Herbert O'Donnell was the son of Michael O’Donnell. Michael was born 1853 in Bradford. He married Hannah Maria Eggleton in 1873.

Herbert, one of nine children, was born 21 March 1880 in Saltaire.  In 1881 the family were living at 2 Albert Terrace in Saltaire with Michael working as a grease extractor at Saltaire Mills. By 1891 they had moved to 32 George Street in Saltaire, with Herbert working as a spinner at Saltaire Mills. By 1901 they were living at 45 George Street in Saltaire.

Herbert joined the Army 12 April 1898 and was on garrison duty at Gravesend for about nine months. He was then in Malta for just over two years, before leaving for South Africa in February 1900.

Herbert served as a Lance Corporal with the 3rd Battalion Royal Warwickshire Regiment and saw action in the Second Boer War (11 October 1899 to 31 May 1902). He was killed in action 25 December 1901 at Noonskraal in South Africa.

Brass plaque (St Pauls Shipley) inscribing the name of Herbert O'Donnell.

Herbert had an older brother, John, who also lost his life through serving in South Africa, and two younger brothers, Harold and Gordon, who survived World War One.

Herbert is remembered on a brass plaque inside St Paul’s church in Shipley.

 

John Thomas O’Donnell was the son of Michael O’Donnell. Michael was born 1853 in Bradford. He married Hannah Maria Eggleton in 1873.

John, one of nine children, was born 1876 in Shipley. In 1881 the family were living at 2 Albert Terrace in Saltaire with Michael working as a grease extractor at Saltaire Mills. By 1891 they had moved to 32 George Street in Saltaire with John working as a seal finisher at Saltaire Mills. By 1901 they were living at 45 George Street.

John joined the Army in 1891 and saw service in various parts of the world; by 1896 he was a Private with the 2 nd Battalion West Riding Regiment.

John died of malarial fever 22 September 1902 in Port Blair, the capital of the Andaman Islands (an Indian territory in the Bay of Bengal). His death was indirectly due to the conditions he had to endure fighting in the Second Boer War (11 October 1899 to 31 May 1902).

John had a younger brother, Herbert, who also lost his life in South Africa, and two other brothers, Harold and Gordon, who survived World War One.