This is one of a series of posts to mark the international Rugby players who served in, and survived, The Great War. If anyone has further information on the men concerned, I’d be most grateful if it could be added to the thread. Gareth Donald, Sir David Grahame KCB, DFC, AFC played for Scotland Internationals: 2: 1914 W- I- David Donald was born on 27 July 1891 Played as a Prop for: Dulwich College, Old Alleynians, Oxford University (Blue 1911-1913), Barbarians Profession: Royal Air Force War service: Royal Naval Air Service/Royal Air Force. He qualified as a pilot on 31 March 1916. On 21 May 1916 he was forced to land at Hailsham while flying Bleriot XI-2 No 3951; the aeroplane, from RNAS Eastbourne, was damaged. He was awarded the AFC for service in coastal patrols (Gazetted 3 June 1919) and the DFC for post-War action in the Baltic (Gazetted 22 December 1919). Remarks: Contemporaries at Dulwich College were Cyril Lowe (Eng), J Greenwood (Eng) and E G Loudoun-Shand (Sco) as well as W D Doherty (Ire). Played for Barbarians: v Leicester (6-13) in 1911. He died on 23 December 1976
I think this is him Gareth .... he played as G Donald .... what do you think ? G.Donald - Rugby Union International for Scotland first represented Scotland in 1914 1914 G. Donald (O.A.) played for Scotland v. Ireland. http://www.dulwich.org.uk/Sport_Doc...:1212&id=8:1189&id=8:1181&id=8:1179&id=8:1789
He was the son of Dr David Donald, he was educated at Dulwich College and University College, Oxford and entered the Royal Navy as a surgeon probationer. He served aboard a hospital ship, torpedo boat and a destroyer before transferring to the RNAS in 1915. His first marriage was to Gwyneth Martin in around 1916 and after her death he married Ailsa Stevenson in October 1947 Commissioned, Surgeon Probationer, RN Volunteer Reserve 1914; World War I 1914-1918; learnt to fly 1915; transferred RN Air Service 1916; HMS REPULSE, aircraft carriers HMS FURIOUS and VINDICTIVE; transferred to RAF 1918; HMS VINDICTIVE, Baltic 1919; Coastal motor-boat raid on Kronstadt, USSR 1919; Instructor, RAF Staff College 1924-1927; RAF Training Base, Leuchars 1928; Commander, Flying Boat Sqn, RAF Calshot; School of Naval Co-operation, Lee-on-Solent; Imperial Defence College 1931; Commander, RAF Station Kohat, India 1932-1935; Senior Instructor, RAF Staff College 1935-1937; RAF Instructor, Imperial Defence College 1937-1939; World War II 1939-1945; Director General of Organisation, Air Ministry 1939-1941; Deputy Air Member for Supply and Organisation 1941-1942; Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief Maintenance Command 1942-1947; retired 1947. http://www.forcez-survivors.org.uk/biographies/repulsecrew/donald.html
