Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

William was the third of five children of David James McDonald (born 1877 at Ballan, Victoria) and Janet Agnes Westerdale (born 1890 at Murchison in Victoria). David (a Farmer) and Janet were both living at Tocumal in NSW when they married at Jerilderie in 1915. They settled at Finley and raised their family on the farm 'Retreat'.

William worked on the family farm before he enlisted in the Army in June 1942. He was a Corporal (Service Nos:VX81688/V24603) attached to 20 Pioneer Battalion when he was Discharged in December 1945. The 20th Pioneer Battalion was a Militia Unit that was converted from a Light Horse Regiment to a Motorised Unit (20th Motor Unit) and undertook defensive duties in Victoria and QLD in the early part of the War. In 1944 the Battalion deployed to Merauke in Dutch New Guinea to defend the airfield, and in early 1945 was deployed to New Guinea. The Battalion was Disbanded in November 1945. Brother Albert (Trooper, Service No:VX46377) also served in WWII.

William settled back at Finley, NSW and was a Farmer at Cleveden in 1950  when he married Gwendoline Lois Jackson (born 1928 in Denilquin, NSW). Gwen (a Stenographer) and William married in the Denilquin Methodist Church and settled at Cleveden in Finley where William was a Farmer. William died in 2004 and Gwen in 2010.