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William Smith Donaldson

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William's Gravemarker (image courtesy of Charlie, findagrave.com)

Military Information

  • Date of enlistment:
  • Place of enlistment:
  • Service no: 593/DA
  • Rank: Trimmer
  • Service Occupation:
  • Awards:
  • Regiment/Service: H.M. Trawler Limewold
  • Unit/Ship: Royal Naval Reserve
  • Place of Death: HMS Egmont, the Naval Base in Grand Harbour Malta.
  • Age at Death: 20
  • Date of Death: 23.01.1917
  • Burial Country: Malta
  • Cemetery: Malta (Capuccini) Naval Cemetery
  • Grave/Mem Ref no: Prot. 339.

Personal Information

  • Date of Birth:
  • Place of Birth: Dundee
  • Address: 45 Annfield Road, Dundee
  • Occupation:
  • Mother:

    Margaret Donaldson, 45 Annfield Rd, Dundee

  • Father:

    James Donaldson, 45 Annfield Rd, Dundee

  • Siblings:

    David

  • Spouse:
  • Children:

More about William Smith Donaldson

William was the brother of Pte David Donaldson, 148611, 4th Battalion Canadian Machine Gun Corps. David survived the war and died 04.01.1974.

William Smith Donaldson   593/DA   H.M. Trawler Limewold

DONALDSON―Suddenly, at Malta, on the 23d January, 1917, William Smith Donaldson, aged 19, Royal Naval Reserve, second youngest son of James Donaldson.  (American papers please copy).

Dundee People’s Journal 10th February 1917

William S Donaldson was the son of Mr James and Mrs Margaret Donaldson of 45 Annfield Road, Hawkhill, Dundee and was born in the city. In August 1914 he volunteered to join the Royal Naval Reserve in Grimsby where he resided in the Seaman’s Home. He was drafted to first to HMS Halcyon a old sloop based in Great Yarmouth and then to HMS Zaria, a Merchant ship requisitioned by the Royal Navy and based in Scapa Flow, Orkney and served in the crews of HM Trawlers Virginian and Bermuda. In December 1915 he was drafted to HMS Egmont, the Naval Base in Grand Harbour Malta. His service record states that William Donaldson died from a self inflicted bullet wound to the heart. He is buried in the Capuchini Naval Cemetery, Malta.

Iain Stewart and Iain Birnie

Additional information supplied by Gary Thomson and Michael Caldwell

Further information supplied by Iain Stewart and Iain Birnie

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