O'DONNELL, James
| Service Number: | 59 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | Not yet discovered |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 4th Queensland Imperial Bushmen |
| Born: | Rochester, Victoria, Australia, 1878 |
| Home Town: | Rochester, Campaspe, Victoria |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Not yet discovered |
| Memorials: |
Boer War Service
| 1 Oct 1899: | Involvement Private, 59, Queensland Imperial Bushmen | |
|---|---|---|
| 18 May 1900: | Embarked Australian and Colonial Military Forces - Boer War Contingents, Private, 59, 4th Queensland Imperial Bushmen, AWM Boer War Unit Details, Murray p. 475 notes 4th QIB embarked 18 May 1900 aboard Manchester Port arriving Beira 14 Jun 1900. | |
| 5 Jul 1901: | Discharged Australian and Colonial Military Forces - Boer War Contingents, Private, 59, 4th Queensland Imperial Bushmen, The Brisbane Courier newspaper of 2 Sep 1901, p. 6, in article 'Military Notifications' notes he was discharged in South Africa on 5 Jul 1901. |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by Claude McKelvey
When James O'Donnell enlisted in 1900 in the 4th QIB and his details were published with the rank and file in The Queenslander, 19 May 1900, he noted his N.O.K. as Thomas O'Donnell, Post Office, Rochester, Victoria. In the Boer War Service Paybooks for the 4th QIB, Bk 4 p. 13, it is noted he directed part of his pay to Mrs. Catherine O'Donnell, Rochester Post Office, Victoria.
James O'Donnell was born in 1878 at Rochester, Victoria, a son to Thomas O'Donnell and Catherine O'Donnell (nee Smythe).
In his entry in the Boer War Service Paybooks of the 4th QIB it is noted his gratuity was paid out in South Africa and he was left in South Africa when the contingent returned to Australia. Newspaper report in The Brisbane Courier, 2 Sep 1901, indicates he was discharged in South Africa on 5 Jul 1901. He may well have enlisted again in South Africa with the 6th QIB.
The Boer War Service Paybooks for the 6th QIB, Bk 2 p. 206, notes an O'Donnell (initial indecipherable) was enlisted at Cape Town on 29 Jan 1902 by the overseas colonials office, well after the 6th QIB had arrived. It also noted a copy of his entry was not forwarded, possibly explaining why he does not appear on the original nominal roll. The entry in the paybooks notes his gratuity was paid out in South Africa and he was discharged there on 23 May 1902.
(source- AWM Boer War Nominal Roll, Murray p. 480; Qld State Archives- Boer War Service Paybooks 4th QIB, Bk 4 p. 13; Qld State Archives- Boer War Service Paybooks 6th QIB, Bk 2 p. 206).
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