Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

"A CHAPLAIN'S RETURN. REV. DONALD McNICOL'S IMPRESSIONS. THE SUPREME NEED OF MEN.

Chaplain the Rev. Donald McNicol returned to Adelaide from the front on December 8, and has now concluded his second campaign. He went through the Soutn African war as chaplain of the Cameron Highlanders, and for the last 15 months has been with the Australian troops. Thirteen months of that period he spent out side the Commonwealth. Mr. McNicol has enjoyed fairly good health, apart from a fortnight's sickness in France owing to nervous strain caused by heavy shell fire. He is still feeling the effects of the shattering, but the sea voyage has made a wonderful improvement in his condition. He will resume his ministry at the Unley Park Baptist Church..." - from the Adelaide Chronicle 16 Dec 1916 (nla.gov.au)

"Death Of Rev. Donald McNicol

The Rev. Donald McNicol who died suddenly yesterday aged 65 was padre in three wars. In 1899 he went to the South African War and received a Medal with four bars. During the Great War he was appointed a chaplain - captain, and left for the front in 1915. In February 1941 the Evangelisation Society of South Australia appointed him full time military camp padre.

A native of Scotland he studied for the ministry in Glasgow and Edinburgh. For 28 months he was missionary to soldiers and in Gibraltar. He was ordained into the Baptist church and ministered at Harwich and Edenborough. He arrived in Adelaide in 1910 and had charge of the Unley Park Church until 1922 when he went to Launceston. After having had charge of the Northcote Church he returned to Unley Park. He was at Semphore Baptist Church for five years before his last appointment. He was President of the Baptist Union during his Unley Park years. In 1938 he was appointed national president of the Christian Endeavour movement at the world convention of the organisation in Melbourne. He leaves a widow, a daughter, Mrs Duncan Duguid, and three sons in the forces, lan, Donald, and David." - from the Adelaide Advertiser 13 Apr 1942 (nla.gov.au)

Donald McNicol was born on the 13th September 1876 at Stachur, Argyllshire, Scotland, the third of 6 children born to his parents John and Harriet McNicol.  He had 2 older brothers, 1 younger brother and 2 younger sisters.  His education took place in Scotland where he went on to study for the ministry at Glasgow and Edinburgh.  He was ordained in the Baptist Church in Scotland and served as a missionary for 18 months to soldiers and sailors in Gibraltar.  

In 1900 he was appointed as the Padre for the 1st Battalion Queen’s Own Cameron Highlanders of the British Army and served with them for 12 months in the Boer War in South Africa.  He received the Queen’s South Africa medal with 4 clasps for his service at Cape Colony, Orange Free State and Transvaal. 

Upon returning to Scotland he served at Hawick and Edinburgh Churches from 1903 to 1907.  On 20th May 1904 Donald married Elizabeth Campbell Robertson at Girvan, Scotland.  They welcomed a daughter Elizabeth in 1906 and a son John in 1909.  Donald served at Gorgie Baptist Church in Scotland from 1907 to 1910 when he accepted a call by the State Baptist Union of Australia to undertake the work of Sunday School organiser for a 3 year engagement. He, with his wife and 2 children, sailed from Liverpool to Australia on 20th October 1910 on the SS Persic.  At the end of the 3 year period in 1913 he was invited to take charge of Unley Park Baptist Church.  In June that year twin boys were born to Donald and Elizabeth, David and Donald and on 1st September 1913 Donald was appointed as a Chaplain 4th Class for South Australia…the 4th Military District.  

Exactly 2 years later on 1st September 1915 Donald, aged 38, was commissioned at Adelaide to serve as a Chaplain in WW1.  He proceeded to Mitcham Camp initially and then later to Cheltenham Racecourse Camp prior to embarking with the 32nd Infantry Battalion from Adelaide on HMAT Geelong on 18th November 1915.  He disembarked at Suez in Egypt a month later and proceeded to Moascar Camp.  The Battalion took over the Post at El Ferdan on 22nd December and in late January 1916 moved to Ismailia and then to Tel-el-Kebir Camp in early February 1916. 

In early March Donald was attached to the 18th Infantry Battalion and embarked with them from Alexandria on 18th March 1916 for France on HMT Ascania.  They disembarked on 25th March at Marseilles and proceeded by train to Thiennes in northern France.  The Battalion moved into the frontline trenches in April at Bois-Grenier near Armentieres and later to Fort Rompu.  In early July Donald was admitted to the Officer’s Rest Home at Nouveau Monde with a fever of unknown cause.  He was transferred to the 15th Field Ambulance and then re-joined his Battalion on 16th July 1916.  His health didn’t improve so he was returned to Australia from Southampton UK on the hospital ship HMAT Karoola on 16th October, arriving in Melbourne in early November 1916.  His appointment was terminated on 17th December.  In 1921 he was listed as a Chaplain with the 4th Military District Chaplains Department. 

Upon his return to Australia he returned to serve as Minister of the Unley Baptist Church until 1921.  He then accepted a call to the Launceston Baptist Church TAS in 1922 and in 1925 moved to Norhcote Baptist Church VIC where he remained until 1928.  He was once again appointed as Minister to Unley Baptist Church SA where he served till 1935.  During his years at Unley he also served in the role of President of the Baptist Union.  

In 1931 Donald was awarded the Colonial Auxiliary Forces Officers’ Decoration, with the nominal letters VD, in recognition of his long and meritorious service in the military forces. 

He served as Minister of Semaphore Baptist Church from 1935 to 1940, being appointed the National President of Christian Endeavour in 1938.  In March-April 1940, as President, he travelled 5,000+ miles in 20 days delivering 35 addresses throughout Queensland. 

When WW2 broke out Donald began serving as a Chaplain at Wayville Camp SA in November 1940.  In February 1941 the Evangelisation Society of South Australia appointed him as full time Military Camp Padre and on 28th September 1941 Donald, aged 65, enlisted as a Chaplain at Wayville Camp.  He served at Springbank, Warradale and Woodside Camps from January 1941 till February 1942.  Donald’s 3 sons all served in WW2. 

On Sunday 12th April 1942, after having conducted three services that day, Donald was sitting at home with his wife Elizabeth at the end of the day.  She was writing a letter and looked up to speak to him only to find that he had passed away.  He was 65.  He was buried in the Mitcham General Cemetery SA.

Donald is commemorated on the Unley Park Baptist Church Pictorial Honour Roll and the Unley Town Hall WW1 Honour Board. 

Donald McNicol was awarded for service in the Boer War, WW1 and WW2 the Queen’s South Africa Medal, 1914-1915 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal and the 1939-1945 War Medal.  

Respectfully submitted by Sue Smith 31st October 2022.