The AIF Project

Owen Joseph DONLEN

Regimental number3377
Place of birthFerbane, Ireland (in south-east part)
Place of birthFerbane, Co Offaly, Ireland
SchoolState School, Queensland
Age on arrival in Australia2
ReligionRoman Catholic
OccupationLabourer
AddressTalga via Atherton, Queensland
Marital statusSingle
Age at embarkation24
Height5' 9"
Weight140 lbs
Next of kinMother, Mrs Mary Donlen, Mareeba PO, Mareeba via Cairns, Queensland
Previous military serviceNil
Enlistment date14 October 1916
Place of enlistmentCairns, Queensland
Rank on enlistmentPrivate
Unit name52nd Battalion 9th Reinforcement
AWM Embarkation Roll number23/69/3
Embarkation detailsUnit embarked from Sydney, New South Wales, on board HMAT A33 Ayrshire on 24 January 1917
Regimental number from Nominal Roll33776
Rank from Nominal RollPrivate
Unit from Nominal Roll49th Battalion
FateAccidentally drowned 22 December 1918
Age at death27
Age at death from cemetery records28
Place of burialDinant Communal Cemetery (in South-East part), Belgium
Panel number, Roll of Honour,
  Australian War Memorial
148
Miscellaneous information from
  cemetery records
Parents: Owen and Mary DONLEN, Mareeba, Queensland. Native of Ferbane, Ireland
Other details

War service: Western Front

Embarked Sydney on 'Ayreshire', 24 January 1917.

Admitted to the ship's hospital, 12 March 1917; discharged from the ship's hospital, 14 March 1917. Disembarked Devonport, England, 12 April 1917; marched into 13th Training Bn, Codford, 13 April 1917.

Admitted to Group Hospital, 16 June 1917 (innoculation); discharged to duty, 19 June 1917. Proceeded overseas to France through Folkestone, 6 August 1917; marched into 4th Australian Division Base Depot, Havre, 8 August 1917; marched out to 52nd Bn, 22 August 1917, and taken on strength, 24 August 1917.

Admitted to 3rd Australian Field Ambulance, 18 October 1917, and transferred to 2nd Canadian Casualty Clearing Station (gun shot wound, right leg); to 3rd Canadian General Hospital, Boulogne, 19 October 1917. Proceeded to England on 'Jan Breydal', 21 October 1917, and admitted to East Leeds War Hospital; transferred to 1st Auxiliary Hospital, Harefield, 18 December 1917; discharged on furlough, 20 December 1917. Marched into No 1 Command Depot, Sutton Veny, 3 January 1917; marched into Overseas Training Brigade, Deverill, 2 February 1918.

Embarked Southampton and proceeded overseas to France, 21 February 1918; marched into No 4 Australian Infantry Base Depot, Havre, 22 February 1918; rejoined unit, 26 February 1918.

Admitted to 13th Australian Field Ambulance, 21 March 1918, and transferred to 2nd Casualty Clearing Station (syphillis); to 39th General Hospital, Havre, 26 March 1917; discharged to Australian Infantry Base Depot, Havre, 21 May 1918 (total period of treatment for venereal disease: 62 days); moved out to unit, 31 May 1918. Transferred to 49th Bn and taken on strength, 4 June 1918.Detached to 13th Infantry Brigade, 27 June 1918, returned to unit, 13 July 1918; proceeded to United Kingdom on leave, 18 November 1918, rejoined unit, 9 December 1918.

Drowned accidentally in River Meuse, Bouvignes, 22 December 1918.

Medals: British War Medal, Victory Medal
SourcesNAA: B2455, DONLEN Owen Joseph

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