DONALDSON, Rupert John
| Service Numbers: | 2722, N24012, NX100041 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 12 June 1915, Sydney, New South Wales |
| Last Rank: | Captain |
| Last Unit: | 1st Australian Corps Headquarters |
| Born: | Nine Mile Creek, Victoria, Australia, 11 November 1899 |
| Home Town: | Newtown (NSW), Inner West, New South Wales |
| Schooling: | Fort Street Public School and Sydney Technical High School, New South Wales, Australia |
| Occupation: | Clerk |
| Died: | Natural causes, North Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, 25 January 1952, aged 52 years |
| Cemetery: |
Northern Suburbs Memorial Gardens and Crematorium, NSW |
| Memorials: | Sydney Technical High School WW1 Roll Of Honour |
World War 1 Service
| 12 Jun 1915: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 2722, Sydney, New South Wales | |
|---|---|---|
| 9 Aug 1915: | Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 2722, 2nd Infantry Battalion, Enlistment/Embarkation WW1, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '7' embarkation_place: Sydney embarkation_ship: HMAT Runic embarkation_ship_number: A54 public_note: '' | |
| 9 Aug 1915: | Embarked AIF WW1, Private, 2722, 2nd Infantry Battalion, HMAT Runic, Sydney | |
| 4 Nov 1915: | Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 2722, 2nd Infantry Battalion, ANZAC / Gallipoli | |
| 16 Feb 1916: | Transferred AIF WW1, Private, 54th Infantry Battalion | |
| 20 Jul 1916: | Wounded AIF WW1, Private, 2722, 54th Infantry Battalion, Fromelles (Fleurbaix), GSW (left hip and leg) | |
| 12 Apr 1917: | Discharged AIF WW1, Private, 2722, 54th Infantry Battalion |
World War 2 Service
| 8 Jul 1941: | Enlisted N24012, General / Motor Transport Company/ies (WW2), Paddington, New South Wales | |
|---|---|---|
| 27 Jul 1942: | Enlisted NX100041 | |
| 11 Dec 1945: | Discharged Captain, NX100041, 1st Australian Corps Headquarters |
Rupert John Donaldson
The soldier represented on our Honour Board that I’d like to talk to you about was perhaps the youngest of our soldiers to fight in World War One. Rupert John Donaldson was born on 11 November 1899, in Wunghnu, Victoria. He attended Sydney Technical High School as a student, and he once wore the uniform and knew the motto as we all do today. At age 15 Donaldson had light brown hair, blue eyes and was 161 centimetres tall – this would most likely have made him smaller than most of his peers. Donaldson was nicknamed “Squatter” by his father as he was always seen kneeling or squatting by his desk. Donaldson was just like any Techie sitting in this auditorium; played handball, talked to his mates, worried about exams, looked forward to weekly sport, and looked forward to the holidays just like all of us.
He was 15 years old when he enlisted to fight. Only 15 years old. I am 15 years old – and I’m sure I speak for many people in this auditorium when I say that I could never imagine enlisting to fight in World War One. I cannot imagine being on a troop ship with men I’d never met and with no family support. I cannot imagine being in a country like Egypt all by myself, taking in the new sights, smells and peoples. All by myself. I cannot imagine landing on the shores of Gallipoli, not knowing fully what lay ahead but imagining the bombs, the guns, and the fear of death. I cannot imagine sleeping in Shrapnel Gulley, in the cold and terror of war. I cannot begin to fathom the random, senseless deaths that Rupert John Donaldson would have witnessed. If that was not enough, Donaldson was transferred from the shores of Gallipoli to the trenches of the Western Front where he took part in the Battle of Fromelles.
The Battle of Fromelles started on 19 July 1916 and is stated by historians as one of the bloodiest battles Australian troops fought in during the First World War. Rupert Donaldson as a 16-year-old was there. Australian and British soldiers fought over open ground in broad daylight and under direct heavy fire from the German lines. Over 5,500 Australians became casualties. Almost 2,000 of them were killed in action or died of wounds. On 20 July 1916, his official war records show, that Donaldson was shot three times – these bullets went into his upper left leg, his hip and his buttocks. He was transported to England via ship for treatment and he was discharged three months later for return to Australia. He arrived back home in Sydney on 3 December 1916.
Through my research of Rupert John Donaldson, I have come to a greater understanding of the tragedy of war, the sacrifice of individuals, and the true spirit of the first Anzacs. 101 years ago, Donaldson participated in the first dedication and Honour Board assembly conducted in this school for the first Anzacs. Today we honour and remember Rupert John Donaldson for his service and sacrifice.
Eric Napper
Year 10 Elective History
Submitted 1 June 2021 by Robert Devlin
Biography contributed by Robert Devlin
Embarkation Roll (www.awm.gov.au) has incorrectly recorded Christian name as ROBERT
__________________________________________________________________________________
Biography contributed by Robert Devlin
Rupert John Donaldson
The soldier represented on our Honour Board that I’d like to talk to you about was perhaps the youngest of our soldiers to fight in World War One. Rupert John Donaldson was born on 11 November 1899, in Wunghnu, Victoria. He attended Sydney Technical High School as a student, and he once wore the uniform and knew the motto as we all do today. At age 15 Donaldson had light brown hair, blue eyes and was 161 centimetres tall – this would most likely have made him smaller than most of his peers. Donaldson was nicknamed “Squatter” by his father as he was always seen kneeling or squatting by his desk. Donaldson was just like any Techie sitting in this auditorium; played handball, talked to his mates, worried about exams, looked forward to weekly sport, and looked forward to the holidays just like all of us.
He was 15 years old when he enlisted to fight. Only 15 years old. I am 15 years old – and I’m sure I speak for many people in this auditorium when I say that I could never imagine enlisting to fight in World War One. I cannot imagine being on a troop ship with men I’d never met and with no family support. I cannot imagine being in a country like Egypt all by myself, taking in the new sights, smells and peoples. All by myself. I cannot imagine landing on the shores of Gallipoli, not knowing fully what lay ahead but imagining the bombs, the guns, and the fear of death. I cannot imagine sleeping in Shrapnel Gulley, in the cold and terror of war. I cannot begin to fathom the random, senseless deaths that Rupert John Donaldson would have witnessed. If that was not enough, Donaldson was transferred from the shores of Gallipoli to the trenches of the Western Front where he took part in the Battle of Fromelles.
The Battle of Fromelles started on 19 July 1916 and is stated by historians as one of the bloodiest battles Australian troops fought in during the First World War. Rupert Donaldson as a 16-year-old was there. Australian and British soldiers fought over open ground in broad daylight and under direct heavy fire from the German lines. Over 5,500 Australians became casualties. Almost 2,000 of them were killed in action or died of wounds. On 20 July 1916, his official war records show, that Donaldson was shot three times – these bullets went into his upper left leg, his hip and his buttocks. He was transported to England via ship for treatment and he was discharged three months later for return to Australia. He arrived back home in Sydney on 3 December 1916.
Through my research of Rupert John Donaldson, I have come to a greater understanding of the tragedy of war, the sacrifice of individuals, and the true spirit of the first Anzacs. 101 years ago, Donaldson participated in the first dedication and Honour Board assembly conducted in this school for the first Anzacs. Today we honour and remember Rupert John Donaldson for his service and sacrifice.
Eric Napper
Year 10 Elective History
Click images to start slideshow.