Martin Donnelly must have been a convalescent patient at Hickwells as he was discharged from the army in December 1914 (that is, three months before Hickwells even opened).  He has two entries in Nurse Oliver’s album. 

 

One entry reads simply:

 

Martin Donnelly. Late East Surrey Regt. 

 

On this page there are also entries from Private W Brown of the 1/9th Middlesex Regiment, Private 41441 Thomas George Clarke of the Norfolk Regiment and 7480 Private Reginald Pimble of the 1st Gloucestershire Regiment.  The second entry reads:

 

No 3655 Pte M Donnelly

East Surrey Regt

 

Present address

 

276 Guinness Buildings

Lever Street

London

E6

 

His entry on this page is shared with an entry by 10690 Private John William Sheridan of the 12th Northumberland Fusiliers.  There is also a small, badly faded photo of a group of soldiers in hospital blues on the same page (which can be seen by clicking the link to John Sheridan's page above).

 

Martin Donnelly enlisted on 30th August 1914 and was discharged on 17th December the same year.  His number indicates that he served with the 1/5th East Surrey Regiment, a Territorial Force battalion, but he did not serve abroad. He was entitled to a silver war badge but the general service or victory medals.  Nothing further is known of this man.

 

 

Sources and Acknowledgements

 

·       The National Archives: Medal Card Index

·       The National Archives: Silver War Badge Roll: E/156/1: WO 329/3043