DONALD, Ernest William

DONALD, Ernest William – A Southern Downs Veteran

CONFLICT : WWI
SERVICE NO : 1667A
RANK : Private
UNIT : 4th Light Horse Regiment
ENLISTMENT DATE : 13/06/1916
AGE : 22
PLACE OF ENLISTMENT : Inverell, New South Wales
PLACE OF BIRTH : London, England
RELIGION : Church of England
OCCUPATION : Farmer
DATE OF DEATH : 1977
PLACE OF BURIAL : Narrabeen, New South Wales

MEMORIALS : Dalveen WWI Honour Boards, Inverell District Great War Honour Roll

View Veteran’s Service File : DONALD, Ernest William

NOTES :

Ernest William Donald was the son of Alice Elizabeth Donald of Crystal Mount, Dalveen.

At the time of his enlistment in June 1916, Donald had been working as a farmer. Embarkation for his unit, the 4th Light Horse Regiment took place in Melbourne and he sailed aboard the Vestalia, disembarking in Suez.

During his time in Egypt, Ernest suffered from a number of ailments including one time when he was on his way to get horse-feed. He jumped down a five-foot bank, landing on a stone resulting in a sprained ankle. No disciplinary action was taken. Before leaving Egypt he also suffered from a bout of malaria.

The 1977 Electoral Rolls show Ernest was living at a War Veterans Home at Narrabeen in New South Wales just prior to his death.

Read about Southern Downs Military History here.