Branch of Service

Army

Conflict

World War II (1939-1945)

Date of Enlistment

01/05/1940

Date of Discharge

06/12/1945

Place of Enlistment

Paddington NSW

Gender

Male

Date of Birth

23/09/1901

Place of Birth

Penguin, Tasmania

Address (at enlistment)

Mugga Way, Red Hill ACT

School(s) Attended

Launceston Grammar School

Occupation

Builder

Next of Kin

Christine McDonald (wife), Mugga Way, Red Hill ACT

Service Number

NX424

Final Rank

Colonel

Final Unit

2 Australian Corps

Mentioned in despatches

McDonald arrived in Canberra during the 1920s when his father was contracted to construct houses. He was a prominent cricketer, captaining the Territory during 1927-1929, and also the Canberra Australian Rules team during the same period. In 1928 he married Christina Sullivan in Sydney. He had been a cadet engineer with the Tasmanian Hydro-electric Authority before coming to Canberra and took over his father's construction business in 1936. Among his projects was the construction of St. Christopher's Cathedral in Manuka. He was a sapper in the militia before the war but rose through the ranks to become a Lieutenant Colonel in the 7th Division and later chief engineer of II Corps in the Solomon Islands. During World War 2 he served with the 2/5th Field Company (part of the 7th Division) in North Africa and Syria and was chief engineer of the 6th Division Engineers in Papua during the Kokoda campaign. After he war he headed his own construction company, became chairman of Australian National Airlines (TAA) in 1957 and of the Commonwealth Banking Corporation in 1959. He was also founding president of the National Heart Foundation (1959-64), a council member of the Australian National University (1953-64) and president and life member of Royal Canberra Golf Club. In 1957 he was appointed a CBE and was elevated to a KBE in 1964 for "public service in many fields". Sir Warren McDonald died in Sydney on 12 November 1965 and is buried in Woden Cemetery.

Description - height 5 feet 11.5 inches, weight 218 pounds, chest 40-45 inches, grey eyes, dark complexion, grey hair, Catholic.

WWII Nominal Roll http://www.ww2roll.gov.au
ACT Electoral Rolls 1916 to 1967 http://canberraheritageportal.org/default.php
ACT Sports Hall of Fame http://www.actsport.com.au/index.php?id=19
Canberra Public Cemeteries http://www.canberracemeteries.com.au/cem_gravesearch.asp
Australian Dictionary of Biography online - http://www.adb.online.anu.edu.au/adbonline.htm
Alexander J. McGilvray, 'The Hallowed High Adventure', 1973 (pp.125, 163,165)
The Canberra Times - 17 March 1939, 13 November 1965 (obituary)
The Age - 13 November 1965