Islands Men in the AIF
p. 33 · Read in the full issue
HAVING been in action against the Germans and Italians in the West ern Desert (Libya) and against the Vichy French in Syria, Sergeant Y. B. (“Toby”) Donald, of the AIF, who is well known in New Guinea, has been invalided back to Australia for six months’ medical treatment. He has sul fered in recent months from recurrent attacks of malaria.
Before the outbreak of war, Sgt.
Donald was managing a Burns, Philp plantation at Soraken, Buka Passage.
While in Syria, he was with Corporal Alex Scott, formerly BP manager at Kieta, TNG, when the latter was killed.
They had been talking together for a few minutes and, as Sgt. Donald turned away to return to his tank, Scott moved off in the opposite direction, but almost immediately was hit by a bullet.
Sgt Donald also saw Corporal Scott’s brother, Acting Bombadier W. R. (“Wally”) Scott at Mersa Matruh, just after he had returned from Crete and Greece. Scott died later from wounds.
While at Mersa Matruh, Sgt. Donald met Private L. F. McCarthy (who since has been reported “wounded in action and missing, believed prisoner of war”), and Keith Mitchell Hill (an inspector with Levers Pacific Plantations Pty. Ltd., in BSI, before joining an artillery unit in the AIF). He also saw R. S. McKay (formerly a plantation manager on New Britain for BP's) and Peter Dennis (Of the New Guinea Administration). “Dud”
Harricks (well known in the Solomon Islands, where he was connected for some time with Levers), and M. Rylands (New Guinea), are both in Sgt. Donald’s regiment and when he saw them last were fit and well.