The Soldier's Details
- Surname:
- Sutherland
- First Name:
- Donald Elias
- Nick Name:
- Don
- Rank:
- Private
- Regimental #:
- WX15967
- Company:
- ‘A’ Company
- Enlisted:
- 22.08.1941
- DOB:
- 28.03.1921
- Place of Birth:
- Fremantle, Western Australia
- Father's Name:
- William James Alexander Sutherland
- Mothers's Name:
- Amelia Georgina Victoria Sutherland (nee Ainsworth)
- Religion:
- Methodist
- Pre-war Occupation:
- Farmhand
- Memorial:
- Kranji War Cemetery, Collective Grave, Plot 30, Row A, Grave 5-8, Age 20.
- Cause of Death:
- Killed in Action
- Place of Death:
- Tanglin Halt, Buona Vista, Singapore
- Date of Death:
- 15.02.1942
- Buried:
- In a common grave, at map reference 784112 on 16.2.1942
General Description
Don Sutherland enlisted AIF 22 Aug 1941 and joined General Reinforcements. He recorded his father William James Sutherland of Ajana as his NOK. He was granted pre-embarkation leave on 27 Sept to 4 Oct 1941. He returned to Northam and was transferred to 2/4th MGB on 5 October and Taken on Strength to Woodside Camp, SA. He joined A Company HQ. Others included in this reinforcement group included Davey Cripps, Eric Osborne and Randall from Northampton area.
Don’s father William Sutherland died at Wooroloo Sanatorium on 10th Sep 1941.
Read about the men who enlisted from Northampton area.
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Don was the second of five sons and one daughter born to parents William James Alexander Sutherland and Amelia (Millie) Georgina Victoria Ainsworth of Ajana who married 1918 East Fremantle.
Sons William (known as Alf), John, Frank and Don Sutherland were born in Fremantle and youngest brother Ross was born Ajana 1928 as was sister Helen born Ajana 1935.
Donald Elias was named after one of his mother Millie’s two brothers who died WW1, Elias known as Jack Ainsworth died at Gallipoli fighting with 16th Battalion 2 May 1915 aged 21 and 1/2 years.
WX9260 Stan Neale’s mother is Ruby Elizabeth (nee Ainsworth) sister of Don’s mother Millie Sutherland (nee Ainsworth) making Stan Neale and Don Sutherland first cousins. Stan Neale’s sister Hannah Neale married WX7656 George Robert Rouse who was KIA 8 Feb 1942 Singapore. Stan Neale was with 88th LAD died at Sandakan in 1945.
Below: 1913 Milly Ainsworth of Ajana, aged 12 years writes to and joins children’s Newspaper page.
Below: Newspaper reports for Millie’s brothers.
The above welcome news is now a tragic loss of life.
Below: William Ainsworth father to Millie and grandfather to Don Sutherland, died 1933.
Millie’s brother Charly Ainsworth, dies in a mining accident 1937.
Below’s map shows Ajana the end of the rail link
