1st Battalion, Auckland Regiment (New Zealand Army)
Date Of Birth:
29/10/1887
Died:
06/10/1917 (Died of Wounds)
Age:
29
Summary
Francis Donaghy was the son of Francis and Margaret Donaghy. He was one of twelve children born in Dunmore, Lissan, Cookstown, County Tyrone. They were a farming family. Francis Donaghy emigrated to New Zealand. Prior to enlisting, Francis was working Ruatiti, Raetihi on the northern island of New Zealand. Francis Donaghy enlisted at Trentham Military Camp near Wellington on 24th August 1915. Private Donaghy was was serving with 1st Battalion of the Auckland Regiment and was injured twice before a third serious injury. He died of wounds on 6th October at No. 44 Casualty Clearing Station in Belgium.
Further Information
Francis Donaghy was the son of Francis and Margaret Donaghy. Francis Donaghy married Margaret McCann on 30th January 1881 in the district of Cookstown.
Francis was born in County Tyrone on 29th October 1887 in Dunmore, Lissan, Cookstown, County Tyrone. He was one of twelve children, ten surviving.
The 1901 census lists Francis as age 18, living with the family at house 1 in Dunmore, Lissan Lower, County Tyrone. They were a farming family. Francis was still listed as being a scholar.
Family: Francis Donaghy, Margaret Donaghy, John Donaghy (born 28th November 1881), James Donaghy (born 30th September 1883), Mary Donaghy (born 16th August 1885), Francis Donaghy (born 29th October 1887), Margaret Donaghy (born 12th September 1889), Patrick Joseph Donaghy (born 28th January 1894), Charles Donaghy (born 11th November 1897), Catherine Donaghy (born 12th February 1900), Peter Alphonsus Donaghy (born 17th April 1902), Bridget Margaret? Donaghy (born 12th November 1903), Michael Augustine Donaghy (born 1st October 1907), Sarah Donaghy (born 28th December 1909).
The 1911 census does not list Francis as living with the family at house 7 in Dunmore, Lissan.
Francis Donaghy emigrated to New Zealand.
Prior to enlisting, Francis was working as a labourer for the O’Neill brothers in Ruatiti, Raetihi. This area is in the centre of the northern island of New Zealand, west of the town of Napier.
Francis Donaghy enlisted at Trentham Military Camp near Wellington on 24th August 1915. He gave his next of kin as his father, Francis Donaghy, who was living in County Tyrone.
Private Donaghy joined the 1st Battalion of the Auckland Regiment on 15th January 1916.
Private Donaghy embarked for France in April 1916.
Private Donaghy was wounded in France on 27th September 1916. He returned his unit in early November.
Private was admitted to hospital again in December. He rejoined his unit in February 1917.
From March 1917, he was disciplined several times and record show he forfeited pay at least four times. Most of these seem to have been for being absent without leave.
By 1st October he was on trial. He avoided prison.
Private Donaghy was serving with 1st Battalion of the Auckland Regiment, New Zealand when he was seriously wounded on 4th October 1917.
Private Francis Donaghy died of wounds on 6th October at No. 44 Casualty Clearing Station in Belgium.
Private Francis Donaghy was buried in Nine Elms British Cemetery, Belgium.
In 1923, his father’s address was given as Tullynure, Lissan, Cookstown.
The CWGC record Private Francis Donaghy as the son of Francis and Maggie Donaghy, of Dunmore, Cookstown, Co. Tyrone, Ireland.
Private Francis Donaghy’s medals remain within the family.
