Donalson family
Pauline Priano has submitted the following:-
William Donalson was born at Gateshead, County Durham, in 1881 and baptised at St. James Church, Sunderland Road, August 31st, the second and one of 4 sons and 5 daughters, 4 children deceased gender unknown, born to Isaac Donalson native of Gateshead and his wife Elizabeth Clark Atkinson of South Shields both of whom were born in 1857. They were married in the district of Gateshead in 1875, Isaac was employed as a general labourer and they were living in 1881 at 28, Brunswick Terrace, later moving to 8, Old Ford Road where he had found work as a chemical labourer along with his eldest son John (14). John by the age of 24 had changed his line of employment and worked at the colliery as did William now 19 years of age, the following year, 1902, William’s mother died aged only 45 years.
William married at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church at Gateshead, February 4th 1905 Alice Hughes born September 10th 1886 at Felling, Gateshead and with whom he had 3 children, Joseph born 1906, Alice born February 23rd 1908 at 8, Back Wesley Terrace, Felling and who died a few weeks later and William Jnr in 1909.
On the outbreak of war he first enlisted, exact date unknown and was assigned as Private 13885 Durham Light Infantry, however, September 2nd 1914 he joined the 7th Battalion Border Regiment at Carlisle transferred under Recruiting Regulations as Private 14569, the regiment departed September 15th 1914 for Lulworth Cove in Dorset. They trained at Andover and moved to Bovington in January 1915 and then to Winchester by June. Their departure to France began July 15th 1915, landing at Boulogne, Private Donalson arrived July 27th 1915. The Division concentrated near St Omer and underwent trench familiarisation then took over a section of front line in the Southern part of the Ypres Salient after which he was given leave December 11th-18th 1915. In the Spring of 1916 the Regiment was in action near the Bluff on the Comines Canal, south east of Ypres, they then moved to the Somme and saw action in the Battle of Albert where the Division captured Fricourt, and participated during the Battle of Delville Wood. In 1917 they were in action in the Battle of Arras and the Third Battle of Ypres. September 22nd 1917 the 7th Battalion absorbed the dismounted Westmoreland and Cumberland Yeomanry and was renamed 7th (Westmoreland and Cumberland Yeomanry) Battalion. 1918 they were again in action on the Somme, the Battle of the Hindenburg Line and the Final Advance in Artois.
October 10th 1918 the now Lance Corporal Donalson was severely wounded and taken by the Field Ambulance to the 3rd Stationary Hospital at Rouen near the Normandy coast with the probability of being repatriated to the U. K. Five days later, October 15th 1918, Lance Corporal 14569 William Donalson Border Regiment died of his wounds and was interred at St. Sever Cemetery Extension, Rouen, Seine-Maritime, France, block S. grave II. F. 15. He was 37 years old.
His widow Alice received all monies due to him and a pension of 25 shillings 5 pence a week for herself and their two surviving children as of April 2nd 1919 and his awards of the 1914-15 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal sent to her at 28, Asher Street, Felling, Gateshead, County Durham.
William and Alice’s son Joseph Donalson died aged aged 43 years at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Gateshead, June 2nd 1949, William Donalson in 1991 aged 81 years also at Gateshead, County Durham.
Alice remarried in 1921 in the district of Gateshead to Michael Hay with whom she had a further 3 children, Michael born in 1922, Nora 1923 and John 1926. Alice Hay-Donalson nee Hughes died in the district of Gateshead in 1981 aged 94 years.
In God’s safe keeping. Rest In Peace.
William Donalson is remembered as W. Donaldson at Heworth on H92.03
