From 12 Regent-street, Preston, McDonald was alternatively listed as an agricultural student and a cheese-maker on embarkation.
Somewhat unique in our archives in that he served in Egypt and Palestine with the Camel Corps rather than a Light Horse unit, McDonald died in the 14 General Hospital, Cairo on 8 May, 1917 from a septic haemorrhage of a knee wound suffered some eleven days earlier.
After his death, McDonald gained some minor fame as the author of a book, “Soldier Songs from Palestine” that was published posthumously (circa 1918, several of the poems appearing in the Preston Leader, February 8, 1919 after his father forwarded a copy to the editors.
View “Songs …” at National Archives of Australia
Link to the history of William Michael McDonald
Link to ozsportshistory.com downloads for WW1
