MCLACHLAN, Donald
| Service Number: | 2460 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 7 May 1915, 10 year Royal Naval Reserve |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 58th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Glasgow, Scotland, February 1889 |
| Home Town: | North Fitzroy, Victoria |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Chief Officer, merchant ship |
| Died: | Multiple Wounds, Amputation of Thigh & Septic Infection, No. 3 Australian General Hospital/ Kitchener Hospital, Brighton, Sussex, England, 3 March 1917 |
| Cemetery: |
Brighton Borough Cemetery, East Sussex, England Row ZIX, Grave No. 47 |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour |
World War 1 Service
| 7 May 1915: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 2460, 6th Infantry Battalion, 10 year Royal Naval Reserve | |
|---|---|---|
| 16 Jul 1915: | Involvement Private, 2460, 6th Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '8' embarkation_place: Melbourne embarkation_ship: HMAT Demosthenes embarkation_ship_number: A64 public_note: '' | |
| 16 Jul 1915: | Embarked Private, 2460, 6th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Demosthenes, Melbourne | |
| 3 Mar 1917: | Involvement Private, 2460, 58th Infantry Battalion, --- :awm_ww1_roll_of_honour_import: awm_service_number: 2460 awm_unit: 58th Australian Infantry Battalion awm_rank: Private awm_died_date: 1917-03-03 |
Help us honour Donald McLachlan'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 – 3rd March…… Donald McLachlan was born in Glasgow, Scotland in 1889.
According to information provided by his sister for the Roll of Honour - Donald McLachlan came to Australia when he was 23 years old.
Other information provided by his sister for the Roll of Honour – Donald McLachlan was with “Royal Naval Reserve. Served on H.M.A.S. Sydney, until discharged about March or April, 1915.” “Deceased from 1910 was sailing in Australian waters as a member of the R.N.R., when war broke out. He reported and was sent aboard H.M.A.S. Sydney. He was one of the landing party who destroyed _/T Station on Cocos Island and was also at the capture of German New Guinea. He was discharged and a month or two after joined with 6th Battalion, A.I.F. and was through Gallipoli being transferred to 5th Battalion when in England.”
He enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force (A.I.F.) on 7th May, 1915 in Melbourne, Victoria as a 26 year old, single, Chief Officer of a Merchant Ship from 83 Queen’s Parade, North Fitzroy, Victoria.
Private Donald McLachlan, Service number 2460, embarked from Melbourne, Victoria on HMAT Demosthenes (A64) on 16th July, 1915 with the 6th Infantry Battalion, 7th Reinforcements as Acting Sergeant.
Acting Sergeant Donald McLachlan reported sick on 18th September, 1915 from Reinforcements Camp at Shrapnel Gully, Anzac. He reverted to rank of Private on reporting sick. Private McLachlan was admitted to 1st Australian Casualty Clearing Station on 18th September, 1915 with soft Chancre then transferred to Hospital Ship Maheno the same day. Private McLachlan was admitted to St. David’s Hospital at Malta on 23rd September, 1915 then transferred to Forrest Hospital at Malta the same day – cause N.Y.D. (not yet determined). He was discharged to All Saints Camp on 20th October, 1915 free from VD. Total period of VD from 18th September, 1915 – 20th October, 1915 – 33 days.
On 7th November, 1915 Private McLachlan was written up for an Offence while posted at Pembroke Camp, Malta - “Whilst on active service 1. Absent from 6 pm until ordered to Camp G by M.F.P. (Military Foot Police) in _____ Valletta about 10.30 pm 2. Not complying with an order. 3. Attempting to strike the M.F.P on 7th November, 1915. He was reprimanded on 11th November, 1915.
He embarked from Malta for Egypt on 2nd December, 1915 & disembarked at Alexandria on 6th December, 1915. Private McLachlan was taken on strength of Overseas Base at Giza on 7th December, 1915.
Private McLachlan was admitted to 2nd Australian General Hospital at Ghezireh on 4th February, 1916 - cause N.Y.D. (not yet determined). He was discharged to Base on 11th February, 1916 & admitted to Overseas Base at Giza on the same day.
On 18th July, 1916 Sergeant McLachlan was written up for an Offence while posted at Tel-el-Kebir – A.W.L. (Absent without leave) from Tattoo Roll Call on 29th May, 1916 until he reported to 2nd Training Battalion at Alexandria on 30th May, 1916 at 5 am. His punishment was “reverted to rank of Private permanently & forfeited 3 days’ pay.” Total forfeiture of 4 days’ pay.
Private Donald McLachlan was marched in from 2nd Training Battalion at Lark Hill, Wiltshire on 17th July, 1916 from 15th Training Battalion. (Note: There is no record of when Private McLachlan returned to England)
He was admitted to Bulford Hospital, Wiltshire with VD on 27th July, 1916 & discharged on 2nd August, 1916. Total period – 7 days.
On 10th August, 1916 Private McLachlan was written up for an Offence while posted at Lark Hill, Wiltshire - A.W.L. (Absent without leave) from Reveille on 25th July, 1916 until apprehended & escorted to Camp on 9th August, 1916. He was awarded 28 days stoppage of Pay & 14 days R.W. Total forfeiture 45 days pay.
Mrs J. Kirkbride, of “Caithness” 83 Queen’s Parade, North Fitzroy, wrote to Base Records on 3rd August, 1916 asking for the correct address of Sgt D. McLachlan, 2460, 6th Battalion, 7th Reinforcements “being his adopted mother & not having heard from him for some time am extremely anxious.”
Private McLachlan was admitted to Australian Dermatological Hospital at Bulford, Wiltshire on 11th August, 1916. He was discharged & marched in to 15th Training Battalion – 7th Camp from Hospital on 22nd December, 1916. Total period 134 days.
He proceeded overseas to France on 16th January, 1917 on SS Princess Victoria from 15th Training Battalion. Private McLachlan was marched in to 5th A.D.B.D. (Australian Divisional Base Depot) at Etaples, France on 17th January, 1917. He was marched out to his Unit on 20th January, 1917 & was taken on strength of 58th Battalion in the Field on 22nd January, 1917.
Private Donald McLachlan was wounded in action on 23rd January, 1917. He was admitted to 1st Anzac M.D.S. (Main Dressing Station) then transferred to Casualty Clearing Station with compound fracture right thigh, shrapnel wounds to abdomen, arm& leg. Private McLachlan was admitted to 38th Casualty Clearing Station on 24th January, 1917 with G.S.W. (gunshot wounds) multiple then transferred on 25th January, 1917 to 36th Casualty Clearing Station. He was transferred to No. 15 Ambulance Train on 31st January, 1917 & admitted to 13th General Hospital at Boulogne, France on 1st February, 1917 with GSW multiple. Private McLachlan was reported to be dangerously ill on 11th February, 1917. He embarked for England on Hospital Ship St. Dennis from Boulogne on 16th February, 1917.
On 17th February, 1917 he was admitted to No. 3 Australian General Hospital/ Kitchener Hospital, Brighton, Sussex, England with multiple wounds & amputated thigh. He suffered a septic infection.
Private Donald McLachlan died on morning of 3rd March, 1917 at Kitchener Hospital, Brighton, Sussex, England from wounds received in action in France – Multiple Wounds, Amputation of Thigh & Septic Infection.
He was buried in Brighton City (Bear Road) Cemetery, East Sussex, England where 28 other WW1 Australian War Graves are located.
(The above is a summary of my research. The full research can be found by following the link below)
https://ww1austburialsuk.weebly.com/bear-road.html
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