To commemorate 100 years since the Armistice, we would like to introduce you to 100 members of Caulfield RSL over the next 100 days
Clyde Donaldson
Clyde lived in Archibald St Elsternwick.
After making his VFL debut with Essendon in 1913, Clyde Donaldson's career had just begun to blossom when it was interrupted by four years abroad serving with the Australian Expeditionary Force. During that time he represented the Australian Training Units in an exhibition match in London.
Donaldson enlisted in September 1914, and landed at Gallipoli on what became ANZAC day 25/4/1915.
His role was with the Field Ambulance, probably as a stretcher bearer. He was wounded with a gun shot to the right shoulder in France in October 17.
Returning from the war, Donaldson resumed with the Dons in 1919, and quickly established himself as one of the finest permanent back pocket players in the game. He had as much pace as the nippiest rover and this, coupled with his strength and aerial prowess, made him extraordinarily difficult to beat. He was also a thumping kick, characteristically tearing out of his back pocket to meet the ball at full tilt before propelling it back into Essendon's attacking zone.
A member of the Same Old's 1923 and 1924 premiership teams, Donaldson was also a regular Big V representative, earning state selection in every year between 1920 and 1923 and again in 1926. He retired at the end of the 1926 season after 144 VFL games.
Clyde Donaldson later became a renowned football correspondent for The Truth.
Clyde Donaldson died on 23rd May, 1979.
Stats
DONALDSON, Clyde
Years Played: 1913-14, 1919-26
Born: 9/06/1894
Died: 23/05/1979
Height: 185 cm
Weight: 76 kg
Debut order: 231
Number(s): 3 , 2
Games: 144
Goals: 28
Combined Training Units —
Captain Charles Perry (Captain) (Norwood); Jack Cooper (Fitzroy); Percy Trotter (East Fremantle, ex Fitzroy); Clyde Donaldson (Essendon); Harry Kerley (Collingwood); John Hoskins; Harold Boyd (Association); A. S. Cesari (Association); Charlie Armstrong (Geelong); James Scullin (South Fremantle); Stan Martin (University); E. Maxfield (Fremantle); Thomas Paine (Northam); E. Beames; George Bower (South Melbourne); L. McDonald (Essendon ‘A’); Lieutenant-Colonel Alfred Jackson (Essendon); H. Moore;
Field umpires: Corporal Gray, G. Barry; Boundary umpires: T. S. Hewitt, E. J. Watt; Goal umpires: Lieut. H. Olsson, S. M. Keen
Lest we forget