McDonald, Percy John (Lieutenant, b.1890 - d.1942)

Places
Accession Number PR03131
Collection type Private Record
Record type Collection
Measurement Extent: 2.5cm; Wallet/s: 1
Object type Diary, Memoir, Manuscript, Letter, Document
Maker McDonald, Percy John
Place made Australia, Burma, Malaya, Netherlands East Indies, New Guinea1
Date made 1940-1954
Access Open
Conflict Second World War, 1939-1945
Copyright

Item copyright: Copyright expired - public domain

Public Domain Mark This item is in the Public Domain

Copying Provisions Copyright expired. Copying permitted subject to physical condition. Permission for reproduction not required., Copyright restrictions apply. Only personal, non-commercial, research and study use permitted. Permission of copyright holder required for any commercial use and/or reproduction.
Description

Collection relating to the Second World War service of P459 Lieutenant Percy John McDonald, Australian New Guinea Administrative Unit, New Guinea and Australia, 1941-1965.
McDonald was an owner of a New Guinea plantation prior to the outbreak of war. During the war, many Australia’s passed through his property, leading to the area being well-known by soldiers as “McDonald’s Corner.”

Collection consists of:
1 x blue fabric covered autograph book, with “autographs” embossed in gold on the cover. Within the front cover are two letters from former Memorial Director, Major James McGrath requesting the donation of the book. The next three pages contain newspaper clippings relating to the Kokoda Trail. Following these pages are 39 further pages containing around 800 signatures of soldiers that passed through McDonald’s Corner between 1942 and 1965; and
1 x tan-coloured “Woods’ Australian Diary for 1942.” This provides a detailed description of the increasing military presence in New Guinea, his personal preparations around the area, and his joining the army in a bid to play his part in protecting his plantation.
1 x note listing various soldiers’ names;
1 x Remitting Warrant for McDonald for the sum of 300 pounds; and
1 x letter from a Q106450 Corporal William Leo ‘Bill’ McCormack discussing a possible rendezvous.