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Born in Upper Waiwera in 1892, to William Junior and Sarah Barker, Donald Stuart McCathie joined the Auckland Mounted Rifles in Kihikihi, where he was working with his brother William as a butcher. He was to become one of only two soldiers named on local monuments to be decorated during World War I, earning the Military Cross for gallantry.
He embarked with the troops in October, 1914, and was at Gallipoli in May, 1915.
He took part in the battle for Chunuk Bair, after which he was promoted to Corporal. After a time in hospital in England, he returned to Egypt in 1916, helping defend the Suez Canal and leading troops in a cavalry charge at the battle of Rafah in Palestine. In February 1918 his regiment, the NZ Mounted Rifles, were in the Jordan Valley, entering through a pass guarded by two high mountains, where the enemy had well defended artillery and machine gun positions.
All the troops were ordered to take cover behind a low ridge, but the message did not reach the Mounted Rifles. They galloped forward between bursts of fire from above and in front and then attacked on foot, taking the enemy gun position. It was here that Donald earned his Military Cross, which he was awarded in March, 1918.
The citation notes his “conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty in an attack on a strong enemy position”. “He reconnoitered the ground under heavy rifle and machine gun fire before taking his men up, and saved the squadron many casualties,” the citation says.
Donald was severely wounded in the left knee during a patrol and was in hospital in Palestine, then in the UK before returning home in September 1918 on HT Suffolk.
He returned to the family farm in Upper Waiwera and in 1925 married Doris Foster. They had two daughters, Jean and Nancy.
Donald’s army service continued in WWII, initially as Troop Leader in the Independent Squadron of Mounted Rifles in 1940.
By 1942 he was Captain of the 11th Light Armed Fighting Vehicle Regiment, No 2 (Kaipara Squadron).
After Donald’s death in May 1948, his wife and daughters continued to run the farm with help from Neil McCathie, who eventually bought the farm. Today, Neil’s son is the fifth generation McCathie on the farm.
Note: The image of the war grave in Egypt (HM April 15, p2) was from the NZ War Grave Project Trust website. The writers of this column are grateful for use of this image. Thanks also to Jean Dickinson for McCathie family information.
