Richard McDonald

Submitted by kiamalibrary on Tue, 06/05/2014 - 14:27

First Name:

Richard

Last Name:

McDonald

Date Enlisted:

Monday, December 20, 1915

Rank at Enlistment:

Private

Unit:

1st Battalion, 16th Reinforcement

Service:

Infantry

Date of Death:

Monday, July 24, 1916

Place of Death:

Pozieres

Cause of Death:

Died of wounds. Gun shot wound to abdomen.

Details:

Currently, we do not hold a photo of Richard McDonald.
If anyone is able to help by providing a source, please do not hesitate to contact us.

Private Richard McDonald joined the Australian Army in 1915 via the famous “South Coast Warratah March”.

An aboriginal quarryman as well as a member of the 37th Infantry Band at Kiama, Private McDonald enlisted at Liverpool with the 1stAustralian Infantry Battalion on 20 December 1915. Before he left Australia, the Kiama Salvation Army presented a bible to Private McDonald.

To R.McDonald on his departure for the front wishing him safe return.

From the Officers and soldiers of the Salvation Army Kiama. 3.12.15 A.Woodcock F.Partridge John 3.16 Private McDonald’s Australian Imperial Forces record shows he had no known next of kin, with his few belongings being sent to his legatee, Miss A.May Morrow of Dapto. She said of Private McDonald: “He was absolutely without a living relative.”

Forwarded to Miss Morrow were photos, a pipe, wallet, wrist watch and two devotional books. Miss Morrow died in 1949, also with no next of kin. The bible was then found in a box of second hand books bought at Sydney’s Surry Hills in 2006.

The bible was received on behalf of Kiama by the Mayor, Sandra McCarthy, at a small ceremony at Kiama Library on July 7 2011, 95 years after the death of the Aboriginal soldier.

Richard McDonald is buried at Warloy-Baillon Communal Cemetery Extension in France.