Death In New Guinea

rRRITORIANS will be sorry to hear of the death of Captain W. J.

McDonald, AIF, well-known in Morobe and Wewak districts of New Guinea. He died of illness while on active service in the Lae area, on July 20, and was buried in the Lae War Ceme tery the following day.

Captain McDonald lived in the Terri tory for about 14 years—mostly in the Morobe district. In 1937, he took up a gold lease, near Maprik aerodrome, inland from Wewak, where he was later joined by his wife and baby daughter. Tragedy overtook the young McDonald couple in January of the following year, when their baby became ill, and, although flown out to \Yewak, died soon after being admitted to the hospital.

A fellow officer, writing of Captain McDonald's death, says: “He served with the NGVR during 1942 and performed an excellent job in charge of supplying forward troops. Once, when a party was cut off in the Saruwaged Ranges, this officer and one native went forward to the aid of the party.

“His death was a very great blow to his friends and a great loss to his unit. . . .”

Captain McDonald’s widow is at present living in Brisbane.

Captain W. J. McDonald.