Trafford

Born during the December quarter 1883 at Athlone, Ireland, the son of
Martin & Mary Donnelly.  

1891 Census - No Trace - still in Ireland perhaps ???

1901 Census - 9 Galeybeg, Lecarrow, Co. Roscommon, Ireland.   Son - aged:
17 - occ: Agricultural Labourer.   Also listed was his parents - Martin &
Mary Donnelly together with his sisters - Mary (13) and Jane (10).

At some point after 1901, he travelled to England.and began boarding at 9
Chapel Street, though there are no Donnelly's listed on any Chapel Street
Census.

1911 Census - No Trace.

WO363 - Attested on 16/02/1916 into the 3rd/4th Battalion, Cheshire Rgt -
No. 4316.  He was aged 32 years 2 months and employed as a Farm Labourer,
residing at 22 Chapel Street, Altrincham.    Height 5 feet 5 1/2 inches -
chest 37 inches with a 3 1/2 inch expansion - weight 133 lb.     Next of
kin listed as Mary Donnelly, Lecarrow, Ireland (mother perhaps?).    
Posted to France in the 1/4th Battalion, Cheshire Rgt on the 7th September
1916.  Transferred into the 11th Bn. Cheshire Rgt on the 16th September
1916.   Injured his right hand 06/04/1917 and spent 26 days in the 4th
Norhtern General Hospital at Lincoln, being discharged on 02/05/1917.     
Drafted to France and embarked at Southampton on 27/06/1917, arriving at Le
Havre on 18/06/1917.     Arrived at the Cyclists Base Depot on 29/06/1917. 
   Posted to the field on 20/07/1917 and joined the 10th Bn. Cheshire Rgt
in the field on 25/07/1917.    On the 27th October 1919, a declaration was
made by Mary Oxley (a friend) 22 Chapel Street that Martin had no relatives
living then - no parents, no brothers or sisters, no aunts or uncles.    
His medals were sent to Mary Oxley.

Private Donnelly died during what became known as the Third Battle of
Ypres, which ran from 31/07/1917 to 10/11/1917.    Within this overall
Battle, there were eight sub-battles, as follows:- Battle of Pilckem
31/07/1917 to 02/08/1917.   Battle of Langemark 16/08/1917 to 18/08/1917 -
plus six more.

These were all major affairs, but fighting continued incessantly throughout
the period.  It would appear that he died just after the "official" end of
the Battle of Pilckem.

See also "The Bravest Little Street in England" by Karen Cliff, Trafford
Local Studies Library.