Fifty years is old for a soldier and it is perhaps telling that Donald Mackintosh's date of birth on his Army record is two years later than his real one. Did he lie to join the Army?
Donald was with the NZ Rifle Brigade when they attacked the Bellevue Spur positions at Passchendaele on October 12, 1917. From the beginning it was a debacle:
Promptly at zero hour, 5.25 a.m., the opening barrage commenced, and the 2nd Battalion moved forward towards the first objective. Within fifteen minutes it became abundantly evident that the barrage, so pitifully weak as to be barely perceptible, would be quite ineffective. It had no appreciable effect upon the German machine-guns, for these, page 238operating for the most part from concrete "pill-boxes," immediately opened a fierce and withering fire which continued without abatement, and even increased in intensity at times, in spite of all our artillery could do. -Official History of the NZRB.
Donald was initially reported missing on the day but was later found wounded, with gunshot wounds in his back and buttocks. He was admitted to the General Hospital at Bolougne, France, where he died five days after being wounded.
ROLL OF HONOUR.
MACKINTOSH. — Died of wounds, on October 17, 1917, Private Donald Mackintosh, 22nd Reinforcements, and late of Dalmagarry, Inverness, Scotland; beloved husband of May Mackintosh, Cox Street, Ashburton; aged 50 years. -Ashburton Guardian, 23/10/1917.
Mrs M. Mackintosh, Cox Street, has been notified of death from wounds of her husband, Private Donald Mackintosh, on October 17. Private Mackintosh was born at Dalmagarry, Inverness, Scotland, and enlisted with the Twenty-second Reinforcements. -Ashburton Guardian, 23/10/1917.
BEREAVEMENT.
MRS. DONALD MACKINTOSH, Cox street, Ashburton, desires to express her sincere thanks for all letters, telegrams and personal expressions of sympathy received during her recent sad bereavement. -Lyttelton Times, 31/10/1917.
ROLL OF HONOUR
MACKINTOSH. — In sad and loving memory of Rifleman Donald Mackintosh (Twentysecond Reinforcements), who died of wounds received at Passchendaele, October 17, 1917. Inserted by his loving wife, May Mackintosh, Cox Street, Ashburton. -Lyttelton Times, 17/10/1918.
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