DONALDSON, Leonard

Leonard, a son of Edward and Emily Donaldson, was born at Bukkulla north of Inverell. He was twenty one and working as a labourer at Ashford when he enlisted at Toowoomba, Qld, in November 1915.

Leonard, known as Jack, became a member of the 5th Light Horse Regiment, 16th Reinforcement and sailed from Australia for Egypt on HMAT A47 Mashobra in April 1916. Several weeks later he was sent to England and transferred to the 119th H. Battery in October. The following year he went to France and transferred to 12th Army Brigade. During September 1917 he was wounded in action in Belgium and transferred to England for treatment of a gunshot wound to his face.

After some time at the 2nd Birmingham War Hospital, Northfield he returned to Australia and was medically discharged in May 1918. Leonard was granted a pension of three pounds per fortnight. He married in 1923 and worked as a farmer in the Texas district where he died in 1980.

Leonard’s name is inscribed on the Ashford Honor Roll.