Frank MacDonald

Frank MacDonald MM (26 June 1896 – 23 August 2003) was an Australian World War I veteran, notable for having been the last surviving veteran from Tasmania, and the last surviving decorated Australian veteran.

At the time of his death, MacDonald was also the oldest surviving World War I veteran.

Early life Growing up in the Tasmanian town of Ulverstone, MacDonald said the first time he was aware of anything war related was when he was 7 years old, when watched the locals burn an effigy of South African president Paul Kruger during the Boer War which his cousin Jim served in.

Military service When World War I commenced in 1914, MacDonald attempted to enlist in the Australian Army but claimed he was rejected due to having bad teeth. However, there is no Attestation Paper for this enlistment in the National Archives of Australia. It is possible the Attestation Paper has been misplaced as the Archives acknowledge that records, although comprehensive, are not complete. After his rejection, he travelled to Queensland to work in the canefields.

MacDonald fought in the First Battle of Passchendaele, walking 96 kilometres over three days to reach Ypres.

Premier of Tasmania, Jim Bacon announced that MacDonald would be honoured with a state funeral.

Legacy MacDonald along with fellow Tasmanian World War I veteran (and also the final surviving Australian Gallipoli digger) Alec Campbell were posthumously honoured on a commemorative plaque which was unveiled in front of two trees that had been planted in 1926. MacDonald's great-niece and Campbell's widow were present at the unveiling. MacDonald and Campbell had only met each other for the first time when they were both aged in their 100's at a Remembrance Day function in Hobart in 2001.

MacDonald was also posthumously honoured with the naming of the Frank MacDonald Memorial Prize, an annual essay-based competition for Tasmanian Year 9 students which is aimed to promote and preserve the meaning of the Anzac spirit.