Private Benjamin McDonald

Rank or Title

Date of Birth

1899

Date of Death

21 Sep 1918

Employer

Diamond Foundry, Luton

Service Number

30131

Place of Birth

Shap
United Kingdom

World War I Address

64 Dallow Road
Luton
United Kingdom

Place of Death

France

Grave Location

Unicorn Cemetery
Vendhuile
France

War Memorial Location

Soldier or Civilian

  • Soldier

Source

The Luton News , 10th October 1918
Pte Benjamin McDonald

Pte Benjamin McDonald, 30131, The Queen's (Royal West Surrey Regiment), was killed in action in France on September 21st, 1918. He had joined up at the age of 19 and had been in France only five weeks.

One of his comrades wrote to parents Benjamin and Susan McDonald at 64 Dallow Road, Luton, to inform them that their son and his comrades were in a dug-out on outpost duty when a shell burst on it. Pte McDonald and another man were killed outright.

Benjamin was born at Shap in what was then Westmoreland, of Scottish parents from Aberdeen. He arrived as a child with his family in Luton and was a pupil at Dunstable Road School. He played football for the school, winning several medals, and went on to become a promising centre forward with one or two local junior football clubs. He became captain of Trinity FC and on several occasions had represented Luton away from the town. He was also a cricketer, but football was his first love.

He had served his apprenticeship as an engineer with Mr Worsley, of Melson Street, but later worked at the Diamond Foundry.

Individual Location

Pte Benjamin McDonald

Author: Deejaya

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