Friends of the Somme - Mid Ulster Branch  
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Date Information
17/06/2020
17/06/2020 As an Engine Room Artificer, he was sent to one of the battleships of the fleet in the Irish Sea.
17/06/2020 02807
12/11/2019
12/11/2019 James Donnelly was the son of Owen and Mary Donnelly. James was one of three children, two surviving.
12/11/2019 Naval records suggest James Donnelly was born on 25th July 1887 in Alverton, Westmoreland, America.
12/11/2019 Known family: Owen Donnelly, Mary Donnelly. James Donnelly (born 25 July 1887, USA), Patrick Donnelly (born about 1892, USA)
12/11/2019 The 1901 census lists James as age 13, living with the family at house 17 in Altaglushan, Clonavaddy, County Tyrone. He was still at school. His father was a farmer.
12/11/2019 The 1911 census does not list James as living with the family at house 27 in Altaglushan, Clonavaddy, Pomeroy.
12/11/2019 James emigrated to Canada.
12/11/2019 Engine Room Artificer (4th Class) James Donnelly is buried in Woodlands Cemetery in Gillingham in Kent.
12/11/2019
12/11/2019 Late Chief Engineer at the Hudson’s Bay Store in Calgary, who died of spinal meningitis at the Royal Navy hospital, Chatham, England.
12/11/2019 From an unknown Canadian newspaper in May 1915(?): James Donnelly Dies in English Hospital – a Former Well-known Local Man Succumbs to Spinal Meningitis.
12/11/2019
12/11/2019 Word has been received in Calgary that James Donnelly, who was well-known and popular in local engineering circles, has died at the Royal Navy Hospital at Chatham, England. He was chief engineer at the Hudson’s Bay store in Calgary for some considerable time. While on a visit to his old home in County Tyrone, Ireland, last December, he became so enthusiastic over the efforts that were being made for recruits, that he offered his services as Engine Room Artificer and was sent to one of the battleships of the fleet in the Irish Sea. News was received in Calgary yesterday that he was seized with spinal meningitis and although everything was done for him at Chatham, he succumbed to this complaint. The deceased was also well-known in the Crows Nest Pass district, where he had been employed in the engineering business.
12/11/2019 James was employed in the engineering business in the Crowsnestpass district, south of Calgary.
12/11/2019 James Donnelly went on to become the chief engineer of the Hudson`s Bay Store in Calgary, Alberta.
12/11/2019 James Donnelly returned home and enlisted on 3rd July 1915 in the Royal Navy.
12/11/2019 Whilst serving, Engine Room Artificer James Donnelly contracted spinal meningitis.
12/11/2019 Engine Room Artificer (4th Class) James Donnelly was serving with HMS Pembroke, with the Royal Navy when he died of cerebro-spinal meningitis on 19th May 1915 in the Royal Navy Hospital at Chatham, England.
12/11/2019 From the Calgary Herald dated 23rd June 1915: Artificer James Donnelly
12/11/2019
12/11/2019 The CWGC record Engine Room Artificer (4th Class) James Donnelly as the son of Owen and Mary Donnelly, of Altaglushan, Cappagh, Pomeroy, County Tyrone.
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