The AIF Project

George Leslie Valentine McDONALD

Regimental number6149
Place of birthWhyte Yarcowie South Australia
ReligionMethodist
OccupationCarpenter
AddressQuebec Street, Midland Junction, Western Australia
Marital statusSingle
Age at embarkation28
Next of kinFather, John McDonald, Day Dawn, Western Australia
Enlistment date8 November 1915
Rank on enlistmentSapper
Unit name4th Field Company Engineers, Reinforcement 3
AWM Embarkation Roll number14/23/3
Embarkation detailsUnit embarked from Sydney, New South Wales, on board HMAT A54 Runic on 20 January 1916
Rank from Nominal RollSapper
Unit from Nominal Roll15th Field Company Engineers
Recommendations (Medals and Awards)

Military Medal


Recommendation date: 16 October 1917

FateReturned to Australia 1 June 1919
Medals

Military Medal

'At 2.15 p.m. on 8.10.17, when the Bellewarde plank road was blocked by a shell crater, and traffic was hung up under heavy fire, these three Sappers [McDONALD, 7123 A.J. WILSON, and 2833 R.S. WILSON] , who were passing the spot at the time, cleared a wagon from the crater, filled up the hole, replanked the road within half an hour, and enabled the large stream of traffic to move onwards, thus escaping casualties when the barrage moved back. Twenty-two shells fell within a radius of 30 yards during the time they were at work. These men continued throughout the day repairing the road as it was broken. Sapper McDONALD was in charge of the party.'
Source: 'Commonwealth Gazette' No. 75
Date: 23 May 1918

Other details

War service: Western Front

Medals: Military Medal, British War Medal, Victory Medal

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