DONEHUE, Archie Victor
| Service Number: | 2229 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 21 April 1915 |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 1st Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Narrawong, Victoria, Australia , 14 November 1885 |
| Home Town: | Petersham, Marrickville, New South Wales |
| Schooling: | State School, Victoria, Australia |
| Occupation: | Tram Driver |
| Died: | Killed in Action, Gallipoli, Turkey, 6 August 1915, aged 29 years |
| Cemetery: |
Lone Pine Cemetery, ANZAC Plot II, Row B, Grave 23 |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour |
World War 1 Service
| 21 Apr 1915: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 2229, 1st Infantry Battalion | |
|---|---|---|
| 16 Jun 1915: | Involvement Private, 2229, 1st Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '7' embarkation_place: Sydney embarkation_ship: HMAT Karoola embarkation_ship_number: A63 public_note: '' | |
| 16 Jun 1915: | Embarked Private, 2229, 1st Infantry Battalion, HMAT Karoola, Sydney | |
| 6 Aug 1915: | Involvement AIF WW1, Private, ANZAC / Gallipoli |
Great Sydney Central Station Honour Board
Documents in Archie’s WW I military record state that he served for 18 months in South Africa, meaning he was a Boer War veteran. In the Boer War he was in the 3rd New South Wales Mounted Rifles (‘A’ Squadron). This unit was raised in early 1901 and was the sixth and last contingent New South Wales sent to this War. The preference was for recruits who were good shots and riders. Recruits had to be between 20 and 40-years-old, at least five feet six inches (167 cm) tall and have a chest measurement of at least 34 inches (86 cm). However, at this time, Archie was only 15 years of age, so he enlisted under the name of his older brother, Ernest Douglas Donehue, who by then was just 20, but he was obviously a well developed 15-year-old. He had the rank of Trooper (Service No. 2017).
Archie joined the NSWGR&T as a tram conductor in Newcastle on 13 February 1909. His record card shows he was released from duty to join the Expeditionary Forces on 11 August 1914, returned to duty with the Tramways on 29 March 1915 after being discharged from the Military, and was again released to join the Expeditionary Forces on 18 April 1915.
Archie enlisted in the AIF on 20 April 1915, once more using the name Edward Douglas Donehue (Service No. 2229). As before he nominated his mother as his next of kin and stated he was single, but this time gave his occupation as ‘Tram Driver’. He was posted to the 6th Reinforcements to the 1st Infantry Battalion. There is uncertainty about his rank as some documents in his military record show it as Private and others show it a Corporal; the Australian War Memorial has it as Private.
Archie embarked aboard HMAT A63 ‘Karoola’ for Egypt at Sydney on 16 June 1915. After a period in Egypt he was sent to Gallipoli where he landed on 6 August 1915. Sometime between 6 and 9 August he was killed in action. His grave is in Lone Pine Cemetery, Gallipoli Peninsula, Canakkale Province, Turkey. His place of association is Annandale, NSW.
After his death the AIF was informed of his true identity, and that he was married.
Submitted 17 June 2023 by John Oakes
Biography contributed by Robert Kearney
Enlisted and served under alias Edward Douglas Donehue
Biography contributed by John Oakes
Archie Victor DONEHUE (Service Number 2229) was born on 14th November 1885 at Narrawong, Victoria. His parents were Thomas Edward Donehue and Annie Donehue (née Roper). He had a brother, Edward Douglas Donehue, who was about four years older. Archie’s father died in March 1886. His mother remarried and moved to Sydney. Archie married Gertrude Mary Derbridge at Waverley, NSW, in 1907. They had two daughters: Gladys Ada Irene Donehue, who was born in 1908, and Evelyn May Donehue, who was born in 1910.
Archie served for 18 months in South Africa. Therefore he was a Boer War veteran. During the Boer War he was in the 3rd New South Wales Mounted Rifles (‘A’ Squadron). This unit was raised in 1901 and was the sixth and last contingent that New South Wales sent to that War. The preference was for recruits who were good shots and riders. Recruits had to be between 20 and 40-years-old, at least five feet six inches (167 cm) tall and have a chest measurement of at least 34 inches (86 cm). However, at this time, Archie was only 15 years of age. Therefore he enlisted under the name of his older brother, Ernest Douglas Donehue, who by then was just 20. Archie was obviously well developed for his age. He had the rank of Trooper (Service No. 2017).
The 3rd New South Wales Mounted Rifles had a total strength of just over 1,000 men and 1,000 horses. It arrived in South Africa in April 1901. From 2nd May 1901 to 28th April 1902 it served in the eastern Transvaal and in the Orange Free State. It embarked at Cape Town to return for Australia on 4th May 1902 and reached Sydney on 3rd June 1902.
Archie joined the NSW Government Railways and Tramways as a tram conductor in Newcastle on 13th February 1909. He was released from duty to join the Expeditionary Forces on 11th August 1914, returned to duty with the Tramways on 29 March 1915 after being discharged from the Military. He was released again to join the Expeditionary Forces on 18th April 1915.
The first time Archie enlisted for WW I was to join the Australian Naval and Military Expeditionary Force. This small force of volunteers was raised between 10th and 18th August 1914 (shortly after the outbreak of WW I). its purpose was to seize and destroy German wireless stations in German New Guinea. The Force comprised approximately 500 naval reservists and ex-sailors and one battalion of infantry. Actions of this force included the Battle of Bita Paka (near Rabaul) and the occupation of Rabaul in September 1914. This led to the surrender of the Germans in New Guinea.
Archie enlisted under the name of his brother, Edward Douglas Donehue, again. He gave his age as being 34. He had the rank of Private (Service No. 212). For his next of kin, he nominated his mother, Annie Graves, who was living at Petersham, NSW. He gave his occupation as grocer and said he was unmarried. After returning to Australia, he was discharged from the Australian Naval and Military Expeditionary Force at his own request on 22nd March 1915.
Archie enlisted in the AIF on 20th April 1915, once more using the name Edward Douglas Donehue (Service No. 2229). Again, he nominated his mother as his next of kin and stated that he was single. This time he gave his occupation as ‘Tram Driver’. He was posted to the 6th Reinforcements and the 1st Infantry Battalion.
Archie embarked inSydney aboard HMAT A63 ‘Karoola’ for Egypt on 16th June 1915. After a period in Egypt he was sent to Gallipoli where he landed on 6th August 1915. Sometime between 6th and 9th August he was killed in action. His grave is in Lone Pine Cemetery, Gallipoli Peninsula, Canakkale Province, Turkey. His place of association is Annandale, NSW.
After his death the AIF was informed of his true identity, and that he was actuallymarried. His widow was granted a pension of £68 per year, with effect from 9th October 1915. His two daughters were granted pensions of £13 each, with effect from the same date (changed in July 1916, with back dating, to £1 per fortnight for Gladys and 15 shillings per fortnight for Evelyn). By this time, they were living in Petersham. By 26th June 1917, Archie’s widow had remarried.
- based on notes for the Great Sydney Central Station Honour Board