Australian Army Veterinary Corps
John James MCDONALD
Trooper (earlier records: Private)
Died 30 April 1918 · Age uncertain
Age discrepancy: The Canadian attestation’s stated age of 32 in 1914 supports birth around 1882; its handwritten birth-year entry appears to read 1884. The commemorative record also gives 1882. The birth-year reading remains unconfirmed. We have not been able to confirm the exact age.
His story
John James McDonald was born at Glace Bay, Cape Breton, Canada, and worked as a baker. He was medically examined at Perth on 16 December 1914 and signed his attestation and oath on 17 December. At enlistment he described himself as unmarried and named his mother in Canada as next of kin.
He served in veterinary sections and transferred to the 6th Mobile Veterinary Section on 7 October 1916. His service record documents malaria and several hospital admissions. In 1917 he was classified for restricted duties and attached to 14th Australian General Hospital as a hospital orderly.
McDonald died at 14th Australian General Hospital, Port Said, on 30 April 1918 from a fractured skull. An inquiry held on 1 May found that he had fallen from Ward 4E to the floor below. It attributed no blame or neglect to any person, but identified unprotected openings and unguarded windows as a danger to vulnerable patients.
He was buried at Port Said Military Cemetery on 30 April 1918, with Reverend Peter O’Hare officiating. The contemporary burial reference was grave 17 B.
Before the war
- Nationality
- Australian (Canadian-born)
- Place of birth
- Glace Bay, Nova Scotia, Canada
- Occupation
- Baker
- Family
- Mother in Cape Breton, Canada, named at enlistment; described himself as unmarried in December 1914
Military service
- Rank recorded
- Trooper (earlier records: Private)
- Service number
- 656
- Corps or service
- Australian Army Veterinary Corps
- Unit
- 6th Mobile Veterinary Section
- Attachment
- 14th Australian General Hospital; hospital orderly duties in 1917
Death and burial
- Date of death
- 30 April 1918
- Age
- Uncertain
- Place of death
- 14th Australian General Hospital, Port Said, Egypt
- Recorded cause
- Fractured skull following a fall from a hospital ward
- Cemetery or memorial
- Port Said War Memorial Cemetery
- Grave reference
- 17 B (contemporary burial record)
Where he worked
- 6th Australian Mobile Veterinary Section
The supplied service record dates his transfer to the 6th Mobile Veterinary Section to 7 October 1916. His later orderly attachment was to a human general hospital.
A recorded posting supplies context for his service. Exact duties and presence during a particular incident require their own evidence.
Connected men
- Percival EVESSONAlso recorded with 6th Australian Mobile Veterinary Section
Sources and further reading
Cite this biography
Graham Hodgkins and Pete Matthews, “John James Mcdonald”, Veterinary Virtual War Memorial, https://vetsremembered.org/people/john_james_mcdonald/.
Contribute information
Can you establish McDonald's civil birth entry at Glace Bay or identify a portrait?