'Operations on Welsh and Bon Avis Ridges 28th September to 1st October 1918. For splendid courage and bravery in rescuing a wounded man under fire. On reaching the objective, a man of his Company was reported wounded and lying out about 60 yards in front of the trench which the Company was consolidating. Sergeant Donaldson immediately went out under very heavy rifle and machine gun fire and carried the wounded man safely back to out own lines. During the advance to this trench, the Company was held up by machine gun posts and this NCO led bombing parties which were successful in clearing the trench. By these successful operations he saved his Company many casualties. Throughout the whole of the operations he showed great gallantry and very fine qualities of leadership and personal bravery.'
Source: London Gazette
Date: 13 March 1919

Regimental number	7/1453
Date of birth	5 September 1892
Religion	Presbyterian
Occupation	Nurseryman
Address	Leith Valley, Dunedin
Marital status	Single
Height	5' 9.5"
Weight	140 lbs
Next of kin	Father, G W Donaldson, Leith Valley, Dunedin
Previous military service	Served in A Company, 4th Regiment; still serving at time of NZEF enlistment.
Enlistment date	1 July 1915
Place of enlistment	Trentham
Rank on embarkation	Trooper
Enlistment status	Volunteer
Unit name	New Zealand Expeditionary Force, 6th Reinforcements, Canterbury Mounted Rifles
Embarkation details	Unit embarked from Wellington on board Tofua on 14 August 1915
Final rank	Sergeant
Final unit	1st Battalion, Canterbury Infantry Battalion
Medals	Military Medal 'Operations on Welsh and Bon Avis Ridges 28th September to 1st October 1918. For splendid courage and bravery in rescuing a wounded man under fire. On reaching the objective, a man of his Company was reported wounded and lying out about 60 yards in front of the trench which the Company was consolidating. Sergeant Donaldson immediately went out under very heavy rifle and machine gun fire and carried the wounded man safely back to out own lines. During the advance to this trench, the Company was held up by machine gun posts and this NCO led bombing parties which were successful in clearing the trench. By these successful operations he saved his Company many casualties. Throughout the whole of the operations he showed great gallantry and very fine qualities of leadership and personal bravery.' Source: London Gazette Date: 13 March 1919
Discharge date	21 May 1919
Other details	War service: Egypt, Gallipoli, Western Front Taken on strength, Canterbury Mounted Rifles Regiment, Mudros, 3 October 1915; transferred to Otago Mounted Rifles Regiment, 7 October 1915. Admitted to HS 'Dunluce Castle', Mudros, 19 December 1915 (influenza); arrived Alexandria, 23 December 1915, and admitted to Bombay Presidency Hospital; discharged to suty, 7 January 1916. Admitted to NZ General Hospital, Cairo, 21 January 1916 (throat); poated to Training Regiment, Tel el Kebir, 12 April 1916. Transferred to 2nd Infantry Brigade, 2 May 1916. Embarked Alexandria to join the British Expeditionary Force, 20 May 1916; disembarked Marseilles, France; joined 2nd Bn, Canterbury Infantry regiment, in the field, 21 June 1916. Wounded in action, 16 September 1916 (gun shot wound, right arm), and admitted to No 2 Field Ambulance; transferred same day to 45th Casualty Clearing Station; to England, 22 September 1916, and admitted to No 2 NZ General Hospital, Walton-on-Thames, 23 September 1916. Taken on strength, NZ Command Depot, Codford, 24 October 1916. Found guilty, 19 November 1916, of being absent without leave from 11 pm, 11 November, to 7 pm, 18 November 1916: forfeited 3 days' pay. Marched out to NZ Reserve Group, Sling Camp, 20 December 1916. Marched in to NZ Base Depot, Etaples, 9 January 1917. Posted to 1st Bn, Canterbury Infantry Regiment, in the field, 6 February 1917. Detached as Divisional Gardener, 1 April 1917; rejoined Bn, 1 April 1917. Admitted to hospital, 4 October 1917; rejoined unit, 8 October 1917 (no details recorded). On leave to United Kingdom, 30 October 1917; rejoined unit from leave, 12 November 1917. Detached to Brigade School, 9 December 1917. Appointed Lance Corporal, 24 December 1917. Rejoined Bn from Brigade School, 6 January 1918. Detached to Area Command Hooge for market gardening, 11 January 1918; rejoined Bn, 23 February 1918. Promoted Corporal, 13 April 1918. Detached to School of Instruction, 29 June 1918; rejoined Bn, 29 July 1918. Appointed Lance Sergeant, 23 September 1918. Wounded in action (second occasion), 10 October 1918 (gun shot wound, fingers, right hand), and admitted to No 2 NZ Field Ambulance; transferred same day to Casualty Clearing Station; to 4th General Hospital, 11 October 1918; to England, 14 October 1918, and admitted same day to 2nd London General Hospital, Chelsea. Awarded Military Medal for acts of gallantry in the field. Commenced return to New Zealand from Tilbury on board 'Corinthic', 12 March 1919; discharged, 21 May 1919. Total war service: 3 years 327 days (of which 3 years 252 days were abroad) Medals: Military Medal, 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal
Miscellaneous details	Nominal Roll Vol. 1: Canterbury Mounted Rifles/Sixth
Date of death	31 October 1969 Dunedin
Age at death	77
Sources	Archives New Zealand (Wellington), Agency AABK, Series 18805