Hooge Crater Cemetery
Hooge Crater Cemetery
Pauline Priano has submitted the following:-
David Donohoe, one of 9 known children, was the 4th born of 5 sons, he had 3 elder and 1 younger sister. His parents were both born in Northumberland, father Thomas Donohoe in 1852 at Alnwick, where he was baptised, December 5th, mother Eleanor McIntyre at Harbottle in 1854. They were married, June 30th 1872 in the district of Alnwick, where their daughter Ellen was born in 1873, Thomas Jnr 1874, John James 1878 and Esther Elizabeth in 1880. By 1881 they had moved to Dunstan Square, Embleton, Thomas Donohoe was employed as an agricultural labourer. They remained at Embleton for a few years, Eleanor gave birth to William Edward in 1882 and David Henry in 1883, however, the family had returned to Alnwick by 1888 for the birth of George Septimus and lastly Kathleen. Living with them in 1901 at 7, Third Double Row, North Seaton, was their daughter Eleanor, her husband Matthew Turnbull and 2 children, Henry and Lily. Matthew was employed as a tailor, the Donohoe men all worked at the colliery. Thomas as a stoneman, William (19) a hewer, David (17) below ground as a putter and George (15) a driver.
At the age of 18 years David was married at St. Aidan’s Ashington and Sheepwash, Northumberland, May 24th 1902, to Joan Ann Forster, known as Jeanie, born January 19th 1880 at Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Northumberland, and with whom he had 4 children, Henrietta born 1903, Duncan McClean September 22nd 1905, David Jnr 1907 and Norah Kathleen in 1910. David maintained his employment as a coal hewer, in 1911 they were living at 121, Clyde Street, Hirst, Washington, Northumberland.
David was living at Craster, Northumberland in 1914 and one of the first to enlist there after the declaration of war, August 4th 1914, assigned as Private 4287, and posted to the 8th Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers part of Kitchener’s First New Army. They trained near home before moving to Belton Park, Grantham, in Yorkshire, joining the new 11th Division at Witley and Frensham for final training, April 4th 1915. He departed attached to the 34th Brigade, 11th (Northern) Division, July 10th 1915, bound for Gallipoli. The division sailed from Liverpool to Murdos, landing at Lala Baba at Sulva Bay, August 6th 1915 where they remained until being withdrawn December 20th 1915 to Imbros and had arrived in Egypt in January 1916 to take over the defence of a section of the Suez Canal. Due to the impact of losses on the Western Front the division was withdrawn via Alexandria, July 3rd 1916, and arrived in France as reinforcements, sent immediately to join the battles on the Somme. During his service Private Donohoe was posted to the 9th Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers and finally to the 19th Battalion, he also rose through the ranks to Sergeant between 1916-1918. In 1917, whichever battalion he was with at the time, he would have seen action in the Arras sector before transferring to the Ypres salient in Belgium. The Northumberland Fusiliers were in action during the Second Battle of Passchendaele between October 26th-November 10th 1917 and fought at the Battle of Bapaume, also the Final Advance in Flanders including the Battle of Courtrai, October 14th-19th 1918.
Sergeant 4287 David Donohoe Northumberland Fusiliers was killed in action on the first day of the Battle of Courtrai, October 14th 1918 and buried by his comrades on the battlefield, his grave marked with a cross bearing his name and military details. After the conclusion of WW1 at the request of the French and Belgian Governments isolated graves and small concentrations were brought into larger cemeteries. The grave of Sergeant Donohoe was found in a small concentration, map reference J. 36. a. 4. 3. the cross was still in place, during the exhumation process his identity was further confirmed by the finding of a disc on his remains, originally recorded as saying 4297 D. Donohue, 18, N. F. R. C. Sergeant Donohoe was brought into Hooge Crater Cemetery for reburial with all reverence and honour by an Army Chaplain, he is at rest, grave XIV. H. 9. at the time of his demise in 1918 he was 34 years of age.
His widow Jeanie received all monies due to him, a pension for herself and the children, his awards of the 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal and also the disc found on his remains, sent to her at 1, Dissington Terrace, North Shields, Northumberland. She commissioned at a cost of 16 shillings 9 pence an additional inscription to be added to his military headstone, it reads, “Beloved In Life Respected In Death God Grant To Him Eternal Rest. R.I.P.”
Jeanie was living in 1939 at Brightman Road, Tynemouth, with her son Duncan, employed as a labourer (Public Works Contractor-heavy work). Joan Ann Donohoe died during the 3rd quarter (Jul/Aug/Sep) 1955 aged 75 years, registered in the district of Tynemouth, Northumberland.
David’s brothers were also eligible for war service, his elder brother Private William Edward Donohoe was killed in action, July 1st 1916, in France, the death of his younger brother Private George Septimus Donohoe preceded that of his own, March 3rd 1918, “at home.”
It should be noted the CWGC have altered their original findings correcting the spelling of Sergeant Donohoe’s surname, his number and regiment as 4287 of the 19th Battalion. His military headstone is inscribed accordingly.
In God’s safe keeping. Rest In Peace.
David Donohoe is remembered at Preston in P17.02 and P17.04 and at Tynemouth in T36.14 pages 1-20
