The Soldier's Details
- Surname:
- MacDonald
- First Name:
- Lindsay Murray
- Nick Name:
- Lin
- Rank:
- Private
- Regimental #:
- WX9279
- Company:
- ‘D’ Company, No. 13 Platoon
- Enlisted:
- 30.10.1940
- DOB:
- 25.10.1914
- Place of Birth:
- York, Western Australia
- Father's Name:
- Douglas Grant MacDonald
- Mothers's Name:
- Laura Jessie MacDonald
- Religion:
- Presbyterian
- Pre-war Occupation:
- Farmhand
- Memorial:
- Epitaph, Singapore Memorial, Column 136, Age 27.
- Cause of Death:
- Believed killed in action
- Place of Death:
- Lim Chu Kang Road
- Date of Death:
- 9.02.1942
General Description
Lin MacDonald came from a farming family. He was one of three sons and one daughter born to Douglas and Laura MacDonald.
Prior to his enlistment he was farming on the family farm at Quairading.
He was also with the 10th Light Horse before joining 2/4th.
MacDonald was also a keen tennis player.
Lin MacDonald loved the game of cricket, playing for his local team and Country Week so it was no surprise he played for 2/4th.
Read about Fred Tregenza.
Lin’s close mate Fred Tregenza WX9280, his brother Sergeant John Tregenza WX9325 from Dangin, a short distance from Quairading, all enlisted on the same day 30 October 1940.
Tragically the three young men did not return home to Western Australia. Lin and Fred were died 9th February 1942 (both KIA Lim Chu Kang Road 9 February 1942) and John Tregenza died from malaria on 2nd August 1943.
As part of No. 13 Platoon Lin MacDonald and Fred Tregenza were attached to the Australian 2/20th Battalion to strengthen their defence of the northwest coast of Singapore.
On the the morning of 8th February 1942 all that stood between the Japanese Imperial Army’s 5th Division’s initial attack on Singapore at this remote location were approximately 35 men of No. 13 Platoon, their three Vickers machine guns and an allocation of 20,000 rounds of ammunition per gun.
At 1000 hours the Japanese commenced their artillery barrage on the west coast of Singapore and would not be lifted until 2200 hours that night. The West Australians fought bravely during those seven hours but were no match for successive waves of Japanese barges coming head long at No. 13 Platoon. At 0230 hours with ammunition becoming critical, Sergeant Harold ‘Jake’ Jacobs who had taken over command when Lt. Wankey had been injured, ordered the three Vickers be destroyed and the remaining men moved out in single file. Their progress was slow in the darkness of night made worse by the smoke from the oil tank fires around Woodlands area. It was during this withdrawal that Lin MacDonald and Fred Tregenza were ambushed and never seen again.
Further reading D Company, No. 13 Platoon
Also read Joe Pearce’s story.
MacDonald’s mother died 1945.
