English Māori Donald George MacNab Born 15 July 1912 - Died 27 May 1996 PDF Key details Service number2124 AWMM Also known asMcNab AWMM McNabb AWMM Armed force / branchArmy AWMM Last rank WarWorld War II, 1939-1945 AWMM Regular Military Service AWMM Enquire Lay a poppy Cover of the New Zealand Tatler Image may be subject to copyright restrictions. darianzamdesign@gmail.com Hide sources Show empty fields Identity About Contribute › Title ForenamesDonald George AWMM SurnameMacNab AWMM Ingoa Also known asMcNab AWMM McNabb AWMM Service number2124 AWMM GenderMale AWMM Iwi Hapū Waka Rohe Religion Images and documents Images Contribute › Report › Documents Contribute › Civilian life About birth Contribute › Birth15 July 1912 AWMM New Zealand AWMM Date of birth Place of birth Birth notes Address before enlistmentUnknown AWMM 27 Vivian Street, Wellington, New Zealand AWMM Unknown AWMM 27 Vivian Street, Wellington, New Zealand AWMM Post war occupationRoyal New Zealand Air Force/Civilian AWMM Next of kin on embarkationMrs M. MacNab (wife), Care of Cargil Hotel, New Plymouth, Taranaki, New Zealand AWMM Mrs M. MacNab (wife), Care of Cargil Hotel, New Plymouth, Taranaki, New Zealand AWMM Relationship statusPre 5 January 1940 AWMM Married AWMM Pre 1944 AWMM Married AWMM Maureen Olga MacNab (nee Warring) AWMM Service Wars and conflicts Contribute › WarWorld War II, 1939-1945 AWMM Regular Military Service AWMM Campaign Armed force / branchArmy AWMM Service number2124 AWMM Military serviceSpecial Services Unit Italy, Balkans AWMM Promotions/ Postings/ Transfers Military decorations Contribute › Medals and AwardsMilitary Cross (MC) AWMM 23 November 1944 AWMM The National Archives. Recommendation for Award for McNab, Donald George. (Ref. WO 373/46/235). Military Cross. "Lt. MacNab was attached to Houndforce to carry out a diversion on the flank using special apparatus to simulate the noise and flashes of an attack. He led a small band of volunteers to within 400 yards of the enemy before commencing his diversion, and so successful was it that it drew upon themselves a large proportion of the enemy's counter-battery fire Lt. MacNab was thrown to the ground in a nullah, seriously damaging his wrist and suffering from shock. However, when the concentration ceased he led his men back over extremely difficulty country for a distance of more than three miles until he joined up with 40 Commando. This was on the morning following the attack, and the Commando was experiencing considerable difficulty with mines and wire, particularly as Brigade SORE and his Royal Engineers sergeant had been killed and wounded respectively while directing the clearing of the mines. Lt. MacNab at once volunteered to take this job on and on his own initiative then proceeded to inspect the principal houses and dumps which had been captured and found that they were a mass of mines and booby-traps. He reported this so that adequate precautionary orders could be issued and then with five volunteers proceeded to remove this valuable work that he detected evidence of a delayed action fuse which was likely to set of a major explosion in the center of the town the following day. At 1630 hours on the afternoon of the capture of the town approximately 3 1/2 tons of explosive blew up, destroying the majority of the houses in the main shopping street. A second explosion the following day similarly occurred, warning of which was also given by Lt. MacNab. In the course of his work one of his assistants disturbed a booby-trap hidden in a mattress and both he and Lt. MacNab, who was in the room at the time, were injured. Lt. MacNab sustained three broken toes, a perforated eardrum and sever bruises. After a few hours rest however, this officer insisted on continuing his work until ordered by the Brigade Commander to be evacuated to hospital. The energy, resource and determination of this officer in clearing mines and booby-traps and in discovering and giving warning of explosions undoubtedly saved the lives of a large number of the force to which he was attached, and his conduct is the more praiseworthy when it is appreciated that it was entirely in excess of his duties and was undertaken voluntarily and in his own initiative. He showed complete disregard for fatigue or personal safety and his behaviour was worthy of the highest traditions of the New Zealand Engineers." Gallant Acts and Noble Deeds, p. 200-1. AWMM Distinguished Conduct Medal (DCM) AWMM LG 24/03/1942 "S/Sgt. MacNab was the leader of an organised escape party which left Greece for Turkey in October. Every detail of the escape was carried out by S/Sgt. MacNab himself. He managed to hire a boat, the money for which he obtained by collection from various Greek helpers. He collected together a party of escapers and sailed for Turkey. The skipper of the boat endeavoured to betray them and MacNab took charge. He navigated the boat and reached Turkey successfully. The