William John Donald

Killed in Action on the 04/06/1915 at the 3rd Battle of Krithia, Gallipoli

The 1/2nd (Lowland) Field Company were part of the 29th Division. The 29th Division embarked at Avonmouth on the 16th - 22nd March 1915 and went via Malta to Alexandria. On the 7th April the first units to have arrived at Egypt began to re-embark for the move to Mudros, the deep water harbour at the island of Lemnos that was going to be used as a forward base for operations at Gallipoli. William and the Division landed at Cape Helles on Gallipoli on the 25/04/1915. He was Killed in Action at the 3rd Battle of Krithia on the 04/06/1915 : The 2nd Battalion of the Hampshire Regiment from the 29th Division, advancing along Fir Tree Spur alongside Gully Ravine, managed to advance but having lost contact with the Sikhs on their left were forced to defend along the bank of the ravine as well as to their front. Elsewhere, the 29th Division advance was held up with heavy casualties by Ottoman strongpoints that had survived the bombardment unscratched. SEE PHOTOS x 10 FOR THE 1/2nd (LOWLAND) FIELD COMPANY WAR DIARY APRIL - JUNE 1915. William is listed as JOHN WILLIAM on the Coatbridge Memorial and in the 1919 book. He is also remembered in the St. Augustine's Parish (book) Roll of Honour. See photos for William's Medal Index Card, his Army Register of Soldiers Effects, his Service Medal and Award Rolls, his listing on the Ireland Casualties of WW1, his CWGC Grave Registration x 2, his Headstone Report x 3, William's Pension Records x 2, Twelve Tree Copse Cemetery, Special Memorial, the Larne War Memorial, William's name on the Larne War Memorial and the Royal Engineers Cap Badge. William is remembered on a Special Memorial. It states "KNOWN TO BE BURIED IN THIS CEMETERY" and "THEIR GLORY SHALL NOT BE BLOTTED OUT". Finally, see photos for Newspaper clippings x 3 (Coatbridge Leader x 2 and Airdrie and Coatbridge Advertiser x 1), PHOTOS x 45 FOR THE 29th DIVISION BOOK FROM JANUARY 1915 UNTIL THE DAY WILLIAM FELL and PHOTOS x 13 FOR THE 29th DIVISION ORDER OF BATTLE (the Division he was with when he died).