Branch of Service

Army

Conflict

World War I (1914-1918)

Date of Enlistment

31/12/1917

Date of Discharge

27/01/1920

Place of Enlistment

Victoria Barracks, Sydney NSW

Gender

Male

Date of Birth

28/07/1896

Place of Birth

Royalla NSW

Address (at enlistment)

Royalla NSW

Occupation

Motor mechanic

Next of Kin

Archibald McDonald (father), Royalla NSW

Service Number

3547

Final Rank

2 Air Mechanic

Final Unit

4 Squadron Australian Flying Corps

Queanbeyan RSL Wall of Remembrance, Crawford St, Queanbeyan NSW

McDonald was a mechanic, qualifying with Collins and Company in Goulburn, when he enlisted in January 1918 and served initially at Point Cook with the Australian Flying Corps. He arrived in England in October 1918 and was attached to the 4th Squadron, AFC with the rank of Air Mechanic Class 2. In July 1919 he was posted to France where his unit was involved in the 'watch on the Rhine'. During this period he became the AFC middleweight boxing champion. He returned to Australia in January 1920 and was discharged. After the war he farmed at 'Oakvale' at Williamsdale with his brothers. It is believed that he drove the last mob of sheep through Canberra before Lake Burley Griffin was formed. He died on 17 January 1974 and was buried in the Queanbeyan Cemetery on Tharwa Road.

Description - height 5 feet 6½ inches, weight 146 pounds, chest 35-38 inches, sallow complexion, brown hair, Catholic.

Rex Cross, 'Bygone Queanbeyan', 1980
Queanbeyan Age - 4 January 1918, 16 April 1918, 30 January 1974
NAA RecordSearch - Series B2455 (First Australian Imperial Force Personnel Dossiers, 1914-1920)