World War II veteran Donald McDonald remembered
A Townsville World War II veteran has been remembered as a “bit of a larrikin full of mischief”.
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A Townsville World War II veteran has been remembered as a “bit of a larrikin full of mischief”.
Donald McDonald died on September 16 aged 97.
He was a loving husband to Thelma, father to three, a grandfather to nine and a great grandfather to 18.
Donald’s daughter Sue Cryer said her father was left mentally scarred by the atrocities of war but was always happy and with a glint in his eye.
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“He would laugh at anything,” Sue said.
“He always had a pocket full of precious things: bottle tops, pens, chocolate coins, which would melt, serviettes and toys. He loved lollies but didn’t mind to share.”
Sue said her father had a love of orchids, which he developed in his later years. He particularly loved a vibrant red variety he called the sixpence.
The sixpence orchid Donald kept in a pot flowered shortly after he died.
“I’ve been watching it come up over the past two weeks. It’s a sign, it’s his way of showing he loves us,” Sue said.
Donald was born in Hornsby, NSW, in 1923 but later moved to Petersham.
He was 19 when he enlisted in Bathurst on March 27, 1943 and was attached with an artillery unit in Sydney that shelled Japanese submarines targeting ships off the NSW coast.
Donald later joined an infantry unit and fought against Japanese forces on Indonesia’s Morotai Island towards the end of the war. Sue said Donald witnessed one of his mates get killed in front of him.
She said he was often too upset to march on Anzac Day but still commemorated it with close family.
Donald and his one great-grandson, Dontay who lives in Cairns, were unable to commemorate Anzac Day this year due to COVID-19 restrictions.
In a speech at Donald’s funeral, Dontay thanked his great grandfather for his service.
“You are my hero,” he said.
Donald was remembered by his family as a tough, talented man. “He was known to all the suppliers and work places around Townsville as ‘The Apprentice’, always interested,” Donald’s son-in-law Ken Cryer said.
“(Donald) was like a father to me. He taught me how to fish, hang wallpaper and tried to teach me how to paint. In fact it was common for him to be hanging on the end of a rope 30 feet up a tree and me with a rope tied to the tow bar of our car.
“And of course he taught me how to concrete.”
Donald’s funeral was held on September 21.
Originally published as World War II veteran Donald McDonald remembered