B. Greenbank has supplied the following:
Lawrence Parnell Donnely was born 6th Jan 1888 in Morpeth. He was baptised in St. Robert's Church in July 1888 as Laurentius. His father was Joannis Donnely and his mother was Anna Joanna Allen Donnely.
The 1891 Census gives the family address as 98 Newgate Street, Morpeth. His father Joannis (John), aged 48, is described as a solicitor's Clerk, born in Ireland. His mother was aged 46, also born in Ireland. Their firstborn, John F., aged 26, was also a solicitor's clerk, born in Ireland. He later became Superintendent of births, marriages and deaths in Morpeth. A second brother, James, aged 22, a student, was also born in Ireland. Elizabeth, aged 19, was a pupil teacher born in Scotland. The rest of the family were born in Morpeth: George E, aged 15; Louis N, aged 12; twins Patrick and Basil G.F., aged 10; Mary, aged 8; and Lawrence, aged 2.
The 1901 Census gives the family home as 14 Howard Terrace, Morpeth. Father John, aged 58, had retired; mother Anne J. was aged 56. Elizabeth, aged 29, was a school teacher; Louis M, aged 22, was a shop assistant to a boot dealer in Morpeth; Basil G., aged 20, was an architect's clerk. Mary was aged 18 and Lawrence was aged 12.
The 1911 Census has the family living at 27 Howard Terrace. Anne Jane, aged 65, was a widow, grocer, born in Omagh; Elizabeth, now aged 38, born in Glasgow, was an assistant teacher; Louis N, aged 32, was a grocer; Mary was aged 28; Lawrence, aged 22, was a grocer.
Lawrence played cricket with Brother James for Morpeth, Mitford and the County Asylum. There is a photo in the Evening Chronicle Saturday Sports Edition 7/08/1909 showing the cricket team which included F.S. Coble; S.P. Wood; L.P. Donnelly; C.O. Sayer; J. Gibbon (Umpire); B. Bell; J. Speakman (professional); B. Clavering; W.H. Bibby; C.J. Coble; D. Todd (Scorer) and J. Matheson.
Lawrence enlisted in 1914 in Newcastle, giving his address as 27 Howard Street, Morpeth.
The Morpeth Herald 25/08/1916 carries the following:
Sergt. L.F. Donnelly [sic], Morpeth, missing.
Lawrence Parnell Donnely is remembered at Morpeth as L.P. Donnelly on M17.01 and M17.06 , as L. Donnelly on M17.17 as Sgt. L. Donnelly, 25th N.F. on M17.18, as Sergt. L.F. Donnelly on M17.29 and as L. Donnelly on M17.31
