Donnan, Samuel Blakely Dunn (Samuel)
Private
No. 27299, 11th Battalion, Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers
Died on Tuesday 19 November 1918 (aged 22)
Buried:
Berlin South-Western Cemetery, Germany (Grave X. C. 5)
Commemorated:
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
Donaghadee and District War Memorial
Carrowdore Parish Church of Ireland Church (Christ Church)
BIOGRAPHY
In some records, including the Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC) Debt of Honour Website, his surname is spelt Donnon. In other records his surname is spelt Doonan.
Samuel Blakely Dunn Donnan was born on 9 February 1896 in Millisle and he was a son of Robert and Elizabeth (Eliza, sometimes Lizzie) Donnan (nee Robinson) who were married on 2 November 1894 in Carrowdore Parish Church of Ireland Church. Robert Donnan from Millisle was a son of William Donnan, a flax worker. Eliza Robinson from Millisle was a daughter of Edward Robinson, a labourer.
The Donnan family lived in the townland of Ballyrolly, Carrowdore.
Robert Donnan worked as an agricultural labourer and he and Elizabeth had two children:
Samuel Blakely Dunn (born 9 February 1896 in Millisle; baptised in Carrowdore Parish Church of Ireland Church)
William John (born 13 February 1900 in Millisle; died of gastritis 22 August 1902)
Samuel was six when his mother died of tuberculosis on 5 November 1902 (aged 30).
Prior to the outbreak of the Great War, Samuel Blakely Dunn Donnan worked as an errand boy and then as a labourer.
Samuel Blakely Dunn Donnan enlisted in Donaghadee and served with the 11th Battalion Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers in 109th Brigade of the 36th (Ulster) Division. Private Samuel Blakely Dunn Donnan was 22 when he died on 19 November 1918 and he was buried in Berlin South-Western Cemetery, Germany.
Private Samuel Blakely Dunn Donnan is commemorated on Donaghadee and District War Memorial and in Carrowdore Parish Church of Ireland Church (Christ Church).