Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Published Biographies

http://parliament.wa.gov.au/parliament/library/MPHistoricalData.nsf/(Lookup)/AE3F6C86D4106478482577E50028A6F5?OpenDocument

http://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/mcdonald-sir-robert-ross-10936
Biography - Sir Robert Ross McDonald by G. C. Bolton and Tresna Shorter

Robert Ross McDonald’s life and WWI service are well documented in the biographies above and the Who’s Who in Australia (1938) and Scotch College Obituary (see document).

Additional Biography

Schooling

Ross McDonald completed his secondary education at Scotch College, Perth. He passed his Junior Public Examinations in 1902 (6 subjects / 1 Credit/equal 16th in the Special Honour List) and his Senior Public Examination in 1903 (7 subjects / 1 Credit/ 11th in the Special Honour List). Perth secondary school student’s examinations were conducted by the University of Adelaide, so Honour Lists included students from both Western Australia and South Australia.

Adelaide University

Following completion of his secondary education, Ross wanted to be a lawyer. In Western Australia, the only way at that time in which lawyers could qualify for admission to practice was by undergoing a period of practical training and service of 5 years in articles with a practising lawyer. In 1910, at 22 years of age, Ross had completed the necessary practical experience with a law firm and was finally admitted to the Western Australian Bar. He further desired to complete study towards a law degree (LLB), however the University of Western Australia (founded in 1911) did not have a Law School until 1927. Like many other legal practitioners from W.A. had done before him, Ross enrolled at the University of Adelaide to complete his studies. While some reports suggest that Ross completed the bulk of his studies remotely from Perth, WA, however he came across to Adelaide on some occasions.

In 1912, Ross was a prominent member of the Young Liberals’ Society and was becoming known in W.A. political circles.

Ross completed his Law Degree from 1911 to 1913 and at the Annual Commemoration ceremony for admission to the Law Degree it was noted that he achieved this without the advantage of attending lectures.

University Sport

In 1911 on one of his visits to Adelaide, he represented Adelaide University in the Intervarsity Football Match against Melbourne University in Melbourne.

World War I

Ross enlisted on the 15th of February 1916 in the 119 Howitzer Brigade and was described as 5’ 8¾”, 115 lbs, with a medium complexion, grey eyes and black hair. In September 1916 he became a 2nd Lieutenant and his unit embarked from Melbourne, Victoria, on board HMAT A60 Aeneas on 3 October 1916. Ross was promoted to Lieutenant on the 1st of August 1917. On 18th January 1918 he proceeded to France. He returned to Australia on the ‘Orsova’ on 18 July 1919.

Career in Newspaper Articles (see document).

The University of WA established a Law School in 1927 and Ross McDonald was one of the first lecturers.

Death
Sir Ross died on 25 March 1964 in Perth and was buried in Karrakatta cemetery. An Obituary appeared Scotch College (Perth) Recorder (1964) (see document).

Author EE (Beth) Filmer

For the complete profile including photographs, newspaper articles, documents and sources prepared for the AUFC/AUCC WWI Memorial Project please see the document attached.