MACDONALD, Kenneth
| Service Number: | 1337 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 17 November 1914 |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 4th Light Trench Mortar Battery |
| Born: | Kirkcaldy, Scotland, 27 January 1891 |
| Home Town: | Brisbane, Brisbane, Queensland |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Bushman |
| Died: | Disseminated Sarcoma – with paraplegia, Royal Victoria Hospital, Netley, near Southampton, Hampshire, England, 7 February 1917, aged 26 years |
| Cemetery: |
Dorchester (Fordington) Cemetery |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour |
World War 1 Service
| 17 Nov 1914: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 1337, 15th Infantry Battalion | |
|---|---|---|
| 22 Dec 1914: | Involvement Private, 1337, 15th Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '11' embarkation_place: Melbourne embarkation_ship: HMAT Berrima embarkation_ship_number: A35 public_note: '' | |
| 22 Dec 1914: | Embarked Private, 1337, 15th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Berrima, Melbourne | |
| 7 Feb 1917: | Involvement Private, 1337, 4th Light Trench Mortar Battery, --- :awm_ww1_roll_of_honour_import: awm_service_number: 1337 awm_unit: 4th Australian Light Trench Mortar Battery awm_rank: Private awm_died_date: 1917-02-07 |
Help us honour Kenneth Macdonald's service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.
Add my storyBiography contributed by Evan Evans
The summary below was completed by Cathy Sedgwick – Facebook “WW1 Australian War Graves in England/UK/Scotland/Ireland
Died on this date – 7th February…… Kenneth Macdonald was born at 62 Links Street, Kirkcaldy, Scotland on 27th January, 1891.
Kenneth Macdonald came to Australia when he was 18 years old, according to information supplied by his mother for the Roll of Honour. However a “Kenneth MacDonald”, aged 21, Railway Worker, was a passenger on Kaipara which departed from London & arrived in Brisbane, Queensland on 21st June, 1911.
He enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force (A.I.F.) on 16th November, 1914 as a 23 year old, single, Bushman (according to his mother his occupation was Labourer – Timber Docks, Brisbane).
Private Kenneth Macdonald, Service number 1337, embarked from Melbourne, Victoria on HMAT Berrima (A35) on 22nd December, 1914.
On 12th April, 1915 Private Macdonald proceeded to join the M.E.F. (Mediterranean Expeditionary Force) on the Gallipoli Peninsula.
He was admitted to Hospital at Dardanelles on 19th June, 1915 with Influenza – serious. He was transferred on Hospital Ship to Alexandria where he was admitted to No. 17 General Hospital on 24th June, 1915.
Private Macdonald was admitted to Deaconess Hospital at Alexandria on 25th July, 1915 suffering from Enteric Fever. He was admitted to Enteric Camp on 7th September, 1915. Private Kenneth Macdonald was transferred to England on SS Runic & admitted to Welsh War Hospital at Whitchurch, Cardiff on 6th October, 1915.
On 24th November, 1915 Private reported to Base at Abbey Wood, England.
He was to be debited for the loss of his Kit on 7th June, 1916 while in England.
Private Macdonald was transferred from Monte Video, Weymouth to Perham Downs, Salisbury, Wiltshire on 28th June, 1916. He was taken on strength of 4th Training Battalion at Rollestone, Wiltshire.
On 16th July, 1916 Private Macdonald proceeded overseas. He was marched in to No. 4 A.D.B.D. (Australian Divisional Base Depot) at Etaples, France on 18th July, 1916.
He proceeded from Etaples on 11th August, 1916 to join 15th Battalion & joined his Battalion in France on 14th August, 1916.
Private Kenneth Macdonald was wounded in action on 28th August, 1916. He was taken to 1 A.R.S. on 28th August, 1916 with a gunshot wound to shoulder then transferred to 3rd Casualty Clearing Station on 30th August, 1916. Private Macdonald was transferred & admitted to 14th General Hospital at Wimereux on 31st August, 1916. He was transferred to 1st Convalescent Depot at Boulogne on 3rd September, 1916 then transferred to Details on 4th September, 1916. On 6th September, 1916 Private was marched in from Hospital to No. 4 A.D.B.D. (Australian Divisional Base Depot) at Etaples, France.
On 21st September, 1916 Private Macdonald proceeded to join 15th Battalion & rejoined his Battalion in the field on 23rd September, 1916.
Kenneth Macdonald, aged 24, Soldier in Australian Force, married Hilda Ethel May Gill, aged 21, on 16th October, 1916 in Church of St. Mary, West Fordington, Dorchester, Dorset, England. Both listed their residence at the time of the marriage as Maud Road, Victoria Park.
He was seconded for duty & taken on strength of 4th Australian Light Trench Mortar Battery from 15th Battalion on 29th October, 1916.
On 23rd December, 1916 Private Macdonald was sent to Hospital sick. He was transferred to 8th General Hospital at Rouen on 2nd January, 1917 – N.Y.D. Mental (Not Yet Determined).
Private Kenneth Macdonald was marked for transfer to England on 3rd January, 1917. He was transferred to Havre then embarked for England on Hospital Ship St. Patrick on 3rd January, 1917.
He was admitted to Royal Victoria Hospital, Netley, near Southampton, Hampshire, England on 4th January, 1917. The Hospital Report reads :”On admission ___ Medical Division was found to be suffering from Disseminated Sarcoma – with paraplegia. Symptoms of further growth in the brain supervened & Pt died on 7.2.17. No post-mortem.”
Private Kenneth Macdonald died on morning of 7th February, 1917 at Royal Victoria Hospital, Netley, near Southampton, Hampshire, England from Disseminated Sarcoma (not due to Military Service).
His body was sent to Dorchester, Dorset on the 8th February, 1917 for interment by his widow, Mrs Macdonald, of 1 Maud Street, Victoria Park, Dorchester. He was buried on 9th February, 1917 in Fordington Cemetery, Dorchester, Dorset, England – Plot number New. 238 and has a Private Headstone. His death is still acknowledged by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission.
(The above is a summary of my research. The full research can be found by following the link below)
https://ww1austburialsuk.weebly.com/dorchester.html
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