Donnan, John Walburn (John)
Private
No. 22817, 7th/8th Battalion, Princess Victoria’s (Royal Irish Fusiliers)
Died as a result of an accident on Thursday 14 December 1916 (aged 28)
Buried:
St. Pol Communal Cemetery Extension, France (Grave C. 15)
Commemorated:
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
BIOGRAPHY
John Walburn Donnan was born on 22 April 1888 in the townland of Ballyfrench, Ballyhalbert and he was a son of Hugh and Jane Donnan (nee McKeown) who were married on 17 October 1882 in Newtownards Registrar’s Office. Hugh Donnan was a sailor from Portavogie and he was a son of Hugh Donnan, a labourer. Jane McKeown (aged 20) from Ballyhalbert was a daughter of Hugh McKeown, a labourer.
Later the Donnan family lived in the townlands of Ballyhemlin and Kirkistown, Kircubbin. They also lived at 11 Grove Street East, Belfast; Quinton Street, Belfast and 46 Baywood Street, Belfast.
Hugh Donnan worked as a fisherman and agricultural labourer and later as a labourer in a stone yard.
Hugh and Jane Donnan (nee McKeown) had six children:
William (born 15 June 1884 in Ballyfrench)
Hugh Samuel (born 29 April 1886 in Ballyhemlin)
John Walburn (born 22 April 1888 in Ballyfrench)
Mary Jane (born 6 October 1890 in Ballyhalbert)
Margaret (born 11 July 1892 in Ballyhemlin)
James McKeown (born 31 October 1899 at 11 Grove Street East, Belfast)
John Walburn Donnan worked as a general labourer before he enlisted in Belfast and he served with the 7th Battalion Royal Irish Fusiliers in 49th Brigade of the 16th (Irish) Division. The 7th and 8th Battalions were amalgamated on 15 October 1916 and Private John Donnan (No. 22817) was 28 when he died in 12th Stationary Hospital, St. Pol, France on 14 December 1916.
Private John Donnan was buried in St. Pol Communal Cemetery Extension, France.