The Australian Boer War Memorial
Anzac Parade Canberra

 
 
Trooper (later Corporal, MM) William McDonald

Ancestor Details

Name of Ancestor: William James Grant -AKA William John or William Grant McDonald

Ancestor's date of birth: 01/01/1876

Ancestor's date of death: 01/04/1921

Cause of Death: Tuberculosis

Service Number: 20178

Colony or State of enlistment: Not applicable, Place of Enlistment: Capetown South Africa

Unit: 2nd Brabant's Horse

Rank attained in Boer War: TPR, Date Effective: 1896?

Highest Rank attained (if served after war): CPL, Date Effective: 01/09/1916

Murray Page: Not applicable, did not serve in an Australian unit.

Contingent: Not applicable.

Ship: Did not need to treavel to South Africa (he was already there).

Other Boer War Service: He also served in the Capetown Highlanders for 8 years and Afrikaner Corp, and Matebele War 1896 to 1897. Australian Militia for 7 years including 78th Infantry, Adelaide Rifles, 1906 to 1914.

Memorial details: He is buried at Box Hill Cemetery Melbourne VIC. His name appears on the Bolder War Memorial Bolder WA from his WW1 Service.

Awards/Decorations: QSA with clasps Cape Colony, OFS, Transvaal, SA 1901. BSAC Medal clasp Rhodesia 1896, Military Medal 1914-1915 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal.

 

Personal Characteristics: William James Grant Mcdonald was born in Capetown South Africa (his father had served in the 74th Foot). He was a cook and pastrycook. Height: 1.65 m Weight: 59.9 kg (1915).

Reasons to go and fight: A soldier in South Africa with combat experience.

Details of service in war: He served as a member of the Afrikaner Corps under van Rensburg during the 2nd Matabele war 1896 and probably the Mashonaland action 1897. He was eligible for the British South Africa Company's medal and clasps. He served 3 years with the Cape Town Highlanders including the commencement of the Boer War where the Highlanders were deployed on asset protection. He then did a tour of duty with 2nd battalion of Brabant's Horse.

Service and life after the Boer War: Migrating to Australia after the war he spent 7 years in the Militia in Adelaide including the 78th Infantry the Adelaide Rifles the 2 years in the Militia in Melbourne. He enlisted in the AIF 21 August 1914 from Boulder WA and served with the 1st Division train then both Nos 1 and 2 Tunnelling Companies including Hill 60. He reached the rank of Corporal and was awarded the Military Medal (MM) in 1918.

Descendant Details

Name of Descendant: Erin Ritter, Hallam VIC
Relationship to Ancestor: Great Grand Daughter

Name of Descendant:Heather O'Brien, Mt Eliza VIC
Relationship to Ancestor: Great Grand Daughter

 


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