Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

I did not know Des. His family lived in the same street as my father in the suburb of Coburg East (Victoria). His sister Elizabeth (Betty) Smith was to become a very close friend of my mother's after my mother arrived in Australia from Wales, UK in 1960 and my siblings and I became her 'adopted' children when she did not have any offspring of her own. My mother and Betty became even closer after her husband (Edmund - 'Ted') and my father both died.

After 'Auntie' Betty's passing, most of her photographic collection was given to me. There are a few photos of Des, mostly of him as a baby or young child with Betty. There are also some photos of some of the places Des saw while serving overseas and cards he sent to his mother for her birthday. The two siblings were clearly close and while she did not speak often of Des, she was deeply touched when he was honoured for his service.

Ronald James MacDonald (Des and Betty's adopted father) served in both WW1 and WW2 and Betty's husband Edmund 'Ted' served in WW2.