News:

Have you visited the Battalion histories on our website? Click Here


There is much more information available on our website: Click Here

Main Menu

William McDonald Manchester Regiment no 2065 died 1915 in Gallipoli

Started by Sue O, March 08, 2019, 11:08:52 AM

Previous topic - Next topic

Sue O

Hello, I am new to this group and was hoping for help to find details of my Great Grandad ..William McDonald.
Here are the details I have found up to now..
Birth St Catherine's Wigan
Death 16 Aug 1915 Gallipoli
Enlisted Wigan
Rank Private
Regiment Manchester Regiment
Battalion 1st 5th Battalion
Regimental number 2065
Died of wounds
Balkan Theatre.

mack

hiya sue
your gt grandfather was wounded on 6th august 1915 and sent to Alexandria hospital,egypt,unfortunately his wound became infected and he died of tetanus,the hospital chaplain wrote to his parents and sisters at 38 Bolton st,wigan
he was a miner at low green colliery
as far as I know,william was unmarried,he left what money he had to Catherine bailey[kate]and children,were he and kate unmarried parents,a source says he was 22yrs old but I think he may have been slightly older
there was a photo of him in the wigan examiner on 16-10-1915
his brother Thomas was serving in the Northumberland fusiliers and another brother john in the merchant navy

mack

Sue O

Hi Mack, thank you so much for your reply and information. you have answered my query regarding Alexandria, I was confused by that bit.
William was unmarried but had at least one daughter 'Mary' my Grandma. He could also have been the father of Elsie . I have both birth certificates and no father is named.
Kate was born 24th Jan 1883 at some point she changed her name to Catherine hence both names on the war gratuity paper. My Gran told me he was her father but she never met him because she was born 7th April 1914 .
I am delighted you have given me so much more information and can't thank you enough.
I would love to see the photograph of him so will try and find it now.
Sue

mack

hiya sue
google wigan archives,click on browse archive then click on WW1 records,left side of the page it will highlight in green soldiers records,type in macdonald[not McDonald]and theres your photo,william left his money to kate AND children,that says to me that both lasses were his girls,elsie was born in 1910,in 1911 both elsie and kate were in wigan workhouse.


mack

Sue O

Mack

You are an absolute star and have made me and my 2nd cousin very very happy... thank you thank you thank you !!!!!!!

Sue