Private William Donnachie was a 30 year old miner originally from Northumberland, England with pre-war service in the Canadian Militia with the 21st Regiment (Essex Fusiliers) when he attested into the 241st Battalion (Scottish Borderers) at Windsor, Ontario in July 1916. In the UK he was transferred to the 5th Reserve Battalion at West Sandling camp and promoted to Lance Corporal. He reverted to the rank of Private upon being sent to the 15th Battalion in August 1917 after Hill 70 and assigned to No. 4 Company. For the remainder of 1917 he also fought at Passchendaele in October-November and all the same trench tours as Private Annesley.
In the first week of February 1918 the 15th Battalion was doing a front line trench tour near Loos not far from the ground they had assaulted and captured at Hill 70 the previous year in August. On February 7th while with a carrying party bringing heavy trench mortar rounds from support trench Natal to the front line, two men from No. 4 Company were killed in action when the group was hit by a salvo of 5.9” artillery rounds. Private Joseph Annesley was hit in the face and neck by shrapnel and Private William Donnachie had his left leg blown off. Both men were buried in Fosse No. 10 Communal Cemetery Extension.
NOK: Mary Hodgson (M) Baxter Bldgs, Seaton, Northumberland, Eng