1885 - 1916
CPL David Wallace Crawford
1887 - 1916
Lce-Corpl John Joseph Nickle
1894 - 1916
Pte 17911 Morton Neill
1897 - 1916
Lieut Edward Stanley Ashcroft
1883 - 1918
Pte 15308 John Harold McDonnell
- Age: 25
- From: Liverpool
- Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 17th Btn
- K.I.A Sunday 30th July 1916
- Commemorated at: Thiepval Memorial
Panel Ref: P&F1D8B &8 C.
John (Jack) Harold McDonnell was born on 27th April 1891 at Liverpool the son of John Size McDonnell and his wife Mary Emily (née Bradley). His father was born in Liverpool and his mother in Glasgow, but she came to Liverpool as a young child. They married on the 17th July 1883 at Our Lady of Mount Carmel, Toxteth. John lived at 15 Montague St, father Francis, whilst Mary was from 27 Claribel St, father Thomas. They had eight children, two of whom died young. He was baptised on the 3rd May 1891 at St Anne’s, Edge Hill. Jack had older siblings John Francis (who died at age 3), Thomas, Margaret (who died at 9 months), and Mary Josephine, and younger siblings Grace, Robert, and Kathleen.
In 1901 the family is living at 6 Salisbury Terrace, Wavertree with six children. His father is aged 52, a railway bookkeeper, mother Mary is aged 45, children Thomas 15, a wine merchant’s boy, Mary J. 11, John H. 9, Grace A, 7, Robert J. 6, and Kathleen J. 3.
He was educated at St Edward’s College, Liverpool and attended St Alban’s Church and was a member of the Catholic Young Men’s Society. Jack worked for the Nelson Shipping Line before he enlisted.
He enlisted at St George's Hall in Liverpool, joining the 17th Battalion, of The King’s Liverpool Regiment as Private No 15308. Based on his regimental number and the amount of the War Gratuity, Jack enlisted in August 1914, and served in ‘B’ Company.
He was billeted at Prescot Watch Factory from 14th September 1914, he trained there and also at Knowsley Hall. On 30th April 1915 the 17th Battalion alongside the other three Pals battalions left Liverpool via Prescot Station for further training at Belton Park, Grantham. They remained here until September 1915 when they reached Larkhill Camp on Salisbury Plain.
He was killed in action on the 30th July 1916 aged 25 at the village of Guillemont, France, during the Somme Offensive.
7th Battalion Diary 30th July 1916
The Battalion was in support to 19 & 20 Battalions K.L.R. 2 Coys. behind 19th & 2 Coys. behind 20th. Very thick mist. The attack was pushed home to the objective in places but in the main was held up by machine gun fire from hidden machine guns.
Fighting continued all day swaying backwards and forwards until by 6pm about 300 yards in depth had been gained & consolidated all along our front.
Casualties in the 17th Battalion were 15 Officers and 281 Other Ranks
Further details are reported in more detailed by Everard Wyrall in his book The History of the King’s Regiment (Liverpool) 1914-1919 Volume II 1916-1917
The 17th King’s had advanced (two companies each behind the 19th and 20th Battalions) in small columns. They too suffered heavily from machine-gun fire and were quickly absorbed into the waves that preceded them. They also shared the gains and losses of that terrible day.
When darkness fell on the battlefield the 30th Division held a line from the railway on the eastern side of Trones Wood , southwards and including Arrow Head Copse, to east of Maltz Horn Farm. On this line the division was relieved by the 55th Division during the early hours of the 31st July.
The events of 30th July 1916 were regarded at the time as Liverpool’s blackest day. There follows an extract from The History of the 89th Brigade written by Brigadier General Ferdinand Stanley which gives an indication of the events of the day.
