Pte 29664 William McDonough

• Age: 31
• From: Runcorn, Cheshire
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 17th Btn
• K.I.A Sunday 9th February 1919
• Commemorated at: Archangel Allied Cemetery
  Panel Ref: Sp Mem B88

William McDonough was born in late 1887 in Runcorn, the youngest of six children born to John McDonough, born in Ireland in about 1855 (1881 Census), a chemical labourer, and his wife Mary (nee Needham), born in Liverpool. They married on the 09th May 1875 at St Joseph's Church, Grosvenor Street. John was of 29 Sawney Pope Street, father Patrick, whilst Mary was of 2 House 2 Court, Sawney Pope Street, father John. They had four children born in Liverpool, their first child, John, died in infancy. After the births of Patrick, Michael, and a second John, some time before 1886, the family moved to Runcorn, where there was a large chemical industry and where Sarah Ann and William were born. 

In 1881, John and Mary live at 6 House 6 Court, Sawney Pope Street, Liverpool. His father, aged 26, is a chemical labourer, his mother Mary is aged 24, they live with their two young sons – Patrick aged 2 years and Michael aged one month (sic). In fact, Michael was born 19^th August 1880 and died in August 1892 aged 2 years. Although they live in court housing, there is a servant in the household. 

In late 1887, John McDonough died, aged 34, in Runcorn and left Mary with four young children – Patrick, born 1878; John, born 1882; Sarah Ann, born 1886(Runcorn); and William, born 1887(Runcorn).

After his death Mary and the children returned to Liverpool, where she remarried to Michael Flannery on the 05th November 1888 at St James' Church, Upper Parliament Street. Michael was of 26 Audley Street, father Michael, whilst Mary was of 11 Audley Street, father John Needham.

Michael “Flanery” and family are found on the 1881 Census living at 3 Court 1 House, Bond Street. Born in Sligo, Ireland are: father Michael, aged 50, a dock labourer, mother Catherine 45, Michael 22, a chemical labourer, Partick 20, foundry worker. Born Liverpool are: Robert 18, a carter, Bernard 17 foundry worker, Bartholomew 15, a shop boy, twins Thomas and Mary 11 at school, and Denis 8 at school. 

The 1891 Census shows that Mary, aged 33, is living with her new husband, Michael Flannery, aged 32, a marine fireman born in Ireland and in addition to her four children to John McDonough, she and Michael Flannery have two daughters – Catherine born 1890 and Mary, 1891 – at 156 Athol Street, Liverpool. William is 3 years old. Also in the household is Michael's mother, Sarah O'Donnell, 62. They have a servant and two boarders. Their daughter, Catherine Flannery, died in 1894 at the age of 4, and in 1895 a son, Bernard, was born.

Their daughter, Catherine Flannery, died in 1894 at the age of 4, and in 1895 a son, Bernard, was born.

His step-father Michael appears on the crew list of the Houston Line S.S. “Fearless”, he is a fireman, aged 46 and born in Sligo. 

In 1901 the family are living at 26 Tillard Street, Kirkdale. Head of the household, Michael Flannery, 41, is a marine fireman, Mary is 42, Mary Ellen is 10 and Bernard 5 (sadly, he died the following year aged 6). Eldest son Patrick McDonough is 22, a restaurant carver, John, 18, is a dock labourer, Sarah, 15, has no occupation, and William is 13. They have two boarders.

The 1911 Census shows a William McDonough, born 1888 in Runcorn, living as a boarder at 6 Brandon Street, Everton and employed by Liverpool Corporation Waterworks as a plumber. It also shows John McDonough, William’s older brother, living at 7 Lune Street, Everton, with his mother, Mary Flannery, his half-sister Mary Ellen Flannery, born 1891, and his niece (presumably Mary Ellen’s daughter) Christina, aged 17 months. Mary senior is said to be married but possibly her husband was away at sea.

On 11th June 1914 William McDonough married Mary Elizabeth Riley in St. John's Roman Catholic Church, Liverpool. William gave his address as 6 Brandon Street, and Mary 14 Rickman Street. No children were born to the marriage.

