Private Donald FARQUHARSON (153571)
27th Battalion Canadian Infantry (Manitoba Regiment)

Date of birth: 3rd April 1886
Date of death: 6th November 1917

Killed in action aged 31
Commemorated on the Menin Gate at Ypres Panels 24-26 and 28-30
Donald Farquharson was born at Aberdeen on the 3rd of April 1886 the third son of Alexander Farquharson, a cattle dealer, and Helen (nee Allan) Farquharson of Cross Roads Cottage, Knockando.

He emigrated to Canada where he worked as a Crane Operator at Winnipeg.

He enlisted in the 43rd Battalion Canadian Infantry at Winnipeg in Canada on the 31st of July 1915. At a medical examination, which took place on the same day, it was recorded that that he was five feet five inches tall with a fair complexion, fair hair and blue eyes and that he had a tattoo on his right wrist and forearm. It was also recorded that he was serving with the Militia as a member of the 79th Cameron Highlanders of Canada. After training, he received orders to proceed overseas on the 6th of October 1915.

He landed in England on the 4th of November 1915 with the third draft of Canadian troops and arrived at East Sandling the following day. On the 7th of February 1916 he was in training and fell on his knee while jumping and fractured his right patella. He was admitted to the New Military Hospital at Bramshott on the same day, where he had an operation to wire the open bone, and was discharged on the 24th of February from where he joined the 34th Battalion Canadian Infantry before being sent to the Canadian Convalescent Hospital at Bearwood, Wokingham on the 16th of March 1916. He was discharged on the 5th of April 1916. He was posted to the 17th (Reserve) Battalion Canadian Infantry at Shorncliffe on the 5th of April 1916 and was sent on leave from the 7th to the 17th of April 1916.

He was transferred to the Canadian Machine Gun Depot at the base on the 23rd of June 1916. He was transferred to the 27th Battalion Canadian Infantry on the 28th of July 1916 and left for France the following day. He joined his battalion in the field on the 1st of August 1916. He was slightly wounded in the left foot, by shrapnel, and was evacuated to a Casualty Clearing Station and then to 18 General Hospital at Camiers on the 20th of September 1916 where the shrapnel was removed from his foot the next day.

He was evacuated to England where he landed at Folkestone on the 26th of September and was admitted to Brook War Hospital at Shooters Hill, Woolwich the following day. He was admitted to the Canadian Convalescent Hospital, Hillingdon House at Uxbridge on the 7th of November 1916 was discharged on the 22nd of November. He joined the Canadian Depot at Hasting the next day. He was passed as being fit for general service at a medical board on the 26th of January 1917 and was posted to the 11th (Reserve) Battalion at Shorncliffe where he arrived on the 31st of January 1917.

He received orders to re-join his battalion on the 21st of June 1917. He embarked for his return to France from Folkestone on the 22nd of June 1917 where he joined the Canadian Base Depot before being posted to his battalion in the field on the 11th of August and re-joined them in the field on the 27th of August 1917.He was awarded the Good Conduct Badge on the 31st of July 1917.

On the 6th of November 1917 the 27th Battalion Canadian Infantry was in the line in Helmert Trench near Souchez. The weather was poor with heavy showers occurring during the day and things were quiet until the Germans launched a trench mortar attack causing "considerable damage" at Northumberland and Kellett Junctions. Donald Farquharson was one of those killed during the attack.

His brothers, Private Nathaniel Machonachie Farquharson Royal Marine Light Infantry, HMS Indefatigable was killed in action on the 31st of May 1916, Private James Farquharson 5th Battalion Canadian Infantry (Saskatchewan Regiment) was killed in action on the 2nd of March 1916 and Trimmer John Farquharson RN HMS Newbury was killed in action on the 15th of February 1918.

He is commemorated on the war memorial at Park Circle Cenotaph in Winnipeg.

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