Guillemont
Well the hour to advance came, and of all bad luck in the world it was a thick fog; so thick that you couldn’t see more than about ten yards. It was next to impossible to delay the attack – it was much too big an operation- so forward they had to go. It will give some idea when I say that on one flank we had to go 1,750 yards over big rolling country. Everyone knows what it is like to cross enclosed country which you know really well in a fog and how easy it is to lose your way. Therefore, imagine these rolling hills, with no landmarks and absolutely unknown to anyone. Is it surprising that people lost their way and lost touch with those next to them? As a matter of fact, it was wonderful the way in which many men found their way right to the place we wanted to get to. But as a connected attack it was impossible.
The fog was intense it was practically impossible to keep direction and parties got split up. Owing to the heavy shelling all the Bosches had left their main trenches and were lying out in the open with snipers and machine guns in shell holes, so of course our fellows were the most easy prey.
It is so awfully sad now going about and finding so many splendid fellows gone.
The Birkenhead News reported :
A SOLDIERS DEATH
During an advance against the German lines which his battalion made on the morning of July 30th. Private John McDonnell, whose parents, Mr. and Mrs. J. S. McDonnell, reside at 41, Central Park-avenue, Liscard, was shot in the head. Receiving his earlier education at St. Edward's College, Liverpool, he afterwards entered the employ of Messrs. H. and I. W. Nelson, shipping agents. On the formation of the "Pals" he enlisted in the 1st battalion, and proceded to France in November last. In the first stages of the great offensive he had a narrow escape, for by some means or other his pack became ignited. However, he came through this ordeal, and then the sad tidings were received that he had been killed. Writing to Mrs. McDonnell one of Private McDonnell's school chums said: "Jack was shot through the head with a machine gun bullet, and I think died instantaneous. It was a terrible time for us, and a lot of the old boys have gone under. Jack has died a soldiers death, and God is his reward." A regular attender at St. Alban's Church, Liscard, the fallen soldier was also a popular member of the Catholic Young Men's Society. He was twenty five years of age. His brother, Lance-Corp. Bob McDonnell, also of the "Pals," who was wounded on July 02nd, is at present in hospital near Cardiff.
“July 30, killed in action, aged 25 years, John (Jack), Pals, second son of Mr. and Mrs. J. S. McDonnell, 41 Central Park Avenue, Liscard. R.I.P.”
Pte. John McDonnell, of the Liverpool "Pals," was killed in action on July 30. He was 26 years of age, and the second son of and Mr. And Mrs. J. S. McDonnell, who reside at 41, Central Park Avenue, Liscard.
Again in Nottingham and Midland Catholic News on Saturday 02 September 1916:
John McDonnell, whose parents reside et 41, Central Park Avenue, Liscard, was shot in the head on July 30. On the formation of the Liverpool "Pals" he enlisted in the 1st battalion and proceeded to France last November. In the first stages of the offensive he had a narrow escape, for by some means or other his pack somehow ignited. A regular attender at St. Alban’s, Liscard, deceased was also a member of the C.Y.M.S. He was twenty-five years of age.
Jack's body was not recovered or was subsequently lost as he has no known grave and is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial.
The Thiepval Memorial, the Memorial to the Missing of the Somme, bears the names of more than 72,000 officers and men of the United Kingdom and South African forces who died in the Somme sector before 20 March 1918 and have no known grave. Over 90% of those commemorated died between July and November 1916.
On 01st August 1932 the Prince of Wales and the President of France inaugurated the Thiepval Memorial in Picardy. The inscription reads: “Here are recorded the names of officers and men of the British Armies who fell on the Somme battlefields between July 1915 and March 1918 but to whom the fortune of war denied the known and honoured burial given to their comrades in death.”
He is also commemorated in the book, "Clan Donald Roll of Honour 1914-1918".
The dedication reads,
"At the Call of Duty from the Four Corners of the Earth Came the Children of the Clan to Battle for the Right.
In many graves in many lands their gallant bodies sleep. Their spirits rest with God.
To their loved ones, bereaved of them, this Roll proclaims the price the Clan hath paid.
A token it is also, bringing pride to lighten grief for lives so well laid down.
For this we know: They yet shall live again."
We currently have no further information on John Harold McDonnell, if you have or know someone who may be able to add to the history of this soldier, please contact us.
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