He enlisted in Liverpool in about August 1917, based on the amount of the War Gratuity, joining the 17th Battalion KLR as Private 29664. His service record has not survived but presumably he served in France before being deployed to North Russia in late 1918 (The Long, Long Trail adds they sailed from Glasgow on the 11th October). He was killed in action on 09th February 1919.

His death was reported in the Liverpool Evening Express on Wednesday 02 July 1919: and in the Liverpool Weekly Courier - Saturday 05 July 1919:

KIRKDALE SOLDIER’S FATE.

Pte W. M’Donough of the 17th Battalion Kings (Liverpool Regiment) is reported killed in operations in Russia. Mrs M’Donough of 14 Rickman St, Kirkdale is anxious to gain fuller particulars and would be thankful if any soldier who has returned from that front could furnish further details in connection with the reported casualty.  

Graham Maddocks describes how William, together with his fellow Pals; 381327 Private Charles Corlett, 114144 Private John Roberts; 114116 Private John Kenworthy; 18619 Private Cyril Maher; 50785 Corporal Charles Lewis Milton and 114191 Corporal Albert Wright; was killed. By early February 1919, the Bolshevik presence in the area of Seletskoe was growing steadily stronger and at 4.30am on 09^th February 1919 they opened up a fierce and sudden artillery bombardment on both flanks of the 17^th Battalion’s forward blockhouse positions and succeeded in cutting their communications with the rear. The Bolsheviks then attacked with infantry and although repulsed with considerable losses on the left flank, they eventually overran the right flank blockhouse position after a fierce fight and killed all its occupants except Private Roberts, whom they captured but later murdered.

A survivor of the Russian campaign, Private J. Grogan, 17^th KLR, described to Maddocks how he went with others to check on Church Post, the right hand blockhouse attacked, as HQ was unable to contact them by telephone;

“When we found them they were dead. They’d all been dragged out and murdered”.

William and his colleagues were all buried in Seletscoe Cemetery.

He is now commemorated on a Special Memorial at Archangel Allied Cemetery.

During both world wars, Archangel was one of the ports through which the Allies assisted Russia with supplies and munitions. The cemetery was begun immediately after the occupation of the town in August 1918 by the Allied force sent to support the Soviet Russian Government against potential threat from German occupied Finland and other local sources. It was used by No.85 General Hospital, No.53 Stationary Hospital, No.82 Casualty Clearing Station, HM Hospital Ship 'Kalyan' and other Allied hospitals. 

ARCHANGEL ALLIED CEMETERY contains 224 burials and commemorations of the First World War, including special memorials to 140 officers and men with known burials in cemeteries elsewhere in northern Russia. Two of the burials are unidentified. The cemetery also contains 7 Second World War burials. The ARCHANGEL MEMORIAL, which consists of panels fixed into the east wall of the cemetery, commemorates 219 British officers and men who died during the north Russian campaign and whose graves are not known.

William was awarded the BWM and VM (which were returned for adjustment). His widow, Mary, recieved his army pay £14 10s 3d and a pension of 13/9d a week, as well as a War Gratuity of £8. She was living at the time at 16 Rickman Street, Fountains Road.

On the 1921 Census at 14 Rickman Street, Kirkdale, his widow Mary, is aged 28 is a boot shop assistant, and is living with her married sister Isabella Carter.  
 
In 1925 his widow, Mary E. McDonough, married Thomas Wood in Liverpool and still lived at 14 Rickman Street, Kirkdale. 

In 1939 Mary, then aged 46, date of birth 26th September 1893, and Thomas Wood, date of birth 09th April 1896, lived at 83 Becket Street, Anfield, and after the war at 494 Rice Lane.

She died aged about 93 in 1986. 

William is commemorated in the Hall of Remembrance, Liverpool Town Hall, Panel 25. 

We currently have no further information on William McDonough. If you have or know someone who may be able to add to the history of this soldier, please contact us.