[BIOGRAPHY]
Donald Mc Donald was born on 12th March 1878 into a Presbyterian family in Inverness. Prior to his enlistment at Plymouth on 29th March 1898 at age 20 he had been a railway porter. After seven years service which included his service during the Boer War in H.M.S. NIOBE he was transferred into the Royal fleet reserve on 1st October 1905.
He is then seen being mobilised for the Great War on 5th August 1914.
He served with the Plymouth division (Majestic) until until 14th August 1915 when he joined the crew of H.M.S. ”M28" in which he was killed in action during the Battle of Imbros on 20th January 1918 aged 39.
His late father had resided at: 11, Totscore, Uig, Isle of Skye.
His widow Eveline was at 31, Harcourt Drive, Dennistoun, Glasgow.
[THE MEDALS]
Queen's South Africa Medal: D. Mc DONALD Pte. R.M.L.I. H.M.S. NIOBE
1914-15 Star: PLY. 9079. Pte D. Mc DONALD. R.M.L.I.
War Medal: PLY. 9079. Pte D. Mc DONALD. R.M.L.I
Victory: (Blank) original absent.
[THE BATTLE OF IMBROS & "The Loss of HMS "M28"]
During most of her service in the First World War M28 was attached to the Aegean Squadron and tasked with coastal bombardment of Turkish positions. On 21 October 1915 she bombarded the Bulgarian port of Dedeagatch. On 20 January 1918, she had been stationed at Kusu Bay on the island of Imbros along with HMS Raglan, HMS Lizard, and HMS Tigress when she was attacked by two Turkish vessels.
The former SMS Goeben and SMS Breslau managed to trap M28 and Raglan in the bay and engage them in what became known as the Battle of Imbros. As a result of the battle M28 was sunk and suffered 11 of her crew killed while the rest were rescued by Allied vessels.
Donald rests with eternal honour at Lancashire Landing Cemetery.
A very unusual group to a Victorian Royal Marine killed in the Great War With research documents and copy service sheet.
£795