Haddon Donald
|
Haddon Donald DSO MC ED |
|
|---|---|
Haddon Donald in 1951
|
|
| Member of the New Zealand Parliament for Wairarapa |
|
|
In office 1963–1969 |
|
| Preceded by | Bertie Cooksley |
| Succeeded by | Jack Williams |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Haddon Vivian Donald 20 March 1917 Masterton, New Zealand |
| Nationality | New Zealand |
| Political party | National |
| Spouse(s) | Ana Alice Beetham |
| Relations | Charlie Mills (great-grandfather) |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance |
 New Zealand
|
| Service/branch | New Zealand Army |
| Rank | Lieutenant Colonel |
| Commands | 22nd Battalion |
| Battles/wars | |
| Awards |
Distinguished Service Order Military Cross Mentioned in Despatches Efficiency Decoration Officer of the Legion of Merit (United States) |
Haddon Vivian Donald DSO MC ED (born 20 March 1917) is a former New Zealand soldier, businessman and politician of the National Party. He is the oldest living former New Zealand Member of Parliament, and the highest-ranking New Zealand army officer of World War II still alive.
Donald was born in 1917 at Masterton, the son of Vivian Everard Donald and Gertrude Blanche Donald (née Mills). He was educated at Nelson College from 1930 to 1932, and afterwards at Wairarapa College.
He joined the New Zealand Expeditionary Force in 1939. During the Second World War he was an officer in the 22nd Battalion, rising to the rank of lieutenant colonel. The history group of the Ministry for Culture and Heritage has an interview with Haddon on its website where he describes the events at the Maleme airfield as part of the Battle of Crete. Donald was awarded the Military Cross in 1942, and the Distinguished Service Order in 1945. In 1947 he was made an Officer of the Legion of Merit by the United States. Donald later wrote about his experiences soldiering in Greece, Crete and Egypt in the book In Peace and War: A Civilian Soldier's Story, published in 2005.
He represented the Wairarapa electorate from 1963 in succession to Bertie Cooksley, who retired after five terms. Donald held the electorate until 1969, when he was defeated by Labour's Jack Williams.
...
Wikipedia