Friends of the Somme - Mid Ulster Branch  
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F/9833   Petty Officer Joseph Donnelly
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Dated added: 01/01/2016   Last updated: 09/06/2020
Personal Details
Regiment/Service: HMS President II, Royal Navy Air Service (British Navy)
Date Of Birth: 01/11/1888
Died: 11/06/1916 (Died by accident)
Age: 28
Summary      
Joseph Donnelly was the son of Thomas and Maggie Donnelly. Joseph Donnelly was born on 1st November 1888 in the Bellaghy area in the district of Magherafelt. The lived in Creagh, Castledawson for a considerable time. The family then moved to the Alexandra Park area in Belfast. Petty Officer Joseph Donnelly served with the Royal Naval Air Service. He was a motor mechanic. He was with the Russian Armoured Car Division (R.A.C.D.) when he died.He was travelling through Russia when he drowned during general bathing parade, taking place at a railway stop on the River Don at Kisetirinta (near Rostov) on Sunday 11th June 1916. Petty Officer Joseph Donnelly is buried Rostov (Bratski) Cemetery in Russia. However, the CWGC commemorate him on the Haidar Pasha Memorial in Turkey.
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 Joseph Donnelly
Cemetery Details
Cemetery: Haidar Pasha Memorial
  Selimiye Mh, Istanbul
Grave Ref: None
CWGC Casualty 428200
Summary      
The Haidar Pasha Memorial is within the boundaries of the Haidar Pasha Cemetery. Haidar Pasha is a suburb of Istanbul between Scutari (Uskudar) and Kadikoy on the Asiatic side of the Bosphorous. The cemetery is on high ground behind the Haida Pasha pier head and railway station. By ferry from the Golden Horn, Istanbul: Take the ferry from Karakoy, near the Galata Bridge, to Haidar Pasha pier head and railway station. Go around to the right (south) side of the main station building and follow the road east approximately 400 metres. Close to the mosque with twin minarets there are steps up to the Kadikoy Rimtimi Cad Road. Turn left (northwards) along this road (passing over the railway lines) and continue for approximately 700 metres and then at the traffic lights turn left down towards the main entrance to the cemetery which is accessed by a large path to the right hand side as you face the military hospital main gate.
Local Memorial Details

No Memorial Name Townland
1 Castledawson WW1 Memorial - Panel 2 Castledawson
Local Insitute / Local Book Details

No Name Page
1 They Didn't Come Home - Castledawson - WWI 25
References and Links
No Link Reference Map Doc
1 1901 Census lists Donnelly family 1901 census lists Joseph as age 12 living with the family at house 28 in Creagh, Castledawson, Londonderry
2 1911 Census lists Donnelly family 1911 census lists Joseph as age 22 living with the family at house 77 in Alexandra Park Avenue, Duncairn, Antrim
3 BBC Your Place and Mine Some details of Russian Armoured Car Division and Petty Officer Joseph Donnelly
4 Castledawson War Dead Details of Petty Officer Motor Mechanic Joseph Donnelly
5 National Archives UK Naval Medal card can be purchased here
6 Royal Naval Association Brave Report Issue 17 includes report on Petty Officer Joseph Donnelly
Magherafelt District's War Dead Acknowledgements 2014-2023