Donald MCDONALD

MCDONALD, Donald

Service Number: 2384
Enlisted: Not yet discovered
Last Rank: Private
Last Unit: 31st Infantry Battalion
Born: Not yet discovered
Home Town: Kurri Kurri, Cessnock, New South Wales
Schooling: Not yet discovered
Occupation: Not yet discovered
Died: Killed in Action, Belgium, 27 September 1917, age not yet discovered
Cemetery: No known grave - "Known Unto God"
Menin Gate Memorial, Ypres, Flanders, Belgium, Lijssenthoek Military Cemetery, Lijssenthoek, Flanders, Belgium
Memorials: Annandale War Memorial, Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Kurri Kurri War Memorial, Menin Gate Memorial (Commonwealth Memorial to the Missing of the Ypres Salient), O`Connell ANZAC Memorial Avenue
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World War 1 Service

14 Mar 1916: Involvement Private, 2384, 31st Infantry Battalion, Third Ypres, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '16' embarkation_place: Melbourne embarkation_ship: HMAT Anchises embarkation_ship_number: A68 public_note: ''
14 Mar 1916: Embarked Private, 2384, 31st Infantry Battalion, HMAT Anchises, Melbourne

Pte Donald McDonald #2384

From Phillippe Clerbout, Australia and NZ in WWI

LEST WE FORGET - five Australian soldiers - WW1
My grandfather, Charles Mitchell (centre) with his friends from the 31st Battalion, Australian Army - WW1.

Photo taken at Salisbury Plains in England.

Alfred James Bell #3431 (known as Snowie to his mates) enlisted in February 1916 and died on 25 May 1917 in France and is buried at the Grevillers British Cemetery there. His birth record for 14 March 1896, shows is name as Alfred Bell Lawson, son of William Lawson and Annie Maria Bell.

Extract of a letter from Alfred's aunt to the army: "My widowed sister, Mrs. Lawson lost a young son in France recently, his name was Alfred James Bell Lawson, but as he was only 19 years and thought she would prevent his going so young, he enlisted under the name of 'Bell', cutting out his surname. When she had discovered what he had done of course she made no attempt to stop him, but suggested having his name put right but he begged her to leave it as it was as he thought it might be difficult. So he went out and was killed as Private Alfred James Bell, 3431, 7th Reinforcements 31st Battalion. He was wounded severely in the abdomen chest and buttocks on 24th May and died in 29th Casualty Station on the 25th a few hours after he was brought in. We are advised that he is buried in the cemetery immediately behind the station."

Donald McDonald #2384 enlisted in September 1915 and was killed in action, in Belgium in September 1917. He is buried at Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial Cemetery, Belgium.

Charles Mitchell #3428 (my grandfather) enlisted in January 1916 and was discharged as a Corporal in June 1918 - wounded in the right arm by a sniper in the Battle of Polygon Wood, Belgium 1917 - had his right arm amputated above the elbow.

Clarence Hubert Lyall Pedler #3359 enlisted in January 1916 and was discharged in May 1919.

Robert Victor Falkner #3203 enlisted in February 1916 and was discharged in July 1919.

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