party unfortunately landed in a closely-guarded Military Zone. By skilful manoeuvring and forced-marching he managed to get his party right through the military area before being captured by the Turks. Whilst in Greece, S/Sgt. MacNab ran an intelligence Bureau in Athens for the collection of military information. On leaving Greece he collated all this an concealed it inside the lining of his clothing. It was discovered by the Turks during a thorough search and confiscated. MacNab later managed to get the papers back and eventually passed them to the Military Attache. Through the enterprise and initiative of this N.C.O a great deal of information reached the GSI Middle East." Gallant Acts and Noble Deeds, p. 201 AWMM Training and Enlistment Contribute › Military training Branch Trade Proficiency EnlistmentWW2 Unknown AWMM Commercial artist/Civilian AWMM Wellington, New Zealand AWMM WW2 2NZEF: 1st Echelon AWMM WW2 Unknown AWMM Commercial artist/Civilian AWMM Occupation before enlistment Age on enlistment Embarkations Contribute › Embarkation detailsWW2 Vessel was Strathaird AWMM Sergeant AWMM New Zealand Engineers, 6 Field Company AWMM WW2 Temporary Captain AWMM New Zealand Engineers AWMM Second New Zealand Expeditionary Force, JayForce AWMM Prisoner of war Contribute › Capture detailsWW2 6 May 1941 AWMM Days interned Liberation date Liberation RepatriationWW2 11 November 1941 AWMM Escaped AWMM POW liberation details POW serial number Medical history Contribute › Medical notesWounds Diseases Etc., WWII AWMM Wounded Albania 6 October 1944 AWMM Last known rank Contribute › Last rank Biographical information Biographical information Contribute › Son of Flora McNab and Janet George McNab.Commissioned 28 February 1942BDM deaths name is MacNab; BDM births is McNabCapt D. G. MacNab, MC, DCM; Wellington; born NZ 15 Jul 1916; commercial artist; wounded and p.w. 23 May 1941; escaped Jul 1941; with Special Service unit in Italy and in Balkans; wounded, Albania, 6 Oct 1944; now Recruiting Officer, RNZAF. (Source: Cody, J.F. New Zealand Engineers, Middle East. p.135.) AWMM Death About death Contribute › Death27 May 1996 AWMM Age 83 AWMM New Zealand AWMM Date of death Age at death Place of death Cause of death Death notes CemeteryTaradale Cemetery Napier City New Zealand AWMM Services Sec V, Plot 17 AWMM Cemetery name Grave reference Obituary Memorial name Memorial reference Memorials Memorial Contribute › Memorial name Roll of Honour Remember Donald George MacNab by laying a poppy. Kenneth Scott Andrew MacMurray William John MacMurray Donald George MacNab George Donald MacNab John William MacNab Lay a poppy for 2021 Leave a note Leave a tribute or memory of Donald George MacNab Leave a note Contribute › Processing Sources Sources Contribute › External linksCody, J. (1961). New Zealand Engineers. Middle East. Wellington, Dept. of Internal Affairs, War History Branch. Digital copy at http://www.nzetc.org/tm/scholarly/tei-WH2Engr.html Sources Used Births, Deaths and Marriages (New Zealand) Historical Records online https://www.bdmhistoricalrecords.dia.govt.nz Sources Used 'The KING has been graciously pleased to approve the following awards in recognition of gallant and distinguished services in the field.' (London Gazette, 23 November 1944, p.5375.). Military Cross. http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/36807/supplements/5375 Further Reference The National Archives. Recommendation for Award for McNab, Donald George. (Ref. WO 373/46/235). Military Cross. http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/SearchUI/Details?uri=D7369769 Further Reference National Library subject page https://natlib.govt.nz/records/22484329 Further Reference DocumentsPolaschek, A. (1983). The Complete New Zealand Distinguished Conduct Medal. Christchurch, N.Z.: Medals Research. AWMM Second New Zealand Expeditionary Force. (1941). Nominal Roll Second New Zealand Expeditionary Force No. 1 (Embarkations to 31st March, 1940). Wellington, N.Z.: Govt. Printer. AWMM WW2 1: WW2 117 AWMM Second New Zealand Expeditionary Force. (1950). Nominal Roll Second New Zealand Expeditionary Force No. 16 (Embarkations from 1st January, 1946 to 30th June, 1948). Wellington, N.Z.: Govt. Printer. AWMM WW2 16: WW2 85 AWMM Cody, J.F. (1961). New Zealand Engineers, Middle East. Wellington, N.Z.: Department of Internal Affairs, War History Branch. AWMM pp.135, 138, 142, 145. AWMM Contributors Processing Command item Command item Add new record Refresh DateFirst namesLocationRelationshipContact 15 December 2019DarianAustraliaResearcher The development of the Online Cenotaph is an ongoing process; updates, new images and records are added weekly. In some cases, records have yet to be confirmed by Museum staff, and there could be mistakes or omissions in the information provided. Online Cenotaph Data by Auckland War Memorial Museum is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License
