Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Three: Second Lieutenant J. M. Donn, New Zealand Expeditionary Force, who served with the 12th Regiment at Gallipoli from 25 April 1915, and was wounded on 11 May 1915, details which he records in his diary; he subsequently served on the Western Front and was killed in action on 2 October 1916

1914-15 Star (6/1053 2/Lieut. J. M. Donn. N.Z.E.F.); British War and Victory Medals (6/1053 2/Lt. J. M. Donn. N.Z.E.F.) nearly extremely fine (3) £300-£400

John Murray Donn was born in Addington on 21 May 1886 and served with the 12th Regiment, New Zealand Expeditionary Force at Gallipoli from 25 April 1915.

Donn’s diary survived the war, and a full transcript is available online. His extract from 25 April 1915 states: ‘Church parade. Issued with ammunition and iron ration. Left Lemnos and lying off coast saw all the warships firing. Landed from Bulldog 6pm. Marched all over the place. Carted water and ammunition till 2. Heaps of wounded all over the place. Up 4 and carted water and ammunition. Ship firing. Aeroplanes flying. Rifle and machine guns hard at it. Lay on beach in morning, afternoon supported 11th platoon. Evening up on hill on left with A platoon found us our second hill in support. Carried water, dug road and trenches. On outpost with Couch. Terrible gun fire during day. A bit quieter at night. Plenty of spent bullet flying.’

Donn was wounded at Gallipoli on 11 May: ‘When coming down from firing line on Tuesday night got struck in back of knee by bullet but managed to keep going. We got lost and slept in open. Raining heavily, one overcoat between Don Rees and I. On arrival at grounds next morning got wound dressed and found bullet inside underpants. Keeping bullet as memento.’

Evacuated from Gallipoli at the end of June suffering from dysentery, Donn subsequently served on the Western Front, and was killed in action on 2 October 1916. He has no known grave and is commemorated on the Caterpillar Valley (New Zealand) Memorial, France.