Donaldson, James

2261 Sergeant James Donaldson - Australian Army Medical Corps

James Donaldson was born in Fremantle in 1888 to William and Maria Donaldson. He was one of six siblings with, Jessie 1887, William 1889, Bertram 1891, Alan 1892 and Jean 1894.

He was initially educated in Fremantle but then the family moved to Claremont in the 1900's. They were living at Bay Road Claremont and after leaving school James took up an apprenticeship in pharmacy. He spent four years working as an apprentice chemist for John Baileau.

Prior to the Great War James had gone to South Australia. He enlisted at Oatlands South Australia on the 15th December 1914. The medical examiner passed him as fit for service and recorded his physical attributes as;

Height - 5 feet 9 inches tall;

Weight - 158lbs;

Chest Measurement - 35-38 inches;

Complexion - Bright;

Eyes - Blue;

Hair - Brown.

Upon his successful enlistment, James was sent to the Australian Army Medical Corps camp at Morphetville. He trained here for over a month and on the 23rd January 1915 was assigned to the 2nd Reinforcements to the 4th Field Ambulance. On the 15th February 1915 James and his unit departed from Adelaide aboard the transport ship Itonus and set sail for Egypt.

Unfortunately his records are sparse on details but it appears that after arriving in Egypt James was transferred into the 4th Field Ambulance and served at Gallipoli with this unit. He was appointed Lance Corporal on the 17th July 1915 and Acting Quarter Master Sergeant in September 1915.

He appears to have then returned to Egypt and worked at the AAMC base camp. In March 1916 James was transferred to the 2nd Australian Stationary Hospital and was appointed to the rank of Staff Sergeant. He served with them till the 6th August 1916 when he was transferred to the 3rd Light Horse Brigade Training Regiment and then the 8th Light Horse Regiment.

This attachment to the 8th Light Horse was cut short when James contracted Malaria. on the 20th September 1916 he was sent to the 24th Stationary Hospital at Port Said. After recovering he was sent to the AAMC Details at the 3rd Light Horse Training Regiment at Moascar.

James did not remain there long as the following day he was assigned to an Australian Medical Corps draft that was being sent to England. On arrival on the 3rd November 1916 he was sent to the AAMC training depot. On the 14th November 1916 James was transferred for duty to the AIF Depot Camp at Parkhouse.

James remained working for the Australian Army Medical Corps in England through the remainder of the war. In September 1917 he was transferred for duty to the 14th Training Battalion at Hurdcott. He remained there till April 1918 when he was transferred for duty to the 15th Training Battalion.

He worked here for the next few months but on the 3rd August 1918 was transferred to No.3 Command Depot Camp and he remained working at the camp hospital through to October 1918.

On the 6th November 1918 James was assigned to the Nursing staff on the hospital ship Gaika which left England and proceeded to Australia. He disembarked in Melbourne on the 29th December 1918.

After arriving in Melbourne, James then returned to South Australia and was discharged from the AIF on the 28th February 1919.

James resumed his chemist and nursing career in South Australia.

His father died on the 17th January 1921 in Claremont WA.

James returned to Western Australia in the 1930's and by 1937 was living in Victoria Park and was working as an orderly.

He was living in Victoria Park through the 1940's but then moved to Fremantle, residing at 10 Collie Street.

His mother died on the 31st July 1950 in Mt Hawthorn.

James died on the 6th June 1959 in Fremantle aged 59. He was buried in Karrakatta Cemetery plot Anglican NA 0096.