The AIF Project

William Thomas McDONALD

Date of birth16 June 1880
Place of birthStawell, Victoria
SchoolPublic School
ReligionPresbyterian
OccupationElectrical employe
Address124 Hereford Street, Forest Lodge, New South Wales
Marital statusMarried
Age at embarkation34
Height5' 9.5"
Weight147 lbs
Next of kinWife, Mrs. Helen McDonald, 124 Hereford Street, Forest Lodge, New South Wales
Previous military serviceServed for 19 years in the 25th Infantry (late Scottish Rifles), 4 years as Warrant Officer; 16 months Active Service in South Africa (Boer War).
Enlistment date3 September 1914
Date of enlistment from Nominal Roll17 August 1914
Place of enlistmentRandwick, New South Wales
Rank on enlistmentHON LT (QM)
Unit name4th Battalion, Headquarters
AWM Embarkation Roll number23/21/1
Embarkation detailsUnit embarked from Sydney, New South Wales, on board TRANSPORT A14 Euripides on 20 October 1914
Rank from Nominal RollCaptain
Unit from Nominal Roll4th Battalion
Promotions

Lieutenant


Promotion date: 25 April 1915

2nd Lieutenant


Promotion date: 1 May 1915

Recommendations (Medals and Awards)

Unspecified


Mention in Despatches awarded, and promulgated, 'London Gazette', Supplement, No. 29455 (28 January 1916); 'Commonwealth Gazette' No. 44 (6 April 1916).
Recommendation date: 6-7 August 1915

FateKilled in Action 16 August 1916
Age at death from cemetery records37
Place of burialCourcelette British Cemetery (Plot V, Row A, Grave No. 2), France
Panel number, Roll of Honour,
  Australian War Memorial
41
Miscellaneous information from
  cemetery records
Parents: John and Johanna MCDONALD; husband of Mrs H. McDONALD, 124 Hereford Street, Forest Lodge, Sydney. Native of Stawell, Victoria
Other details

War service: Egypt, Gallipoli, Western Front

Embarked Alexandria to join the Mediterranean Expeditionary Force (Gallipoli Campaign), 5 april 1915.

Appointed Lieutenant, 25 April 1915.

Appointed Assistant Adjutant, 1 May 1915.

Wounded in action, 6-8 August 1915 (gun shot wound, shoulder); admitted to 2nd Australian Field Ambulance, 10 August 1915, and transferred to Casualty Clearing Station; to Malta on board HMT 'Gascon', 16 August 1915, and same day admitted to Blue Sisters Hospital; transferred to England, 5 September 1915 (no details recorded of hospitalisation).

Disembarked Alexandria from England, 13 February 1916; rejoined 4th Bn, Tel el Kebir, 24 February 1916.

Promoted Captain, 12 March 1916.

Embarked Alexandria to join the British Expeditionary Force, 23 March 1916; disembarked Marseilles, France, 30 March 1916.

Killed in action, 16 August 1916.

Medals: 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal
SourcesNAA: B2455, McDONALD William Thomas

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