PRIVATE / SAPPER CHARLES PARNELL McDONALD
2224 – 21st Battalion / 2nd Pioneers / 2nd Tunnelling Company
Charles Parnell McDonald was born in Lexton, near Avoca, Victoria about 1888 the son of Alexander and Sarah (nee Marks) McDonald. Their large family consisted of Mary Jane (1872-1949), Lucy Ann (1875), Alexander Archibald (1875-76), Joseph John (1877), Keith (1878), Sarah (1880-1963), Evelyne (1884-1886), Gladstone Serson (1886), Charles Parnell (1888) and Cerella Octavia (1890).
Charles was educated at Doctor’s Creek and later at Lexton School. Occupation was a Leading Shunter for Railways. In 1914 he was a railway employee residing at 33 Peel Street, Melbourne, Vic and later transferred to Benalla, Vic.
At Broadmeadows camp in Melbourne, Vic the twenty-six year old enlisted for active service abroad on June 26, 1915. Passing the medical examination personal information taken shows he was 170cms (5ft 7ins) tall, weighed 79.5kgs (175lbs) with a chest expansion of 102-109cms (40-43ins). Complexion was fair with blue eyes and fair hair. Distinctive marks were an appendix scar, scar on his right shin and three vaccination points on his left arm. Religious faith was Roman Catholic. Next-of-kin nominated was his father Alexander McDonald of Hyde Park, Lexton, Vic.
Basic training commenced on June 29, 1915 with the Depot Battalion concluding about July 26 after he was medically re-examined on July 21 at the training camp at Seymour, Vic. These details differ showing his height of 172cms (5ft 7½ins) and after a month’s training his weight was down to 76.8kgs (169lbs). Complexion was noted as fair with blue eyes and brown hair. He was assigned to the 4th Reinforcement to the 21st Battalion from July 26 until September 7 then transferred to the 8th Reinforcement for the 14th Battalion. His regimental number was 2224 in the rank of Private.
On August 24, 1915 Private McDonald, as a member of the 9th Reinforcement for the 21st Battalion, wrote to Base Records advising of the death of his father who was named as his next-of-kin and requested alteration to his brother Joseph John McDonald, hotel-keeper of Post Office, Amherst via Maryborough, Vic.
A service notation states he did not embark for overseas service on September 10, 1915 but no reason is given.
Private McDonald embarked from Melbourne, Vic on September 27, 1915 on board HMAT Hororata arriving at Fremantle, W.A. on October 5 for an overnight stay and departed Western Australia the next day. After a voyage of thirty days the ship docked at the Suez on October 28, 1915 and the troops moved to Alexandria. On January 7, 1916 he was taken on strength with the 21st Battalion at Tel-el-Kebir.
Re-assigned to the 2nd Pioneer Battalion on March 13, 1916 he was taken on strength at Moasca. The troops were joining the British Expeditionary Forces in France and departed from Alexandria on March 19 arriving at Marseilles on March 26, 1916.
On July 14, 1916 he was transferred to the 2nd Tunnelling Company who were working in the field at Armentieres in France.
Five days later Sapper McDonald was killed in action on July 19, 1916.
The Weekly Report of the 2nd Tunnelling Company for the period ending July 19, 1916 gives only brief details:
He was buried at Rue-de-Bois Military Cemetery, four and a half miles south-west of Armentieres in Row F, grave no. 22 by Reverend Cyril J.P. Gilbert who was attached to the 60th Battalion.
His name appeared in the Casualty List published in the Examiner on Saturday August 5, 1916:
Military Headquarters did not have the exact date of death on their records and it was not until September 27, 1916 that the Field Service Report was completed with the date of death and burial place.
On August 10, 1916 the General Superintendent of the Transportation Branch of Victorian Railways wrote to Base Records requesting the name and address of C.P. McDonald’s next-of-kin and if their records showed he was a member of the Department prior to his enlistment. A reply was sent on August 16 affirming his occupation as Leading Shunter and the name and address of his next-of-kin.
E.S. Herring, Solicitor of Maryborough, Vic wrote to Base Records on October 13, 1916 requesting information for probate purposes of enlistment and embarkation dates and proof of death. Details were sent from the Records Office on October 21, 1916 forwarding Certificate of Report of Death and giving enlistment and embarkation dates but advised no date of death was available at present.
The Argus on Monday October 16, 1916 carried the following notice:
E.S. Herring acknowledged receipt of their last reply on October 25, 1916 and requested another Certificate of Report of Death for Life Insurance purposes. This was sent on November 1, 1916.
E.S. Herring wrote again on October 25, 1916 inquiring if the exact date of death had come to hand and if the deceased’s deferred pay was payable to his Estate as he was acting on behalf of his Executors. Base Records informed him on November 16 that matters connected with pay were to be dealt with by the Paymaster at Victoria Barracks, Melbourne, Vic on receipt from London of his pay book and cash statement. They suggested communicating with the Officer direct to prevent any further delays.
