MCDONALD, Francis Hugh
| Service Number: | 5151 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 1 February 1916 |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 5th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Wiliamstown, 1881 |
| Home Town: | Newport, Hobsons Bay, Victoria |
| Schooling: | Newport State School |
| Occupation: | Clerk |
| Died: | Drowning, Seaholme, 21 February 1929 |
| Cemetery: |
Williamstown (General) Cemetery, Victoria, Australia |
| Memorials: |
World War 1 Service
| 1 Feb 1916: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 5151 | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Apr 1916: | Involvement Private, 5151, 5th Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '8' embarkation_place: Melbourne embarkation_ship: HMAT Suffolk embarkation_ship_number: A23 public_note: '' | |
| 1 Apr 1916: | Embarked Private, 5151, 5th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Suffolk, Melbourne |
Francis McDonald, picture found in Ireland 2023
My great great grandfather 2nd Lt JT Greeves O'Sullivan (born 1875) in the 6th Connaught Rangers, later Captain in the Labour Corps served with Francis McDonald in Étaples, France 1916 in segregation camp, where they processed people who had diseases. I know this as I found an image in my grandfathers house with other stuff belonging to JT with a picture of a man named F McDonald and address of 5 Hastings Road, Newport, Victoria, Australia written on the back along with a segregation camp stamp on it. Intrigued I tried to find more info on him, I eventually found an distant relative of his. The picture was in such good condition for something that had sat in a drawer for 25 years and in my great grandmothers house for 84 years before that. He was "Orderly Room Chief Clerk" according to JT and was a Sergeant at this point in time on the 6/10/1916 when the picture was exchanged. I presumed this meant McDonald worked at the camp also rather than just being processed as a regular soldier there.
I was saddened to read of McDonalds tragic death while swimming, for my great great grandfather JT also died this way but by suicide instead in Manchester, England in 1924 at the age of 49.
Anyway, I was happy to find his relatives and I was glad to be able to honour him in this way given the special connection.
Liam Brophy
Dublin, Ireland
Submitted 6 July 2023 by Liam Brophy
Biography contributed by Sandra Rae Glew
A native of Newport, Francis Hugh was the eldest of twelve children born to Alexander and Sarah (nee Tucker) McDonald. Before he joined up to serve in WW1 he was a trusted employee for many years of Morgan, Gunn and Co., and was one of the best known and highly esteemed residents.
WILLIAMSTOWN CHRONICLE SATURDAY 25 JANUARY 1919 Page 2
LETTERS FROM SOLDIERS
Corporal Frank McDonald, of Newport, writing from London describes the armistice celebrations in France.
He says: - I suppose all you people in Australia were nearly mad with excitement. It would be quite beyond me to attempt to describe what it was like in France. From midday, when the news came through till 1 in the night, soldiers of all kinds and of various nationalities were parading the streets arm in arm with the French people singing all their patriotic songs. It was a hard job refusing to ride in people's private motors. But the day following the good news was the day I shall not easily forget for I was fortunate enough to be one of the first of the troops to leave France after the armistice. We had to be aboard the boat at 8 next morning, and if you could only have seen the affectionate farewell we received from the French people you would never have forgotten it. They were at the wharf in thousands, and as out ship pulled out, the captain signaled that he had troops abroad, and as we steamed down the river every ship set its whistle blowing and there were ships on each side of the river for over two miles, so what with the whistles and the people cheering and the bands playing, the noise was deafening. I can tell you it brought a lump in my throat. And now I am once more in this wonderful city of London. We have been sent here to complete records, and will be here for same time. The day after our arrival in London we heard that the King and Queen with Princess Mary were to drive through the city, so with two others I went to a quiet spot to see them, and we had a good view. As they passed we all stood to attention, and as I was the end one I saluted in a real military style, and the King nodded his head to us and saluted us in return, can tell you we went away feeling quite Proud of the honor he did to Australia.
After Frank returned home he returned to his work for Morgan, Gunn and Co.
In his spare time Frank did a lot of amateur entertaining with "The Queries", especially as an elecutionist.
Excerpt from Williamstown Chronicle, Saturday, November 18, 1922 - Mr. Frank McDonald of the Queries Company. won the A.N.A competition at Dandenong last week for a sketch from Dickens.
Saturday, December 2, 1922 - After the speeches Frank H. McDonald exhilarated all present with his depiction of "Dave and Lil's Courtship" from Steele Rudd's "On Our Selection.
Unfortunately Frank died in 1929. On Wednesday, February 21, he left his home about 10 a.m with the intention of going for a bathe. He rode his bicycle to a favourite bathing spot at the rear of the Williamstown racecourse but failed to return home that day and fears for his safety were expressed. Several searcers visited the place and found his bicycle and clothes there. The worst was then feared, and the police and others searched for the body. Early on Sunday morning two fishermem at Seaholme saw the body in the water. It had evidently been carried by the current in a westerly direction. Frank's death was caused by sunstroke, followed by drowning. He was 47 years of age.
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