Born at Copeland near Barrington NSW in 1891 to John and Mary (nee McInnes), John William McDonald was the 3rd of their 7 children.
Working as a stockman, John enlisted with the 6th Light Horse Regiment on the 14th of September 1914, aged 23 years. He enlisted with Frank Mathews, also from the Gloucester District.
As a Trooper with ‘B’ Squadron, John was promoted to Corporal (provisional) on the 17th of September and was substantiated as a Farrier on the 10th of December 1914. John embarked with the 6th Light Horse Regiment aboard ‘HMAT A29 Suevic’ at Sydney on the 21st of December 1914, disembarking in Egypt on the 1st of February 1915. Considered unsuitable for initial operations at Gallipoli the 6th Light Horse were deployed there as infantry in late May 1915 to reinforce the 1st Australian Infantry Division and were responsible for the far-right sector of the ANZAC line.
Having stayed behind in Egypt, on the 8th of July at his own request, he reverted to Private at Maadi, to go to the front line. On the 13th of July he joined the ‘B’ Squadron at ANZAC Cove. He was again promoted to Lance Corporal on the 8th of September and was promoted to Corporal (provisional) on the 17th of September.
The men played a defensive role until their withdrawal from the peninsular on the 20th of December 1915. Unfortunately, John was not with them. Having suffered bomb wounds to both legs, he ‘Died of Wounds’ at the 2nd Light Horse Field Ambulance on the 16th of November 1915, aged 24. John’s burial was presided over by Rev. Father Mullin.
