Fen McDonald

Fenley John "Fen" McDonald (25 May 1891 – 25 April 1915) was an Australian rules footballer who played with Carlton and Melbourne in the Victorian Football League (VFL).

He was a member of the First AIF, and was killed in action during the landing at Anzac Cove, Gallipoli, in Ottoman Turkey on 25 April 1915.

Family

The youngest son in the family (of three girls and five boys) of Patrick McDonald (1852-1928), and Margaret McDonald (1853-1928), née Figgins, Fenley John McDonald was born on 25 May 1891 in Nagambie, Victoria. By all accounts, he was a strongly built, quietly spoken, and well-mannered young man.

Education

Educated at the Nagambie State School, he gained a thorough knowledge of cattle and sheep and farming from his family's property, "Winbrae".

In 1910, once he had finished his formal schooling, he moved to Melbourne and began a four-year evening course of studies at the highly regarded ''Stott and Hoare's Business College'', at 426 Collins Street, Melbourne, whilst working in the day time as a stock and station agent with Pearson, Rowe, Smith, and Co., 416 Bourke Street, Melbourne.

Footballer

Two of Fen's brothers played a single VFL match with Essendon, on the same day (Saturday, 9 September 1905): Edwin Patrick "Ted" McDonald (1875–1919), and Archibald William Campbell "Arch" McDonald (1883-1942).

Strongly built (at enlistment he stood 5 ft 7½ in, weighed 11 st 9 lbs, and had an expanded chest measurement of 37 in), he was rather fast on his feet, and had some success as a handicap runner. Once in Melbourne, he played in the Metropolitan Amateur Football Association competition, with the Carlton District team. Carlton noticed his impressive performance, signed him up, and he played his VFL first match, aged 20, against St Kilda, on 29 July 1911 (round fifteen). Carlton thrashed St Kilda by 114 points, and none of the forwards saw much of the ball as most of those up the ground were concentrating on feeding the ball to Carlton's full-forward, Vin Gardiner, who kicked 10 goals. Situated in the back pocket, McDonald saw little of the play – St Kilda only scored 2.3 (15) – yet he did make it down to the forward line and kicked one goal.

During the next season (1912) he played nine senior games, mainly in the backline; and at the end of the season, he decided to move to Melbourne.

In 1913, he played one senior match for Melbourne, against Essendon on 14 June 1913 (round nine). Essendon beat Melbourne by 41 points. One match report noted that "McDonald was another player who did a lot of hard work for Melbourne under discouraging circumstances", whilst another commented that "McDonald… did very good work".

He then returned to the District team, and did not play another VFL match. He played for the Carlton District team in 1914 as well, and concentrated on completing the last year of his studies.

Soldier

Leaving his employment with Pearson, Rowe, Smith, and Co., 416 Bourke Street, Melbourne, he enlisted in the First AIF on 17 August 1914, and served, as a private, in the 7th Battalion, A.I.F.

His brother, Stanley David McDonald (1888–1945), also served in the First AIF, enlisting on 20 May 1915, before the news of Fen's death had reached his family.

Death

He died at Gallipoli, Ottoman Turkey on during the first landings on 25 April 1915. It is not known how he died; and it is presumed that he was either shot dead or blown up in the process of making the beach.

One of his best mates from Melbourne, Harold Denston, who worked as a clerk in a Collins Street insurance office, was also killed in action at Gallipoli on 25 April 1915.

Claude Crowl who had played his first game for St Kilda on the same day that McDonald made his debut for Carlton, also died in action at Gallipoli on 25 April 1915. A special medal named in McDonald's and Crowl's honour was presented to the best player on the ground in the match played between St Kilda and Carlton on the hundredth anniversary of the Gallipoli landings.

Remembered

His body was never recovered; and, therefore, he has no marked grave. His name is recorded on the memorial at Lone Pine Memorial, Gallipoli, Turkey, and at panel 50 in the Commemorative Area at the Australian War Memorial.

See also

* List of Australian military personnel killed at Anzac Cove on 25 April 1915
* List of Victorian Football League players who died in active service
* List of Australian rules football families

Footnotes

References

* Holmesby, Russell & Main, Jim (2007). The Encyclopedia of AFL Footballers. 7th ed. Melbourne: Bas Publishing.
* Main, J. & Allen, D., "McDonald, Fen", pp. 119–121 in Main, J. & Allen, D., ''Fallen – The Ultimate Heroes: Footballers Who Never Returned From War'', Crown Content, (Melbourne), 2002.

Killed in Action: McDonald, ''The Argus'', (Monday 14 June 1915), p.1.
(no date of death given)

Australian Losses: 37th Casualty List: Killed in Action: Victoria, ''The Argus'', (Monday, 14 June 1915), p.6.
:Note There is a typographical error in the relevant entry in this list.
::The list states "Pte. McDONALD, T. J., 7th Batt., Nagambie." Checking with the "Roll of Honour records at the Australian War museum shows: (a) no "T. McDonalds" in any branch of the services had died earlier than 17 June 1915; (b) there were only two other "McDonalds" in the 7th Battalion on the Honour Roll who had died earlier than 17 June 1915 (Lindsay Gordon McDonald of Flemington and William McDonald of Benalla).
::Thus, the entry on this list can only relate to Fen McDonald of Nagambie.

Roll of Honour: Personal Particulars: Private Fenley J. McDonald, The Argus, (Tuesday, 27 July 1915), p.4.

Killed in Action: McDonald, ''The Argus'', (Tuesday 25 April 1916), p.1.
(gives date of death as 25 April 1915, and also states "previously reported as 3 June")

Killed in Action: McDonald, ''The Argus'', (Saturday 29 April 1916), p.13.

In Memoriam: On Active Service, ''The Argus'', (Thursday, 25 April 1918), p.1.

In Memoriam: On Active Service, ''The Argus'', (Thursday, 26 April 1923), p.1.

In Memoriam: On Active Service, ''The Argus'', (Saturday, 24 April 1926), p.11.

In Memoriam: On Active Service, ''The Argus'', (Monday, 25 April 1955), p.12.

External links

*

Blueseum Biography: Fen McDonald

Denonwiki Biography: Fen McDonald

Australian War Memorial World War I Embarkation Roll: Fenley John McDonald (127)

Australian War Memorial World War I Nominal Roll (page 8): Fenley John McDonald (127)

Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour "Circular": Fenley John McDonald (127)

Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour: Fenley John McDonald (127)

World War I Service Record: Fenley John McDonald (127)

{{DEFAULTSORT:McDonald, Fen
1891 births
1915 deaths
Australian Army soldiers
Military personnel from Victoria (Australia)
Australian rules footballers from Victoria (Australia)
Carlton Football Club players
Melbourne Football Club players
Australian military personnel killed in World War I