MCDONALD, Robert John
| Service Number: | 2194 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 18 April 1915 |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 13th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Hamilton, New South Wales, Australia, 17 September 1891 |
| Home Town: | Maitland, Maitland Municipality, New South Wales |
| Schooling: | East Maitland Superior Public School, New South Wales, Australia |
| Occupation: | Motor mechanic |
| Died: | Killed in Action, Gallipoli, 27 August 1915, aged 23 years |
| Cemetery: |
No known grave - "Known Unto God" Lone Pine Memorial, Gallipoli Peninsula, Canakkale Province, Turkey. |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Lone Pine Memorial to the Missing, West Maitland Superior Public School Honor Roll |
World War 1 Service
| 18 Apr 1915: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 2194, 13th Infantry Battalion | |
|---|---|---|
| 14 Jun 1915: | Involvement Private, 2194, 13th Infantry Battalion, ANZAC / Gallipoli, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '11' embarkation_place: Sydney embarkation_ship: HMAT Wandilla embarkation_ship_number: A62 public_note: '' | |
| 14 Jun 1915: | Embarked Private, 2194, 13th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Wandilla, Sydney |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by Stephen Brooks
Robert John McDonald landed at Gallipoli on the 2 August 1915 and was only there for 25 days before he was initially reported wounded on 27 August 1915. Some mystery surrounds his end as although he has no Red Cross wounded and missing file, members of his family intimated they had received information from his section sergeant that he had been wounded and carried to a place of safety on that date. When his mates went to check on him, he had disappeared. Also, somehow his identity disc made its way to the family. The family received his effects and it seems his diary had the days to the 30 August 1915 checked off. Base Records, despite their best efforts, could shed no light on the matter, and Mcdonald was found by a Court of Enquiry to have been killed in action on the 27 August 1915.
His parents were George and Jean McDonald of Maitland NSW. His older brother, 2160 Pte Charles Gordon McDonald 31st Battalion AIF, was killed in action at Fromelles 19 July 1916.
Another brother served for 4 years, Lieutenant George McDonald 11th Field Artillery Brigade, and returned to Australia during May 1919.
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