Name: Robert McDonnell Regimental Number: 830475 Rank: Lance Corporal Battalion: 44th Battalion Date of Birth: July 6, 1894 Place of Birth: Argyle, Yarmouth Co., Nova Scotia Date of Enlistment: January 8, 1916 Place of Enlistment: Winnipeg, Manitoba Address at Enlistment: 589 Flett St., Winnipeg, Manitoba Age at Enlistment: 21 Height: 5 Feet 7 Inches Complexion: Dark Eyes: Brown Hair: Brown Marital Status: Single Trade: Clerk Religion: Roman Catholic Next of Kin: John McDonnell (Father) 589 Flett St., Winnipeg, Manitoba Date of Death: October 26, 1917 Age at Death: 23 Cemetery: Buttes New British Cemetery, Belgium Grave Reference: III. C. 15. Commemorated on Page 281 of the First World War Book of Remembrance Displayed in the Memorial Chamber of the Peace Tower in Ottawa on June 20 and June 2 Not Commemorated on the Yarmouth War Memorial Robert Frederick Sharpe McDonnell was born in Argyle, Yarmouth County, Nova Scotia on July 6, 1894, the son of John McDonnell (1851-1929) and Agnes Elizabeth (Wrayton) McDonnell (1859-1947). Robert’s mother was born in Shag Harbour, Shelburne Co., NS, and his father was born in Blackrock, Dublin, Ireland. Robert’s siblings were Kathleen Francis McDonnell (1882-1958), Lovell Evatt McDonnell (1884-1924), Eileen McDonnell (1885-1948), Wrayton McDonnell (1888-1958), John Mathers McDonnell (1891-1954), Dow Lorenzo McDonnell (1892-1963), Agnes Margaret McDonnell (1898-1988), and Arthur Marsden McDonnell (1900-1993). Robert’s brother Dow Lorenzo McDonnell also served in WWI (Service No. 3346686) with the 1st Depot Battalion, Manitoba Regiment. He enlisted May 27, 1918, in Winnipeg, Manitoba, only served in Canada and was discharged January 21, 1919. His brother John Mathers McDonnell also served with the 144th and 12th Battalions in England and France. In 1916, the family was living in Winnipeg, Manitoba. Robert enlisted with the 144th Overseas Battalion of Winnipeg, Canadian Expeditionary Forces, on January 8, 1916. He embarked Canada at Halifax on September 18, 1916, and disembarked in Liverpool, England on September 25, 1916. On January 1, 1917, he was transferred to the 18th Reserve Battalion and on February 26, 1917, was drafted to the 44th Battalion. He arrived in France on March 22, 1917, and joined the unit in the field on April 20, 1917. On August 23, 1917, he was reported missing after action but later reported safe with the unit. He was appointed Lance Corporal on September 1, 1917. Lance Corporal Robert McDonnell was killed in action on October 26, 1917, during an attack south of Passchendaele.

Robert McDonnell