Richard Alexander McDONALD

Regimental number3435
Place of birthMaunum
Place of birthDublin, Ireland
SchoolChristian Brothers College, (Catholic) Adelaide.
ReligionChurch of England
OccupationWaggon builder
AddressKenny Street, West Guildford, Western Australia
Marital statusMarried
Age at embarkation30
Height5' 7.5"
Weight154 lbs
Next of kinWife, Mrs Ethel May McDonald, Kenny Street, West Guildford, Western Australia
Previous military serviceNil; Enlisted and went to the Africa, in the Boer war, but did not see active service.
Enlistment date1 September 1915
Date of enlistment from Nominal Roll21 August 1915
Place of enlistmentPerth, Western Australia
Rank on enlistmentSapper
Unit name6th Field Company Engineers
AWM Embarkation Roll number14/25/1
Embarkation detailsUnit embarked from Sydney, New South Wales, on board HMAT A40 Ceramic on 24 November 1915
Rank from Nominal RollSapper
Unit from Nominal Roll4th Field Company Engineers
FateReturned to Australia 23 September 1918
Place of death or woundingSyria
Age at death37
Discharge date26 October 1919
Family/military connectionsBrother Archibald McDonald, killed in Gallipoli.
Other details

War service: Egypt, Western Front

Embarked Fremantle, 23 November 1915.

Transferred to 4th Divisional Engineers, Moascar, 6 March 1916; taken on strength of 4th Company, Tel-el-Kebir, 7 March 1916.

Embarked Alexandria and proceeded to join the British Expeditionary Force, 1 June 1916; disembarked Marseilles, 9 June 1916.

Found guilty, 10 September 1916, of being absent without leave, 6.00 pm, 8 September 1916, to 9.00 pm, 9 September 1916: awarded 7 days' Field Punishment No 2; forfeited total of 9 days' pay. Appointed Lance Corporal, 9 August 1917; promoted to 2nd Corporal, 10 August 1917; proceeded to Paris on leave, 13 January 1918; rejoined unit from leave, 23 January 1918; detached to Australian Corps School, 1 March 1918; rejoined unit, 23 March 1918.

Found guilty, 24 May 1918, of being absent from 9.30 am parade: reprimanded for actions.

Wounded in action, and admitted to 13th Field Ambulance, 4 July 1918, and transferred to 5th Casualty Clearing Station (shrapnel wound, left arm); to Ambulance Train '12', 4 July 1918, and admitted to 10th General Hospital, Rouen, 5 July 1918. Proceeded to England, 7 July 1918, and admitted to Southwark Military Hopital, East Dulwich Grove, 8 July 1918; transferred to 3rd Australian Auxiliary Hospital, Dartford, 12 August 1918; discharged to No 2 Command Depot, Weymouth, 27 August 1918.

Commenced return to Australia on HT 'Runic', 23 September 1918; disembarked Fremantle 17 November 1918. Discharged Perth, 26 October 1919.

1914-15 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal.
SourcesNAA: B2455, McDONALD Richard Alexander