| Regimental number | 540 |
| Place of birth | Sandy Creek, South Australia |
| Religion | Roman Catholic |
| Occupation | Clerk |
| Address | Carlton Parade, Torrensville, South Australia |
| Marital status | Single |
| Age at embarkation | 34 |
| Height | 5' 8.5" |
| Weight | 154 lbs |
| Next of kin | Mother, Mrs M. McDonald, Carlton Parade, Torrensville, South Australia |
| Previous military service | South Africa (59 days); 8th Battalion |
| Enlistment date | |
| Place of enlistment | Oaklands, South Australia |
| Rank on enlistment | Lance Corporal |
| Unit name | 11th Light Horse Regiment, C Squadron |
| AWM Embarkation Roll number | 10/16/1 |
| Embarkation details | Unit embarked from Brisbane, Queensland, on board HMAT A7 Medic on |
| Embarkation details | Unit embarked from Brisbane, Queensland, on board HMAT A30 Borda on |
| Rank from Nominal Roll | Sergeant |
| Unit from Nominal Roll | 11th Light Horse Regiment |
| Fate | Died of wounds |
| Place of burial | Damascus British War Cemetery (Row C, Grave No. 53), Syria |
| Panel number, Roll of Honour, Australian War Memorial | 8 |
| Miscellaneous information from cemetery records | Parents: Angus and Mary MCDONALD, 100 Carlton Parade, Torrensville, Adelaide |
| Other details |
War service; Egypt, Gallipoli, Palestine. Embarked Alexandria to join the Mediterranean Expeditionary Force (Gallipoli Campaign), 25 August 1915; taken on strength of 9th Light Horse Regiment, Anzac, 29 August 1915. Disembarked Alexandria, 26 December 1915. To School of Instruction, Heliopolis, 5 February 1916. Taken on strength of 11th Light Horse Regiment, Heliopolis, 22 February 1916. Found guilty, 15 March 1916, of (1) being absent from guard after being duly warned; (2) being absent without leave from 1600 hours, until 2200 hours, 13 March 1916; (3) absent from 0630 parade, 14 March 1916: award, admonished, and forfeits 1 day's pay by Royal Warrant. Marched into Corps Troops and General Base Depot, Tel el Kebir, from Cairo Town Picquet, 26 April 1916. Admitted to No 2 Australian Stationary Hospital, Tel el Kebir, 11 May 1916 (gonorrhoea); transferred to No 4 Hospital Train, 12 May 1916; to No 1 Australian Dermatological Hospital, Abbassia, 12 May 1916; discharged, 15 June 1916; marched into 3rd Light Horse Training Regiment, Tel el Kebir, 16 June 1916. Marched into Isolation Hospital, Moascar, 26 September 1916; marched out of Isolation Hospital, 1 October 1916; marched into 3rd Light Horse Training Regiment, no date stated. Taken on strength of 11th Light Horse Regiment, Serapeum, 12 October 1916. Marched into 4th Light Horse Training Regiment, Moascar, 24 February 1917. Rejoined 11th Light Horse Regiment, 8 March 1917. Promoted Lance Sergeant, Ferry Post, 12 March 1917. Promoted Temporary Sergeant, 19 May 1917. Promoted Sergeant, 18 July 1917. Detached to Gas School, Tel el Kebir, 31 August 1917; rejoined unit, El Fukhari, 4 September 1917. Found guilty, 4 September 1917, of being absent without leave from 0930 hours, 2 September 1917, until 0930 hours, 3 September 1917: award, reprimanded, and forfeits 2 days' pay. To Rest Camp, Port Said, El Fara, 24 September 1917; rejoined unit, El Fara, 10 October 1917. To Rest Camp, 10 March 1918; rejoined unit, Belah, 24 March 1918. To Rest Camp, 9 August 1918; proceeded to Moascar, 1 September 1918; marched into 4th Light Horse Training Regiment, Moascar, 1 September 1918. Proceeded to unit, 6 September 1918; rejoined 11th Light Horse Regiment, 7 September 1918. Admitted to No 4 Light Horse Field Ambulance, 8 October 1918 (pyrexia, not yet diagnosed); dangerously ill, 16 October 1918. Died, No 4 Light Horse Field Ambulance, 17 October 1918 (pneumonia, and intestinal, not yet diagnosed). Buried by Chaplain J. Best, El Kuneitra, Syria, 18 October 1918. Medals: 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal |
| Sources | NAA: B2455, McDONALD Richard Augustine |
Postal Address:
Po Box 7916
Canberra BC 2610, Australia
Street Address:
Northcott Drive,
Campbell, ACT 2600
