| Regimental number | 25434 |
| Place of birth | Burketown, Queensland |
| School | St James Christian Brothers (Catholic) School, Brisbane, Queensland |
| Religion | Roman Catholic |
| Occupation | Clerk |
| Address | Tingall Hill, Wynnum, Queensland |
| Marital status | Single |
| Age at embarkation | 22 |
| Height | 5' 3" |
| Weight | 120 lbs |
| Next of kin | Father, J. Donovan, Tingall Hill, Wynnum, Queensland |
| Previous military service | Nil |
| Enlistment date | |
| Place of enlistment | Brisbane, Queensland |
| Rank on enlistment | Driver |
| Unit name | Field Artillery Brigade 3, Reinforcement 18 |
| AWM Embarkation Roll number | 13/31/5 |
| Embarkation details | Unit embarked from Sydney, New South Wales, on board HMAT A67 Orsova on |
| Rank from Nominal Roll | Gunner |
| Unit from Nominal Roll | 1st Field Artillery Brigade |
| Fate | Died of disease |
| Place of death or wounding | Abbeville, France |
| Age at death | 22 |
| Place of burial | Abbeville Communal Cemetery Extension (Plot IV, Row J, Grave No. 5), France |
| Panel number, Roll of Honour, Australian War Memorial | 11 |
| Miscellaneous information from cemetery records | Parents: John and Annie DONOVAN, Wynnum, Queensland |
| Family/military connections | Brother Thomas Donovan 3063 47th Battalion. |
| Other details |
War service: Western Front Embarked Sydney, 29 July 1916; disembarked Plymouth, England, 14 September 1916. Marched into Australian Artillery Training Depot, Parkhouse, no date stated. Transferred to 'A' Battery, from Fort Wallington, Wareham, 26 October 1916. Proceeded overseas to France, 2 February 1917; marched into Australian General Base Depot, Etaples, 8 Febraury 1917. Transferred to 1st Division Artillery, 11 February 1917; taken on strength of 1st Australian Divisional Ammunition Column, 12 February 1917, and posted to No 1 Section. Transferred to 1st Field Artillery Bde, 13 February 1917; taken on strength of 1st Field Artillery Bde, 14 February 1917, and posted to 3rd Battery. Reverts to the rank of Gunner at own request, 25 September 1917. Wounded in action, 31 October 1917; admitted to No 3 Australian Field Ambulance, 31 October 1917, and transferred to No 10 Casualty Clearing Station the same day (gassed); to No 19 Ambulance Train, 31 October 1917; to line of communication hospital, 1 November 1917; to England, 3 November 1917; to No 1 Western General Hospital, Liverpool, 4 November 1917; discharged to furlough, 8 December 1917, and to report to No 3 Command Depot, Hurdcott, 22 December 1917. Found guilty, No 4 Command Depot, Hurdcott, 26 December 1917, of being absent without leave from 1530 hours, 22 December 1917; until 2345 hours, 23 December 1917: awarded 5 days' confined to barracks, and forfeits 2 days' by Royal Warrant. Marched into Overseas Training Bde, 30 January 1918. Marched into Reserve Bde Australian Artillery, Heytesbury, 8 February 1918. Proceeded overseas to France, 20 February 1918; marched into Australian General Base Depot, Rouelles, 21 February 1918. Proceeded to unit, 23 February 1918; rejoined 1st Field Artillery Bde, 26 February 1918. Admitted to No 3 Australian Field Ambulance, 15 October 1918 (influenza); transferred to No 3 Australian General Hospital, Abbeville, 21 October 1918. Died, No 3 Australian General Hospital, 23 October 1918 (broncho pneumonia). Medals: British War Medal, Victory Medal |
| Sources | NAA: B2455, DONOVAN Robert Joseph |
Postal Address:
Po Box 7916
Canberra BC 2610, Australia
Street Address:
Northcott Drive,
Campbell, ACT 2600
