Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Donald Smirnoff BEGBIE was born in Murrumburrah, NSW on 17 February 1899. He went to school at Frogmore, near Yass, NSW, but by the time he joined the NSWGR&T on 12 April 1916, he and his family were living at Islington in Newcastle, NSW. His position in the NSWGR&T was that of junior porter in the Newcastle District of the Traffic Branch. On 2 May 1917 he was granted leave to join the AIF, although records show he was given written permission to join up by the District Superintendent, Newcastle, dated 18 April 1917.
His date of enlistment in the AIF is 21 April 1917, and he joined with the rank of Private (Service Number 6775). He was assigned to the 20th Reinforcements to the 20th Infantry Battalion. In his Attestation Paper he nominated his father, Mr Arthur Vernon Begbie, as his next of kin.
Donald embarked aboard HMAT A29 ‘Suevic’ at Melbourne for the UK on 21 June 1917, reaching Liverpool, England on 26 August 1917. From Liverpool he was sent to the 5th Training Battalion at Rollestone and three months later, on 27 December 1917, he departed Southampton for the Australian Infantry Base Depot in France. He was taken on strength of the 20th Infantry Battalion on 1 January 1918, in Belgium. On 27 April 1918 he received a shell wound in the abdomen while in action near Amiens in France and the following day, 28 April 1918, at No. 4 Casualty Clearing Station, he died of his wounds, aged 19.
Donald’s grave is in Pernois British Cemetery, Halloy-les-Pernois, Amiens, Picardie, France (Plot 1, Row B). His place of association is given as Islington, Newcastle, NSW. In his Will, Donald left all his property and effects to his mother, Alena Jessie Begbie.

(NAA B2455-3069545)