Name: John Mathers McDonnell Service No: 829307 Rank: Private Service: 144th Battalion (Winnipeg Rifles); 12th Battalion Date of Birth: March 21, 1891 Place of Birth: Lower Argyle, Yarmouth Co., Nova Scotia. Date of Enlistment: December 2, 1915 Place of Enlistment: Winnipeg, Manitoba Address at Enlistment: Winnipeg, Manitoba Age at Enlistment: 24 Trade: Farmer Religion: Roman Catholic Next of Kin: John McDonnell (Father) Winnipeg, Manitoba Height: 5 feet, 6½ inches. Complexion: Sandy Eye Colour: Gray Hair Colour: Dark Discharge Date: March 27, 1919 Date of Death: April 6, 1954 (Manitoba) John McDonnell was the son of John McDonnell (1852-1929) and Agnes Elizabeth (Wrayton) McDonnell (1859-1947) of Winnipeg, Manitoba. His brother, Robert Frederick Sharp McDonnell (1894-1917) was killed at Passchendaele, Belgium on October 26, 1917. Another brother, Dow Lorenzo McDonnell (1892-1963) also served during WWI. John Mathers McDonnell enlisted with the 144th Overseas Battalion. He embarked Canada on September 9, 1916 and disembarked in Liverpool, England on September 25, 1916. He disembarked in France on February 10, 1917 for service with the 12th Battalion Railway Troops. He returned to Canada on February 17, 1919 and was discharged on March 27, 1919 at Winnipeg.

Sources: Library and Archives Canada