Daniel O'Donovan

Thank you to Bruce Kettles for providing the service file

 

Jul 10, 1883

Born at Killarney Ireland to John and Mary Ann O’Donovan 

By 1914 Daniel, his brother Dennis, and his widowed mother were living in Carlton Place, near Ottawa Ontario

 

  

From We Are the Dead by Larry Gray
ISSN 1201-9364
Manitoba Library Association

 

Nov 6, 1914

Attested into the 21st Battalion at Kingston Ontario 

Ø      Number 59755 (temporary number 998)

Ø      Next of kin given as Mrs J O’Donovan, mother, of Carlton Place, Ottawa Ontario

Ø      Previous occupation given as Fireman (locomotive) for Canadian Pacific Railway

o       Prior to his employment with the CPR, he was employed at the Findlay Foundry in Carlton Place

Ø      No previous military experience given

Ø      Religion given as Roman Catholic

Ø      Assigned to the Transport Section 

His brother, Dennis O’Donovan, also joined the 21st Battalion and was assigned to “H” Company which was later reorganized into “D” Company

 

Dec 23, 1914

Admitted to the Kingston Hospital diagnosed with inflamed Tonsils

 

Dec 24, 1914

Discharged to duty from hospital

 

Jan 5, 1915

Admitted to the Kingston Hospital diagnosed with Gonorrhea

 

Jan 30, 1915

Discharged from hospital to duty

 

Mar 29, 1915

The Transport Section, along with horses and wagons, left Kingston to begin the journey to England

 

Apr 1, 1915

The Transport Section embarked at St John New Brunswick for England.  On arrival in England they proceeded to the Shorncliffe Camp

 

May 15, 1915

The main body of the Battalion disembarked at Devonport England and proceeded to the West Sandling Camp and were joined up with the Transport Section

 

May 28, 1915

Reported to be AWL (Absent Without Leave)

 

May 31, 1915

Reported for duty and was sentenced to 5 days detention and fined $2.00 in addition to the forfeiture of 4 days pay and allowances

 

Jul 4, 1915

Reported to be AWL

 

Jul 8, 1915

Reported for duty and sentenced to 10 days detention and forfeiture of 5 days pay and allowances

 

Sep 12, 1915

The Transport Section embarked for France to be there ahead of the main body of the Battalion

 

Sep 15, 1915

The main body of the 21st Battalion disembarked at Boulogne France and joined up with the Transport Section and then proceeded to St Omer

 

Sep 24, 1915

Embarked for France

 

Nov 30, 1915

Sentenced to 14 days Field Punishment #2 and 15 hours of extra fatigue duty for being absent for 2 days after being instructed to be ready to move into the front line trenches

 

Jan 15, 1916

Admitted to No 5 CFA (Canadian Field Ambulance) diagnosed with Influenza

 

Jan 16, 1916

Transferred to the Divisional Rest Station at Goderwaersvelde

 

Jan 27, 1916

Transferred to the North Midland Division Casualty Clearing Station

 

Feb 3, 1916

Transferred to the No 15 CCS (Casualty Clearing Station) at Hazebrouck

 

Feb 8, 1916

Transferred to the St John’s Ambulance Brigade Hospital at Etaples

 

Feb 29, 1916

Invalided to England aboard the Hospital Ship Gascon

Posted to the CCAC (Canadian Casualty Assembly Centre) while in hospital in England

 

Mar 1, 1916

Admitted to the Duchess of Connaught Canadian Red Cross Hospital at Taplow Bucks.  While here, Bronchitis and Emphysema were added to the diagnosis

 

May 4, 1916

Discharged to duty from hospital

 

May 8, 1916

Transferred to the 39th Reserve Battalion at West Sandling

 

May 10, 1916

Reported to be AWL

 

May 12, 1916

Sentenced to 6 days Field Punishment #2 and loss of 3 days pay

 

Jun 8, 1916

Sentenced to 6 months Detention by Court Martial for being absent after being informed that he was to embark for France.  This sentence was reduced to 42 days in exchange for him proceeding to France

 

Sep 10, 1916

Transferred to the 21st Battalion

 

Sep 11, 1916

Arrived at the CBD (Canadian Base Depot) at the Rouelles Camp, Havre France.  TOS (Taken On Strength) the 21st Battalion

 

Oct 1, 1916

Left the CBD to join the 2nd Entrenching Battalion

 

Oct 4, 1916

Joined the 2nd Entrenching Battalion at Albert

 

Oct 6, 1916

Along with 45 other reinforcements, he joined the 21st Battalion when they moved into billets at Albert.  They had just been relieved from the front line on The Somme and were in desperate need of reinforcements.  Pte O’Donovan was assigned to “D” Company at this time

 

Apr 9, 1917

He was buried near where he fell, but following the war, his remains were exhumed and relocated to a permanent cemetery 





Nine Elms Military Cemetery
Thelus France
 

Post war, the 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal, Plaque (Dead Man’s Penny), Scroll and Memorial Cross were sent to his mother, Mrs MA O’Donovan, at 79 Broad St, Ottawa Ontario 


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