The Irish National Forester’s Benefit Society of 58 Bouverie Street, Carlton, Vic also wrote on October 5, 1916 requesting information of date and place of enlistment, name of next-of-kin and date of death. In Base Records response dated November 16 gave information they required but advised date of death had ‘no record yet available’.
The Benefit Society wrote again on November 29, 1916 asking when the date and place of death was available to forward this to them. A Certificate of the Report of Death was sent on December 5, 1916 from Base Records.
His sister-in-law Mrs J.J. McDonald of Amherst wrote to Base Records on November 2, 1916 stating that her husband received a letter from Mr Neil Patten dated August 19, 1916 in which he stated that a packet was found on the deceased when killed in action and was to be forwarded by registered mail by their officer. It contained a Pocket Book which enclosed a codicil to his Will and was required by their Lawyer before he could continue with this Will. She requested if this could be traced or had been sent to Mr J.J. McDonald (next-of-kin) P.O. Amherst. On November 17 Base Records replied that no advice had been sent regarding the despatch of any personal effects, pay book or Will with regards to the late Sapper McDonald. Adding that anything taken from his person in the Field was not likely to be forwarded direct to them as Military practice states anything recovered is handed over to Authorities, who would transmit this along with other personal effects of the deceased from other places. Records understood that several shipments were en route to Australia and if anything came to hand would be promptly transmitted.
Base Records formally advised Mr J.J. McDonald at Amherst, via Talbot, Vic additional details in accordance with Department policy on the regrettable loss of his late brother No. 2224 Sapper C.P. McDonald, 2nd Tunnelling Company on January 11, 1917. The date of death and place of burial were advised.
A typed and certified copy of his Will dated October 27, 1915 from the Pocket Book was issued in which he stated his property be disposed of according to his Will held by Jas. B. Douglas of Talbot, Vic and wished £5.0.0 be paid to Jas. D. Rush Esq. of 5 Rose Street, West Brunswick, Vic whose name was not mentioned in the said Will.
E.S. Herring wrote on January 15, 1917 appealing if any papers pertaining to the soldier had come to hand. He made reference that a mate of the deceased’s had written from the front stating that there appeared in his pay book with a direction or addition thereto, and the winding up of the Estate was ‘hung up’ pending getting this pay book of the deceased. Base Records replied on January 18, 1917 to his communication that the soldier’s Will was received from the Front and forwarded to the District Paymaster at Victoria Barracks, Melbourne, Vic for transmission to the legatee.
On January 31, 1917 personal effects were forwarded to the Executor of the Will, Mr J.B. Douglas of Talbot, Vic who receipted delivery on February 7, 1917. The package contained the following items:
Identity disc, purse, knife, notebook, Devotional book, Crucifix, cigarette case, wallet, cards, railway pass, 5 Battalion colours, scapula, Lodge receipts, 2 Railway Insurance Receipts, 2 Railway notices, Photo and postal receipt.
Base Records received a letter dated February 27, 1918 from the Commissioner of Pensions which contained correspondence from Lucy A. Young of 127 Hanbury Street, Kalgoorlie, W.A. dated February 18, 1918 who wrote regarding her late brother’s Will as she had heard from an aunty in Beaufort, Vic that she was left so much in the Will. In their reply Base Records suggested she contact Mr J.B. Douglas of Talbot, Vic as he held her brother’s Will.
On October 25, 1920 Base Records sent out their Circular in accordance with the Deceased Soldiers’ Estates Act 1918 to his brother John regarding next-of-kin for distribution of medals. The letter was re-addressed and forwarded to the Pyrenees Hotel, Lexton, Vic. Mr J.J. McDonald replied on November 16, 1920 that he was next-of-kin as the eldest brother and both parents were deceased and noted his change of address.
Three photographs of his grave were sent on April 11, 1921 the next-of-kin and receipt was stamped April 16, 1921.
For his supreme sacrifice Private / Sapper 2224 Charles Parnell McDonald, 21st Battalion / 2nd Pioneers / 2nd Tunnelling Company was awarded the 1914/15 Star (19193), the British War Medal (19842) and the Victory Medal (19768).
The War Medal was forwarded to the Commandant (3rd Military District) for distribution on September 2, 1921 and the 1914/15 Star Medal on September 16. The Victory Medal was posted on January 9, 1923 and acknowledged by his brother.
The booklet ‘Where the Australians’ Rest’ accompanied by the Memorial Scroll (321301) was forwarded on September 13, 1921 and the Memorial Plaque (321301) was receipted on August 8, 1922.
His brother’s address in 1929 was Avoca Hotel, Avoca, Vic.
This extract was published in the book Australian’s Fighting Sons of the Empire:
His grave is located in Rue-de-Bois Military Cemetery, Fleurbaix, France in Section I, Row F, grave no. 22.
LEST WE FORGET