Joseph O’Donnell was born on 2nd November 1876 to Thomas and Bridget née Riley and baptised at Saints Philip and James R.C. Church, Old Chapel Street, Edgeley, Stockport.

He married Annie Sidebotham on 30th May 1896 again at Saints Philip and James R.C. Church and they had 13 children, 6 died in infancy.

By 1901, Joseph and Annie were living at 27, Brinksway, Edgeley, Stockport. After a year in Manchester, they returned to Stockport and in 1911 were living at 10, Oldham Street, Reddish, Stockport. Annie died on 24th January 1912.

By 1914, Joseph had moved to 4, Ford Street, Chestergate, Stockport.

Joseph O’Donnell spent his career as a cab driver. He would have seen massive changes in the cab trade before the Great War. During the 1890’s and 1900’s he would have been driving horse drawn Hanson Cabs, but around 1910 he would have made the transition to motorised taxi cabs. He appears to have spent a year in Manchester about 1908 which may be when he made the transition to motor vehicles.

Joseph enlisted on 15th July 1915 and, probably because of his age and experience, was posted to the Army Service Corps. He landed in France on 19th April 1916 and with his knowledge of motor vehicles was driving trucks delivering ammunition to the artillery. He was promoted to Lance Corporal on 25th July 1917.

On the night of 31st July 1918 Joseph was travelling with the 40th Siege Battery Ammunition Column (S.B.A.C.). The column appeared to be coming to a stop so Joseph dismounted to scotch the wheels of his truck by placing a wedge under them. The column did not in fact stop and Joseph attempted to get back up on his truck, but he slipped and fell under the wheel. He suffered a severe fracture to his right leg and died on 3rd August in the 3rd Canadian Stationary Hospital.

Joseph’s son, Thomas, also served in the army with the 29th Machine Gun Corp. At the time of his father’s death Thomas was in hospital in France recovering from wounds. After the war Thomas O’Donnell was living at 4, Hardman Street, Chestergate, Stockport, while his younger brothers and sisters were living at 23, Hall Street, Stockport with their sister-in-law.

Statement by Bdr, HUNT, A.C., 40th S. BATTERY, R.G.A. who witnessed the accident to L/CR. O’DONNELL, J. 40. S.B.A.C. In the Field.

"On the night of 31.7.18, I was walking with my Battery which was moving in Column, I was walking at the side of No. 2. F.W.D. when the Column appeared to be stopping. L/Cpl. O’Donnell dismounted to scotch the wheels. The Column, however, did not stop then, so he attempted to remount the F.W.D. but in doing so his foot slipped and he fell beneath the wheels."

"Immediately I saw him fall I shouted to the driver to stop, which he did and with the help of other men got him out, and dressed his injuries. I then carried [him] with assistance to a dressing station about 2½ miles off, where he was attended to by the M.O. In my opinion this was a pure accident. Signature of witness. Bdr. A. Hunt. 60988. ----------"

Statement by Staff Sgt. Hutcheson, P., 40 S. BTY, R.G.A. who witnessed the accident to L/CR. O’DONNELL, J. 40. S.B.A.C. In the Field.

"On the night of 31.7.18 I was riding on the front of No. 2 F.W.D. of 40 S.B.A.C.in charge of the guns belonging to 40 Siege battery, R.G.A. We were approaching some cross roads at about 11 p.m. when the convoy appeared to be stopping, and L/Cpl. O’Donnell, who was with me on the F.W.D. immediately dismounted to scotch the wheels, The convoy, however, did not stop at that moment, so he mounted the F.W.D. again, but unfortunately missed the step, and fell beneath the wheels. The driver and I heard his cry and immediately the F.W.D. was stopped."

"With the assistance of N.C.O’s and men on the gun he was got out, his injuries dressed, and made as comfortable as possible, and removed to the nearest dressing station. In my opinion this was a pure accident. Signature of witness. P. Hutcheson, Staff Sergt. 157814 Date 25-8-18."

Rest in Peace...

1. Commonwealth War Graves Commission. “Find War Dead”.
2. The National Archives of the UK; 1911 Census, Class: RG14; Piece: 21415.
3. Joseph’s son James aged 3 years in 1911 was born in Manchester. All the rest of his children were born in Stockport. See 1911 Census record.
4. General Registry Office Online Index Name: O’Donell, Joseph, Mothers Maiden Name: Riley. GRO Reference: 1876 D Quarter in Stockport Volume 08A Page 73.
5. Free BMD Marriages Jun 1896, O’Donnell, Joseph, Stockport, Vol 8a, Page 139 and Marriages Jun 1896, Sidebotham, Annie, Stockport, Vol 8a, Page 139. Joseph’s Army records state that he married Annie in Our Lady and the Apostles’ Church, however, Our Lady and the Apostles’ Church was not built until 1905 when it replaced Saints Philip and James Church.
6. The National Archives of the UK; 1901 Census, Class: RG13; Piece: 3292; Folio: 45; Page: 3.
7. Free BMD Deaths Jan 1912, O’Donnell, Annie, Age 34, Stockport, Vol 8a, Page 56.
8. War Office: Soldiers’ Documents, First World War WO363 The National Archives of the UK.
9. An Enquiry was held into the circumstances of Joseph O’Donnell’s death. The findings are attached to his Service Record.
10. Details of Joseph’s son Thomas are in a letter from the Stockport Police replying to enquiries about Joseph’s next of kin. This is with Joseph’s Service Record.
11. Wells, Dominic “The Soldiers of St. Joseph’s Parish” 2018.