John Roy O'DONNELL DCM

O'DONNELL, John Roy

Service Number: 548
Enlisted: 14 September 1914, Enlisted at Rosebery Park, NSW
Last Rank: Sergeant
Last Unit: 45th Infantry Battalion
Born: Provincetown, Barnstable, Massachusetts, USA, 15 June 1892
Home Town: Darlinghurst, City of Sydney, New South Wales
Schooling: Not yet discovered
Occupation: Salesman
Died: Massachusetts, United States of America, 14 June 1966, aged 73 years, cause of death not yet discovered
Cemetery: Not yet discovered
Memorials:
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World War 1 Service

14 Sep 1914: Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 548, 13th Infantry Battalion, Enlisted at Rosebery Park, NSW
22 Dec 1914: Involvement Private, 548, 13th Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '11' embarkation_place: Melbourne embarkation_ship: HMAT Ulysses embarkation_ship_number: A38 public_note: ''
22 Dec 1914: Embarked Private, 548, 13th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Ulysses, Melbourne
2 May 1915: Wounded AIF WW1, Private, 548, 13th Infantry Battalion, ANZAC / Gallipoli
3 Mar 1916: Transferred AIF WW1, Corporal, 45th Infantry Battalion , From 13th Battalion
10 Aug 1916: Honoured Distinguished Conduct Medal, For conspicuous gallantry. When the sap was blocked he led up his platoon to the firing line across the open under heavy shell fire, and showed great coolness and courage in helping to consolidate and hold the line under trying circumstances. Commonwealth Gazette No. 62. on 19 April 1917
15 Feb 1917: Wounded AIF WW1, Sergeant, 548, 45th Infantry Battalion , Second occasion. Wound to the shoulder. Embarked for England on 24 February 1917 aboard HS Grantully
22 Jun 1918: Discharged AIF WW1, Sergeant, 548, 45th Infantry Battalion , Discharged at the 2nd Military District as medically unfit due to wounding

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Biography contributed by Carol Foster

Attestation has his place of birth as North Head, Great Manan, Canada but it seems he was born Massachusetts, USA then moving to Canada when very young.

Son of Michael O'Donnell and Ada Minnie O'Donnell nee Sorvil of North Head, Grand Manan New Brunswick, Canada

Commenced return to Australia on 15 February 1918 aboard HT Llanstephen Castle disembarking on 14 April 1918

Medals: Distinguished Conduct Medal, 1914-1915 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal. 

On 3 July 1918 John left Sydney for America aboard SS Riverina connecting with SS Moana at Wellington, NZ and thence to San Francisco then by rail to Boston, Massachusetts, USA. 

Husband of Mary Louise O'Donnell nee Smith of Dean Road, Rockport, Massachusetts, USA

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