Involvement
AIF WW1, Captain, Officer, 5th Light Horse Regiment, Enlistment/Embarkation WW1, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '2' embarkation_place: Sydney embarkation_ship: HMAT Persic embarkation_ship_number: A34 public_note: '' |
|
| 21 Dec 1914: | Embarked AIF WW1, Captain, 5th Light Horse Regiment, HMAT Persic, Sydney | |
| 9 Sep 1915: | Promoted AIF WW1, Major, 5th Light Horse Regiment | |
| 30 Oct 1917: | Promoted AIF WW1, Lieutenant Colonel, 5th Light Horse Regiment | |
| 20 Dec 1917: | Honoured Distinguished Service Medal, Egypt and Palestine - Light Horse and AFC Operations, For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. During an advance over difficult ground he showed great skill in keeping touch with the brigade on his left, afterwards leading his squadron in a bayonet charge against the enemy trenches, thus enabling two captured enemy guns to be removed. | |
| 4 Oct 1919: | Discharged AIF WW1, Lieutenant Colonel, 5th Light Horse Regiment |
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Colonel D C Cameron CMG DSO, Commanding Officer of the 5th Light Horse Regiment, Australian Imperial Force.
Donald Charles Cameron was born in Brisbane in 1879.
As a young man he became a clerk at the Queensland Meat Export and Agency Co.,
but in 1899 set off on a tour of Europe and Asia, and was in China when the Boxer Rebellion
occurred.
Cameron attached himself to an American infantry regiment and accompanied it to Peking.
After his return to Australia in 1901, he volunteered for service in South Africa,
and was granted a commission in the 6th (Queensland Imperial Bushmen) Contingent.
Arriving in the country as a Lieutenant in May 1901, Cameron spent 12 months patrolling in the
Transvaal and Orange Free State, and was Mentioned in Despatches for rescuing a wounded
trooper.
At the end of the Boer War, he returned to Australia, and, with his brothers, managed the family
property near Longreach.
At the outbreak of the WW I, he enlisted in the AIF.
Wife: Evelyn Stella Cameron (nee _____), living at Avoca, Albion, Brisbane QLD.
Described on enlisting as 35 years old; married; Presbyterian.
On enlisting worked as a Station Manager with his brothers, living at Longreach,
Kensington Downs, QLD.
309/1914 enlisted
21/12/1914 embarked from Sydney as a Captain in 5th Light Horse Regiment aboard
HMAT Persic A34 en route to Egypt.
The regiment landed at Gallipoli in May 1915, but he was twice wounded before the end of June,
evacuated from the peninsula, and saw no further action in the campaign.
Rejoining his unit in Egypt in January 1916 as a Major.
26/3/1917 He was recommended for a Distinguished Service Order.
Major Cameron fought in August at Romani, and at Gaza,
being awarded the Distinguished Service Order for his leadership in the first battle there.
Promoted Lieutenant Colonel in October 1917,
he took command of the regiment, and led it at Beersheba and in the advance on Jerusalem.
During the Palestine campaign, he was three times Mentioned in Despatches,
and was awarded the Order of the Nile, as well as being made a Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George.
5/12/1918 He returned to Australia.
1918 He received the Imperial Egyptian Order of the Nile, 3rd Class medal.
After the war, Cameron returned to the family property and entered politics, while continuing to
serve in the Militia.
He commanded 14th Light Horse Regiment from 1921-24.
He paid for the publication of the 5th Light Horse history, presenting a copy to every member of
the regiment.
Knighted in 1937, (KCMG).
He helped with recruiting drives during the WW II.
Sir Donald Cameron died in 1960.
Sourced and submitted by Julianne T Ryan. 6/11/2014. Lest we forget.
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