McDONALD, Reuben Charles

Reuben was born at Coonabarabran NSW in 1893.  He was a twenty two year old Labourer living at Oakey Creek, Bonshaw NSW when he enlisted in December 1915.  He joined with other district men to form the First Contingent of The Kurrajongs who left Inverell together on 12 January 1916.  After arriving at the Armidale Camp and becoming a member of the 33rd Battalion, C Company, training was undertaken prior to departure from Australia in May 1916.

The Battalion arrived in England after nine weeks at sea and further training occurred at Salisbury Plain. This Battalion became part of the 3rd Division which was sent to France in November and initially camped at Armentieres. Reuben was severely gassed in April 1918 and invalided to England where he was hospitalised at Stratford on Avon.  He returned to France in September and a few weeks later was wounded a second time.

Private McDonald returned to Australia in June 1919 and was medically discharged in November. In 1923 he married Rubina Hibbs at Manilla and lived in various NSW towns until his death in September 1954.  He is remembered at Inverell where his name is inscribed on the town’s Honor Roll

Photo: contributed by family