S20728
DONALDSON, George Garland
| Service Number: | 3089 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 4 August 1915 |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 27th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Rosewater, South Australia, 1886 |
| Home Town: | Kilburn (Formerly Chicago), Port Adelaide Enfield, South Australia |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Bushman |
| Died: | Adelaide, South Australia, 9 August 1951, cause of death not yet discovered |
| Cemetery: |
AIF Cemetery, West Terrace Cemetery, Adelaide, South Australia Section: KO, Road: 21, Site No: 53 |
| Memorials: |
World War 1 Service
| 4 Aug 1915: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 3089, 27th Infantry Battalion | |
|---|---|---|
| 12 Jan 1916: | Involvement Private, 3089, 27th Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '15' embarkation_place: Adelaide embarkation_ship: HMAT Medic embarkation_ship_number: A7 public_note: '' | |
| 12 Jan 1916: | Embarked Private, 3089, 27th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Medic, Adelaide | |
| 27 Jun 1918: | Discharged AIF WW1, 3089, Total service, 2 years and 328 days Service abroad, 2 years and 152 days |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by Adelaide Botanic High School
George Garland Donaldson was born in 1886 in Rosewater, South Australia. His mother’s name was Mrs Rebecca Webster. They both lived together in Chicago, South Australia, Chicago is now known as Kilburn. Although his dad is unknown, George’s parents raised him to be a Roman Catholic. His wife Mrs E. A. Donaldson was born in Lancashire, London. They were married on 2/02/1917. She lived on 142 Hampstead Road, London.
George had brown eyes, black hair, and dark skin. He also had a birthmark on his right shoulder and tattoos on both his fore arms. George was 5 foot 4 or 164cm, quite small considering the average height for a male during WW1 was 5 foot 6. He weighed 130 pounds which is the equivalent to 59kg. George’s chest measured 33.35 inches or 85 cm. He was a fairly small build compared to people today.
Before he enlisted in the war George Garland Donaldson was a bushman. A bushman is a person who lives in or has extensive experience of the Australian bush or outback. On the 4 Aug 1915 George enlisted in the AIF WW1. He was 29 years old when he enlisted. His rank was Private, SN and his service number was 3089. He was enlisted to serve in the 27th Battalion and 6 months on the 12 Jan 1916. He set sail on the HMAT Medic.
27/06/1916 George was admitted to hospital with bronchitis. He was moved to lots of different hospitals and facilities. From the 29/06/1916 to 23/ 03/1917 George was suffering from bronchitis.
On the 19/08/1917 George was punished with 14 days C.C because he was neglecting to obey AIF depot officers in Windmill Hill. He also got into trouble again on the 11/11/1917 for going into town without permission in France. Because on this misconduct George went 21 days without pay.
On the 6th December 1917 he was sent to hospital because of a 'tumour' in his right shoulder. he went AWL again during this hospital stay in January 1918 and was forfeited 3 days pay. Once again in March 1918 he went AWL but the charge was dismissed because of the circumstances, he had gone to visit his sick wife.
George Garland Donaldson was discharged on the 27/06/1918. His total service was 2 years and 328 days and his service abroad during this period was 2 years and 152 days. He was discharged due to being medically unfit (painful scar in right shoulder) and it wasn’t due to misconduct.
On 9th August 1951 George Garland Donaldson passed away at age 65. He died here in Adelaide, South Australia. Cause of death is still yet to be discovered. He is buried at the AIF Cemetery, West Terrace Cemetery, SA. In Section: KO, Road: 21, Site No: 53.
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