Henry Archie DONALDSON

DONALDSON, Henry Archie

Service Number: 5089
Enlisted: 28 January 1916, 16th Reinforcements
Last Rank: Private
Last Unit: 58th Infantry Battalion
Born: Toombon, Victoria, Australia, 6 September 1886
Home Town: Heyfield, Wellington, Victoria
Schooling: Heyfield State School,Victoria, Australia
Occupation: Teacher
Died: Killed in Action, France, 13 March 1917, aged 30 years
Cemetery: Bulls Road Cemetery, Flers
Memorials: Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Heyfield Honour Roll WW1, Heyfield War Memorial
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World War 1 Service

28 Jan 1916: Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 5089, 5th Infantry Battalion, 16th Reinforcements
1 Apr 1916: Embarked AIF WW1, Private, 5089, 5th Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '8' embarkation_place: Melbourne embarkation_ship: HMAT Suffolk embarkation_ship_number: A23 public_note: ''
5 Nov 1916: Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 5089, 58th Infantry Battalion, 'The Winter Offensive' - Flers/Gueudecourt winter of 1916/17
13 Mar 1917: Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 5089, 58th Infantry Battalion, The Outpost Villages - German Withdrawal to Hindenburg Line, --- :awm_ww1_roll_of_honour_import: awm_service_number: 5089 awm_unit: 58th Australian Infantry Battalion awm_rank: Private awm_died_date: 1917-03-13

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Biography contributed by Andreena Hockley

Henry A. Donaldson, son of Mrs. E. Donaldson, of Heyfield, Gippsland, was born at Toombon, near Walhalla, on the 6th of September, 1886.

All his schooldays were spent at Heyfield, where he is remembered as a good footballer and cricketer. He was a temporary head teacher from 1908 to 1913, having charge of schools at Ensay and Little River, Talbotville and Crooked River; then permanent charge at Nelson East and Mouzie.

He was a conscientious worker and very good teacher, earning commendation for his efforts to promote the all-round development of his pupils.

He enlisted on the 20th of January, 1916, and embarked with the 16th Reinforcements to the 5th Battalion on the 1st of April. While training at Tel-el-Kebir, in Egypt, he was transferred to the 57th Battalion. He went to France on the 21st of June, and joined his unit on the 15th of September; but, two days after joining, he was wounded and invalided to England. He rejoined again on the 12th of January, 1917, and was killed on the 13th of March.

Source: The Education Department's Record of War Service, Victoria, 1914-1919.

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