Son of William Henry Donaldson and Elizabeth Kate Elwood (née Brown). For a short time before WWII he joined the Tourist Department in Wellington and was a member of St John's Young Men's Bible Class, Wellington in 1938. Went overseas with First Echelon and served in North Africa and Greece in artillery receiving the Military Cross for outstanding leadership and courage. By the end of the war he had attained the rank of Captain. Shortly after the war ended he joined the British Army and served in Hong Kong (Major, 14th Field Regiment) and did a tour of duty in the Korean War. Retired from army in 1958 and returned to New Zealand where he took up farming in various parts of the country. Married Helen Barrett Thompson in 1944 in Dunedin; three sons and adopted daughter. Buried in Wellsford Cemetery. [Source: Donaldson family, 2009].
Donaldson, John Webster, 1918-1983
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Image
Group photograph of members of St John's Young Men's Bible Class, Willis St, Wellington...
Date: 1938
From: St John's Church (Willis Street, Wellington) :Photographs of church personalities and activities
By: St. John's in the City (Church : Wellington, N.Z.); Crown Studios (Wellington, N.Z.)
Reference: PAColl-D-0792
Description: Group photograph of Young Men's Bible Class, St John's Church, Willis Street. Taken in the studio of Crown Studios, Cuba Street, Wellington. All names indexed in Name Field Absent members - J Armstrong, H Bunckenberg, W Carter, M Davidson, A Del la Mare, C Green, W J Sewell, R Scott, A Wall. Inscriptions: Mount recto - above image - Title; Mount recto - beneath image - Names Quantity: 1 b&w original photographic print(s). Physical Description: 275 x 395 mm on mount 450 x 538 mm