Arthur Donnelly

Corporal

Conflict:

WW1

Additional Information:

Son of William and Mary Waters Donnelly, of Roxburgh, Otago, New Zealand.

References:

CWGC

National Archives of Australia

BDM Online

NZ WAR GRAVES

CONTRIBUTED

Public Contributions:

Submitted by: John Barr

Relationship to casualty: Cousin

Arthur Harris Donnelly - Arthur was the youngest son of William and Mary Waters Donnelly of Roxburgh. Arthur was educated at Roxburgh School and, during his boyhood days, took a prominent part in the... various school recreations. He was a member of the seven-a-side rugby team that annexed the medals at the tournament that year. He was also a great swimmer, winning the championship medal presented by the N.Z.A.s. for competition at an aquatic tournament held at the mouth of the Teviot stream in 1907. After completing his primary education, he entered the carpentry trade, serving the first part of his apprenticeship with Mr W. Kinaston, a building contractor in Roxburgh. He moved to Dunedin two years later, where Messrs George and George employed him. After leaving school, he continued to take an active interest in rugby, being a member of the local Pirates fifteen, and while in Dunedin, played in the Zingari-Richmond second grade team. He did not confine his attention to the football field as a sportsman. He also evinced a keen and active interest in pugilism, winning the novice event at the Dunedin Boxing Tournament in 19I3. After serving three years with Messrs George and George, he sailed with several tradesmen to Melbourne, where they were employed in the construction of the new Wonthaggi Hospital. He enlisted early in August 1914, and his number 771 showed that he was among the first Australians to respond to the call to arms. On the 19th of October 1914, he embarked aboard the ship Benalla with the Australian Imperial Force, 8th Battalion, B Company. He landed on Gallipoli early in April and was promoted to Lance Corporal on the 23rd of May 1915. He had some unenviable experiences on the battle-scarred peninsula, where he remained until August 31st 1915, when he was wounded in the arm and ultimately invalided to Reading War Hospital in London, England. On the 16th of August 1916, he was admitted to the Bulford Military Hospital with VD- he spent 59 days there before being discharged on the 13th of October 1916. He joined the headquarters staff there in December 1916 when he was admitted to the hospital suffering from pneumonia Recovering he re-joined his regiment in France on December 30 1916, and from that date until receiving the wound that proved fatal at Polygon Wood, near Ypres in Belgium. He was killed in action there on the 20th of September 1917. [Record since amended - NZWGT] Read More

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Casualty

Service Number:

771

Name:

Arthur Donnelly

Name variation:

Arthur Harris Donnelly (BDM Online)

Rank:

Corporal

Date of Birth:

18 June 1892

Place of Birth:

Roxborough, Otago, New Zealand

Education:

Roxborough School

Next of Kin:

Mr W Donnelly (father), Roxborough, New Zealand

Religion:

Church of England

Date of Enlistment:

17 August 1914

Place of Enlistment:

Surrey Hills, Victoria

Marital Status:

Single

Occupation on Enlistment:

Carpenter

Unit:

AIF, Australian Infantry, 8 Battalion

Casualty Details

Cause of Death:

Killed in action

Date of Death:

20 September 1917

Day of Death:

Thursday

Age at Death:

Conflict:

WW1

Embarkation Details

Text in italics supplied by Cenotaph Online, Auckland War Memorial Museum

Cemetery

Cemetery:

Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial

Cemetery Reference:

Panel 7 - 17 - 23 - 25 - 27 - 29 - 31.

Cemetery Location:

Belgium

Arthur Donnelly

Public Contributions:

Submitted by: John Barr

Relationship to casualty: Cousin

Personal Tributes:

Casualty

Casualty Details

Embarkation Details

Cemetery