Donald Davenport Donaldson (1898 - 1918)

Born 7 Aug 1898 in Davenport, South Australia, Australia

Died 30 Apr 1918 at age 19 in France

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Biography

Don Donaldson was born in the Colony of South Australia (1836-1900)

Donald was born in 1898.

Donald passed away in 1918.

Birth

Surname: DONALDSON
Given Names: Donald Davenport
Date: 1898-08-07
Sex: M
Father: James DONALDSON
Mother: Ellen KEELEY
Birth Place: Davenport
District Code: Fro

Private Don Donaldson served in the Australian Imperial Force in World War I
Service started: 19 Aug 1916
Unit(s): 39th Battalion, 4th Reinforcement
Service ended: 19 Apr 1918

Don Donaldson is an Anzac who served in World War One.

Private Don Donaldson was killed in action during World War I.

Don Donaldson was awarded the 1914-15 Star.

Don Donaldson was awarded the British War Medal.

Don Donaldson was awarded the Victory Medal.

World War One Service

Don: DONALDSON
Regimental number: 2420
Place of birth: Port Augusta, South Australia.
School: St Joseph's (Catholic) School, Port Augusta, South Australia.
Religion: Roman Catholic
Occupation: Fireman
Address: Port Augusta, South Australia.
Marital status: Single
Age at embarkation: 21
Next of kin: Mother, Mrs. Ellen Donaldson, Port Augusta, South Australia.
Enlistment date: 19 August 1916
Date of enlistment from Nominal Roll: 18 August 1916
Rank on enlistment: Private
Unit name: 39th Battalion, 4th Reinforcement
AWM Embarkation Roll number: 23/56/2
Embarkation details: Unit embarked from Melbourne, Victoria, on board HMAT A17 Port Lincoln on 20 October 1916
Rank from Nominal Roll: Private
Unit from Nominal Roll: 14th Battalion
Fate: Killed in Action 30 April 1918
Place of death or wounding: France
Age at death: 19
Age at death from cemetery records: 20
Place of burial: No known grave
Commemoration details: Australian National Memorial, Villers-Bretonneux, France
Villers-Bretonneux is a village about 15 km east of Amiens. The Memorial stands on the high ground ('Hill 104') behind the Villers-Bretonneux Military Cemetery, Fouilloy, which is about 2 km north of Villers-Bretonneux on the east side of the road to Fouilloy.

The Australian National Memorial, Villers-Bretonneux is approached through the Military Cemetery, at the end of which is an open grass lawn which leads into a three-sided court. The two pavilions on the left and right are linked by the north and south walls to the back (east) wall, from which rises the focal point of the Memorial, a 105 foot tall tower, of fine ashlar. A staircase leads to an observation platform, 64 feet above the ground, from which further staircases lead to an observation room. This room contains a circular stone tablet with bronze pointers indicating the Somme villages whose names have become synonymous with battles of the Great War; other battle fields in France and Belgium in which Australians fought; and far beyond, Gallipoli and Canberra.

On the three walls, which are faced with Portland stone, are the names of 10,885 Australians who were killed in France and who have no known grave. The 'blocking course' above them bears the names of the Australian Battle Honours.

After the war an appeal in Australia raised £22,700, of which £12,500 came from Victorian school children, with the request that the majority of the funds be used to build a new school in Villers-Bretonneux. The boys' school opened in May 1927, and contains an inscription stating that the school was the gift of Victorian schoolchildren, twelve hundred of whose fathers are buried in the Villers-Bretonneux cemetery, with the names of many more recorded on the Memorial. Villers-Bretonneux is now twinned with Robinvale, Victoria, which has in its main square a memorial to the links between the two towns.

Panel number, Roll of Honour, Australian War Memorial: 72
Miscellaneous information from cemetery records: Parents: James and Ellen DONALDSON, Whyalla, South Australia. Born at Port Augusta, South Australia.
Family/military connections: Sergeant Pillfort distinguished.
Other details: War service: Western Front
Medals: British War Medal, Victory Medal

The AIF Project
^[2]

Virtual War Memorial Australia
^[3]

National Archives of Australia
^[4]

Commonwealth War Graves
^[5]

Sources

1. ↑ South Australia Births 1842-1928, Book/Page: 626/232
2. ↑ The AIF Project[1]
3. ↑ Virtual War Memorial Australia[2]
4. ↑ National Archives of Australia[3]
5. ↑ Commonwealth War Graves[4]