Background
Donald was born in 1917 at Masterton.
Donald was born in 1917 at Masterton.
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 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.
On his return from the war, he was a manufacturer based in the Wairarapa. Donald worked for his family firm of Donald Presses Limited for 50 years, and was chairman of the company from 1970 to 1986.
He captained the New Zealand rifle team on five occasions.
Donald lives in Taupo.