Service Details
Name:
 BUCHANAN
Given Name:
 DONALD JAMES
Initials:
 D J
Service No:
 32507V
Rank:
 Sergeant
Other Casualties of this Rank
Regiment:
 Imperial Light Horse/Kimberley Regiment, S.A.Forces
Other Casualties from this Regiment
Former Regiment:
 formerly 2 Transvaal Scottish
Date of Death:
 1944-06-30
Other Casualties on this Date
Date of Birth:
 1921-04-25
Age:
 23
Cause of Death:
 Killed in action, during advances in the Monte and Aquaviva areas
Decorations:
 M M
Citations:
 LG Sup 24 November 1942 pg. 5091 - "Corporal Buchanan, and Privates P. Williams 242479 and F. J. T. van Niekerk 27321 of 2 Transvaal Scottish (the latter has been recommended for a M.M.) together with Sergeant van Heerden and another Private, Private Hattingh, escaped from Tobruk, in spite of two Artillery officers trying to dissuade them, and their platoon leader telling them it was useless and only very reluctantly giving them his map and other equipment needed for their break-out. The party hid on the coast during the day of 21 June 1942 and set off that night. Their route was as follows: West to near Momment road - due South with Acroma Keep on their right - East, passing about 18 miles South of El Adem towards Sidi Omar passing 18 miles South of Sidi Omar - walked not quite parallel to wire - turned East - reached minefield near Mersa Matruh - turned inland towards El Daba - abandoned truck - made for the beach and flowed it to El Alamein. On the fifth day, Corporal Buchanan, Private Williams, and Private van Niekerk, went to look for water and lost the others with their equipment. They searched vainly for 9 hours, then had to start again from scratch without food or water. They walked 40 miles to the nearest Bir - where they met a party of Roya Engineers under the leadership of Lieutenant D. A. G. Allan 101031, 1st Field Squadron (who has been recommended for an M.C.). They had been walking for 34 hours practically without halting and without water. After two days
Additional
Information:
Son of James and Margaret Buchanan (nee MacEchen), 105a, Dunbar Street, Bellevue, Johannesburg. Born Johannesburg. A refrigeration mechanic and a clerk. He was unmarried. Commemoration stone in Johannesburg (West Park) Cemetery.
Commemoration
Country:
 Italy
Other Casualties commemorated in Italy
Cemetery:
 FOIANO DELLA CHIANA WAR CEMETERY
Other Casualties commemorated in this Cemetery
Grave Reference:
 I. M. 2.

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