PRICE, Donald Hornsby
| Service Number: | 3149 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 1 April 1915, 2nd MD |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 55th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Blayney, New South Wales, Australia, December 1887 |
| Home Town: | Glebe, New South Wales |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Tram conductor |
| Memorials: | Blayney and Milthorpe District Roll of Honor, Glebe Roll of Honor, Millthorpe Memorial Gates, Millthorpe Shadforth Public School Great War Roll of Honour, Tempe Newtown Tramway Depot Honour Roll |
World War 1 Service
| 1 Apr 1915: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 3149, 55th Infantry Battalion, 2nd MD | |
|---|---|---|
| 25 Aug 1915: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 3149, 17th Infantry Battalion | |
| 20 Dec 1915: | Involvement Private, 3149, 17th Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '12' embarkation_place: Sydney embarkation_ship: HMAT Suevic embarkation_ship_number: A29 public_note: '' | |
| 20 Dec 1915: | Embarked Private, 3149, 17th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Suevic, Sydney | |
| 19 Feb 1916: | Transferred AIF WW1, Private, 55th Infantry Battalion | |
| 2 Sep 1918: | Wounded AIF WW1, Private, 3149, 55th Infantry Battalion, "The Last Hundred Days", GSW to right arm |
Help us honour Donald Hornsby Price's service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.
Add my storyBiography contributed by Evan Evans
From Barraba Historical Museum and Brian Coote
Don was a Tram Conductor in Sydney, single and 28 years old when he enlisted in the Australian Army at Victoria Barracks on 25th. Aug 1915. Don was assigned to the 55th Battalion and served in France during WW1.
In the latter part of the War on 5th Sept 1918 the man next to Don was hit on his .303 rifle magazine. The projectile ricocheted into Don's right arm and in the mud and muck his arm was soon seriously infected. The Army wanted to amputate his arm but Don refused and he was evacuated to Boscombe Military Hospital in the UK arriving on 18th Sept 1918. Only 52 men of the 55th Battalion survived WW1.
While in Boscombe, the Hospital was visited by King George V, the Queen's grandfather. The King talked to Don and learned he was from Australia and wrote him a “thank you” note which is still held by the Byrnes family.
Don returned to working on Sydney Trams after the war and married Mary Johanna Ryan in Annandale in 1920. They had four children, Doreen Johanna, Bede Alfred, Donald Francis and Monica. Doreen died in infancy, Bede married Joyce O'Shannesy, Police Sgt O'Shannesy's daughter, here in Barraba.
Monica served in WW11 and married Ray Byrnes after his RAAF service and this well known family lived in Barraba thereafter.
Click images to start slideshow.