Born Southland, 8 Jan 1881. Son of Finlay and Isabella McRae, of Hokonui, Southland. Brother of Alexander Duncan McRae. Worked as an engine driver in Whangarei before joining the New Zealand Army. Served as a Private with the Auckland Infantry Battalion in World War One. Embarked 16 Oct 1914 from Wellington for Suez, Egypt. Wounded at Gallipoli, 8 May 1915. Admitted to St George's Hospital, Malta, 18 May 1915. Rejoined unit, 26 Jun 1915. Wounded for 2nd time by gunshot fire in leg, 8 Aug 1915. Transferred to Malta, 16 Aug 1915. Transferred to Royal Victoria Hospital in Southampton. Died 20 Oct 1915. Buried at Netley Military Cemetery, Hampshire, England. Grave Number 350. Serial Number: 12/821. See Archives New Zealand, Army Personnel File, (R10927211); Auckland War Memorial Museum, Cenotaph database; and Commonwealth War Graves Commission website.
McRae, Donald, 1881-1915
McRae, Donald, 1881-1915 : Diary and letters
Date: 1915-1916
By: McRae, Donald, 1881-1915
Reference: MS-Papers-3775
Description: The collection consists of Private McRae's diary for the period January to September 1915 as he prepared for, and fought in, the Turkish Campaign in Gallipoli. Also a letter written by him from hospital on Malta on 21 Sep 1915 and a letter dated 2 Feb 1916 from Kathleen Mair, a nurse on Malta. Source of title - Supplied title McRae, a private in the Auckland Infantry Battalion, landed at Gallipoli in May 1915. He was wounded twice, once in May, and for a second time in August 1915. Sent to Malta for medical attention, his left leg was amputated. Sent on for further medical treatment to the Royal Victoria Hospital in Southampton, England. Died 20 Oct 1915. Serial Number: 12/821. Quantity: 2 folder(s). Physical Description: Holograph and mss (some photocopies) Provenance: McRae's sister married D MacGillivray
Ministry of Defence : Base records
Date: 1914-1921
Reference: MS-Papers-10522
Description: Personal records of servicemen whose diaries were used in the 1990 Gallipoli Exhibition (Empire and Desire) in the National Library Gallery. For further records of this exhibition see collection held in the Photographic Archice, PAColl-1915. Quantity: 1 folder(s). 0.01 Linear Metres. Physical Description: Mss (photocopies)