| Regimental number | 3377 |
| Place of birth | Ferbane, Ireland (in south-east part) |
| Place of birth | Ferbane, Co Offaly, Ireland |
| School | State School, Queensland |
| Age on arrival in Australia | 2 |
| Religion | Roman Catholic |
| Occupation | Labourer |
| Address | Talga via Atherton, Queensland |
| Marital status | Single |
| Age at embarkation | 24 |
| Height | 5' 9" |
| Weight | 140 lbs |
| Next of kin | Mother, Mrs Mary Donlen, Mareeba PO, Mareeba via Cairns, Queensland |
| Previous military service | Nil |
| Enlistment date | |
| Place of enlistment | Cairns, Queensland |
| Rank on enlistment | Private |
| Unit name | 52nd Battalion 9th Reinforcement |
| AWM Embarkation Roll number | 23/69/3 |
| Embarkation details | Unit embarked from Sydney, New South Wales, on board HMAT A33 Ayrshire on |
| Regimental number from Nominal Roll | 33776 |
| Rank from Nominal Roll | Private |
| Unit from Nominal Roll | 49th Battalion |
| Fate | Accidentally drowned |
| Age at death | 27 |
| Age at death from cemetery records | 28 |
| Place of burial | Dinant 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 |
| Sources | NAA: B2455, DONLEN Owen Joseph |
Postal Address:
Po Box 7916
Canberra BC 2610, Australia
Street Address:
Northcott Drive,
Campbell, ACT 2600
