• Born: 1896, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia ¹
• Died: 20 Jul 1916, WWI (killed in action)

  Research Notes:

The A.I.F. Project

Regimental number3586
Date of birth5 June 1896
Place of birthSydney, New South Wales
SchoolKogarah Public School, New South Wales
ReligionChurch of England
OccupationSalesman
Address'Rosemount', Wallace Street, Kogarah, New South Wales
Marital statusSingle
Age at embarkation21
Height5' 9"
Weight145 lbs
Next of kinFather, J G O'Donnell, 'Rosemount', Wallace Street, Kogarah, New South Wales
Previous military serviceServed for 3 years in the Senior Cadets; permanent exception, eyesight deficient.
Enlistment date27 October 1915
Place of enlistmentHolsworthy, New South Wales
Rank on enlistmentPrivate
Unit name19th Battalion, 8th Reinforcement
AWM Embarkation Roll number23/36/2
Embarkation detailsUnit embarked from Sydney, New South Wales, on board HMAT A35 Berrima on 12 December 1915
Rank from Nominal RollPrivate
Unit from Nominal Roll54th Battalion
FateKilled in Action 20 July 1916
Age at death from cemetery records22
Place of burialNo known grave
Commemoration detailsV.C. Corner (Panel No 11), Australian Cemetery Memorial, Fromelles, France
Panel number, Roll of Honour,
Australian War Memorial159
Miscellaneous information from
cemetery recordsParents: John and Elizabeth O'DONNELL, 'Rosenmount', West Kogarah, New South Wales
Family/military connectionsBrothers: 288 Pte Harold Gordon O'DONNELL, 5th Company, Machine Gun Corps, died of wounds, 21 June 1917; Captain John Layman O'DONNELL, 18th Bn, returned to Australia, 13 March 1918.
Other details

War service: Egypt, Western Front

Allotted to and proceeded to 54th Bn from 5th Training Bn, Zeitoun, 14 February 1916; joined 54th Bn, Tel el Kebir, 16 February 1916.

Admitted to No 15 Field Ambulance, Ferry Post, 19 April 1916 (influenza); discharged to duty and rejoined unit, 22 April 1916.

Embarked Alexandria to join the British Expeditionary Force, 19 June 1916; disembarked Marseilles, France, 29 June 1916.

Posted missing, 20 July 1916.

Now, 28 July 1916, reported as 'Killed in Action, 20 July 1916'.

Note, Red Cross File No 2040108: 'No trace Germany. Cert by Capt. Mills. 10.10.19.'
Medals: British War Medal, Victory Medal