Surname:	McAlpin
Forename(s):	Donald
Rank:	Private
Service number:	2220
Regiment:	21st Australian Infantry A.I F.
Date of death:	26 August 1916 Aged 27
Place of death:	Somme
Buried Commemorated	Unknown Villers- Bretonneux Memorial –  Kingussie War Memorial, Glenfinnan War Memorial and St Andrew’s United Free Church Memorial now in Kingussie Parish Church and Panel 94 Australian War Memorial, Canberra.

Background

Donald was born on 9 August 1889 at Toll, Blarmachfoldach in the Parish of Kilmallie to John McAlpin, Gamekeeper and Jane McAlpin (m.s. Cameron).

Donald’s mother, Jane, aged 28, died on 12 October 1890 at Iron Lodge, Black Corries, Glencoe when Donald was just a year old. The 1891 Census shows him living with his maternal aunt at Toll. His father, John, remarried in 26 December 1895 to Margaret (Maggie) Livingston at St Munda’s Church, Ballachulish.

In the 1901 Census Donald was living with his family at Kinlochbeg, Glencoe where his father was described as a Forester. The 1911 Census shows that Donald was working as a Ghillie at Glenaladale (Moidart Ward) – north side of Loch Shiel in Moidart.  Donald emigrated to Australia arriving in Melbourne on 14 August 1913 where he subsequently worked as a farm labourer. In 1917 Donald’s father and stepmother Margaret, lived at Kerrow, Kingussie and subsequently at Benmore, Kingussie. Donald had one older and two younger sisters and four younger brothers.

War Record

Donald enlisted in Australia on 29 July 1915. His unit embarked from Melbourne, Victoria, on board HMAT Hororata on 27 September 1915. At that time his father John was working at Kildonan, Isle of Eigg. The Battilaon arrived in France in March 1916, from Egypt.  Donald was Killed in Action on 26 August 1916 aged 27. His body was not recovered and he is commemorated on the Villers-Bretonneux Memorial which lists the names of 10,885 Australians who were killed in France and who have no known grave.