John William Donovan

Submitted by Mt Kembla Minin... on Tue, 16/06/2015 - 12:19

First Name:

John

Middle Name:

William

Last Name:

Donovan

Date of Birth:

Saturday, August 20, 1892

Mother's Name:

Elizabeth Donovan (nee Hetherington)

Father's Name:

Dennis Donovan

Date Enlisted:

Friday, February 5, 1915

Rank at Enlistment:

Private

Rank at Discharge:

Private

Unit:

18th Battalion

Company:

B Company

Service:

Infantry

Awards:

1914/1915 Star

British War Medal

Victory Medal

Date of Death:

Sunday, August 22, 1915

Place of Death:

Hill 60 Gallipoli

Cause of Death:

Killed in action

Details:

John Donovan (Service No 505) was born in Gerringong, N.S.W.

At enlistment John was single, 22 years old and worked as a dairyman.

He embarked from Sydney on HMAT A40 Ceramic on 25th June 1915 with B Company, 18th Battalion and arrived on Gallipoli on 20th August 1915. John was engaged in the battle for Hill 60 and was killed while charging the Turkish trenches. He has no known grave.

John's service is commemorated on the Lone Pine Memorial and at the Gerringong Memorial Hall.

John's brother, George Henry Donovan (Service No 2360) also served. Their cousin Joseph Thomas Cooper (Service No 5067) died in the battle for Pozieres.

Sources:

NAA: B2455, DONOVAN J W