The Last Post Ceremony commemorating the service of (4761) Private Donald Mac Rae 19th Battalion, AIF, First World War.

The Last Post Ceremony is presented in the Commemorative area of the Australian War Memorial each day. The ceremony commemorates more than 102,000 Australians who have given their lives in war and other operations and whose names are recorded on the Roll of Honour. At each ceremony the story behind one of the names on the Roll of Honour is told. Hosted by Charis May, the story for this day was on (4761) Private Donald Mac Rae 19th Battalion, AIF, First World War.

4761 Private Donald Mac Rae 19th Battalion, AIF
DOD 15 January 1919
No photograph in collection Story delivered 21 April 2016

Today we remember and pay tribute to Private Donald Mac Rae.

Donald Rae was born on 4 June 1896 in Junee, New South Wales, to Arthur Rae, one of the formative members of the Labor Party, and his wife, Annie.

Donald was the third of six children, named for a famous trade unionist of the time, who presented the infant with a membership of the Australian Workers Union, making him the youngest known union member in history. He attended Glenorie Public School before moving to Middle Dural Public School for his final year. After leaving school, he went to work on a farm run by a staunch unionist and Labor man at Lankey’s Creek.

Arthur Rae was elected to the Senate in 1910. Donald followed in his father’s footsteps by joining the Political Labor League at Lankey’s Creek and becoming active in the Labor movement.

When the First World War began Rae was working on the family farm with his father and older brothers. He enlisted along with his brother Will on 28 December 1915. After initial training they were allocated to the 12th reinforcements to the 20th Battalion, embarking in April 1916.

Arriving in England, the brothers spent several months with the 5th Training Battalion before being sent to France in early September. They joined the 20th Battalion in October, just in time for one of the worst winters on record. The battalion took part in the disastrous attack on Flers, and while Donald Rae came through unscathed, his brother was wounded and evacuated to England.

When the German army withdrew to the Hindenburg Line in early 1917 the Australians were involved in pursuing them. On 26 February 1917 Rae was severely wounded by shrapnel during the capture of Malt Trench. The shrapnel narrowly missed his lungs and heart, and he was evacuated to England for treatment and convalescence.

Recovering from his wounds by the end of July, Rae remained in England at a training establishment in Perham Downs. During this time he was able to reunite with his brother, and they re-joined their battalion in France in October.

The 20th Battalion spent the next few months resting and refitting, with several spells in the front line. In mid-January 1918 Rae was transferred to the 19th Battalion and seconded to the 5th Light Trench Mortar Battery. During the German Spring Offensive of late March Rae’s battery was sent with the Australian 5th Brigade to Hangard Wood, where heavy fighting was taking place. In April he and several of his comrades were taken prisoner while providing fire support to a British battalion.

With the signing of the Armistice several months later, Rae was released and sent back to England. He was given four weeks’ leave, and travelled to Scotland to visit friends and family. On New Year’s Day he was admitted to Dumfries Infirmary suffering enteric fever.

His family and friends stayed by his side throughout his illness. However, while he rallied briefly, the fever returned and Private Rae passed away on 15 January. He was 22 years old. He was laid to rest with full military honours in Dumfries Cemetery.

Rae’s oldest brother, Charles, who had served with the artillery on the Western Front, returned safely to Australia in May 1919. Will Rae had been killed in action in August 1918, aged 24, near Villers-Bretonneux.

Private Donald Rae’s name is listed on the Roll of Honour on my right, among more than 60,000 others from the First World War.

This is but one of the many stories of service and sacrifice told here at the Australian War Memorial. We now remember Private Donald Mac Rae, who gave his life for us, for our freedoms, and in the hope of a better world.

Michael Kelly
Historian, Military History Section