Victor George Robert MCDONALD DCM, MiD

MCDONALD, Victor George Robert

Service Number: 1157
Enlisted: 9 September 1914, Morphettville, South Australia
Last Rank: Private
Last Unit: 10th Infantry Battalion
Born: Tickera, South Australia, 15 September 1885
Home Town: Wallaroo, Copper Coast, South Australia
Schooling: Not yet discovered
Occupation: Labourer
Died: Killed in Action, Pozières, France, 21 August 1916, aged 30 years
Cemetery: No known grave - "Known Unto God"
No known grave, Villers-Bretonneux Memorial, Villers-Bretonneux, Picardie, France
Memorials: Adelaide National War Memorial, Adelaide National War Memorial, Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour
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World War 1 Service

9 Sep 1914: Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 1157, Morphettville, South Australia
27 Dec 1914: Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 1157, 10th Infantry Battalion, Enlistment/Embarkation WW1
27 Dec 1914: Embarked AIF WW1, Private, 1157, 10th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Themistocles, Adelaide
25 Apr 1915: Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 1157, 10th Infantry Battalion, ANZAC / Gallipoli
23 Jul 1916: Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 1157, 10th Infantry Battalion, Battle for Pozières

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Biography

"LATE PTE. V. G. McDONALD, D.C.M.

Deep regret was felt in Wallaroo on Thursday (writes our local correspondent) when the news of the sad yet glorious death of Pte. Victor G. McDonald, D.C.M., was received. The young soldier, who was about 30 years of age, was killed in action on August 20 last in France. He was one of the first of the local soldiers to enlist, and a member of the famous 10th Battalion. He spent the greater part of his life in Wallaroo, and was the son of Mrs. McDonald (now Mrs. W. H. Richards), formerly of this town. The deceased had a step-brother (Pte. Hector Richards) serving at the front.

Pte. V. G. McDonald won the D.C.M., for a fine act of valour. A bomb from a Turkish trench was thrown into an Australian trench, and at great peril he threw his overcoat over the bomb and lay on it until the fuse was extinguished. Has brave action was highly commended, and resulted in the saving of the lives of his comrades in the trench. On receipt of the news of his death the Mayor (Mr. T. G. Ashton) caused the flag at the Wallaroo Town Hall to be flown at half-mast." - from the Adelaide Register 30 Sep 1916 (nla.gov.au)

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