Lives of the First World War

Source information

ID: 6199309

Reference: ADM339

Title: Royal Naval Division Service Records 1914-1920

Description: The British Royal Naval Division was made up of men from the Royal Navy and its reserve forces. These men, who were not needed at sea, fought on land alongside the Army during World War One. The records cover more than 50,000 officers and ratings who joined the Royal Naval Division or who passed through Crystal Palace, London when it was used as an initial training centre during the First World War.

UPP: GBM/ADM339/4057

Credit: © The National Archives

Source information

ID: 7606584

Title: George Donkin

Description: George enrolled at Blandford on the 17 June 1917 and enlisted on the 18 June 1917. He was aged "20 years and 1 month" and was assigned to Anson Battalion 63rd, RN Division.

Connected by: Claire51584

Additional: When I asked my father about a medal bearing the name George Donkin, he knew very little. George was his father's brother and he'd died during WW1. This made me determined to find out about George via all available resources to verify his story. Prior to enlisting, George had been with the Skegness branch of the Territorial Northern Cyclist Battalion for 3 years and 5 months, and was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant Corporal. He was aged 17 when he joined the Northern Cyclists on the 9th of February 1914. His service record shows on the 1st of December 1916, he was admitted to Wainfleet Hospital with “cellulite of the knee” and discharged 9 days later. George was transferred after "War Office letter 121" authorised his draft on the 2nd of June 1917. When he joined the RNVR Anson Bn, he already had “5 scars on his right leg below his knee”. George was "Killed in Action. NOK. inf. RND. List No 1276" on Wednesday the 21st of August 1918 in France.

Source information

ID: 7606595

Title: British War Medal

Description: These brass memorial plaques were issued to the next of kin. It states: " He Died For Freedom And Honour" Cross Ref: British War Medal WO 372 and PRO Medal Index at the National Archives

Connected by: Claire51584

Source information

ID: 7606611

Title: George Donkin

Description: In uniform and with the Northern Cyclists Battalion. Aged about 17. Possibly Bridlington, Yorkshire, England

Connected by: Claire51584

Additional: George worked in a reserved occupation as a miner but he still volunteered for service

Source information

ID: 7606628

Title: Northern Cyclists Battalion

Description: George Donkin is 4th from the right of picture. He was nearly 6 foot tall.

Connected by: Claire51584

Additional: George Donkin is my great grand uncle. He'd been with the Skegness branch of the Territorial Northern Cyclist Battalion for 3 years and 5 months, and was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant Corporal. He was aged 17 when he joined the Northern Cyclists on the 9th of February 1914.

Source information

ID: 7606639

Title: Departure fot the Western Front

Description: Cup Of Blessing book. Entry by George's mum Barbara, "George went to France on this date July 10th 1917 - Great War"

Connected by: Claire51584

Source information

ID: 7606648

Title: Wounded in France

Description: Entry by George's mother, Barbara on the 16th of January. "Our George admitted into 10 General Hospital Rouen [a field hospital]. Wounded and suffering from severe trench feet during the Great War 1918." From Cup Of Blessing book.

Connected by: Claire51584

Additional: By the 13th of January 1918 George had developed trench feet** and on the 18th of January there's a reference to a "field ambulance". He was put in a field hospital at Rouen. Trench Feet developed again 2 months later on the 16th of March and after treatment George returned to active service on the 2nd of April. Trench Foot is a form of frostbite affecting the feet of people standing for long periods in cold water. It was a common affliction in the WW1 trenches. Trench warfare began in September 1914 and ended when the Allies made a breakthrough attack in August 1918.

Source information

ID: 7606772

Title: Northern Cyclists Battalion

Description: In uniform and with his bike. Possibly Bridlington, Yorkshire, England

Connected by: Claire51584

Source information

ID: 7606781

Title: Northern Cyclists Battalion

Description: In uniform and with his bike.

Connected by: Claire51584

Source information

ID: 7606816

Title: WW1 Memorial

Description: Memorial tablet at St. Paul’s Mission Church, Pelton Fell, Durham, England, commemorated the war dead. George Donkin's name is underlined and on the bottom row.

Connected by: Claire51584

Additional: George Donkin is also named on an oak plaque. Column 8, 9th from top at Holy Trinity Church, Church Rd, Pelton. Chester-le-Street district

Source information

ID: 7606831

Title: Vis-en-Artois British Cemetery

Description: Plot: Final resting place unknown. Name listed on the Vis-en-Artois Memorial, Panel 1 and 2.

Connected by: Claire51584

Additional: This record Created by: CWGC/ABMC. Record added: Aug 08, 2010 Find A Grave Memorial # 56666148

Source information

ID: 7606848

Name: Great Britain, Royal Naval Division Casualties of The Great War, 1914-1924

Title: Service Record. Service number: R/2860

Description: Copy of Service History: ex-365107 Cyclist, 2/1st Northern Cyclist Bn., enlisted Chester-le-Street 9/2/14, transferred to RNVR for RND 18/6/17 ; Draft for BEF 9/7/17, joined Anson Bn. 30/8/17-13/1/18 Trench Feet, rejoined Anson Bn. 2/4/18-21/8/18 DD.

Connected by: Claire51584

URL: http://www.fleetairarm.com/naval-aviation-research.aspx#
IWM is not responsible for the content of external websites. Please note that some sources will require payment to view.

Additional: All material collated and cross referenced with family photo's and diary kept by George Donkin's mother, Barbara

Source information

ID: 7606862

Name: 56666148

Title: Find A Grave Memorial

Description: Burial Place: Departement du Pas-de-Calais, Nord-Pas-de-Calais, France.

Connected by: Claire51584

URL: http://www.findagrave.com
IWM is not responsible for the content of external websites. Please note that some sources will require payment to view.

Additional: All information collated and cross referenced matched

Source information

ID: 7606873

Name: R/28600

Title: Find War Dead

Description: http://www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead.aspx?cpage=1

Connected by: Claire51584

URL: http://www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead.aspx
IWM is not responsible for the content of external websites. Please note that some sources will require payment to view.

Additional: All information collated and cross referenced matched

Source information

ID: 7606885

Name: Roll 92. R.N.V.R / I.C. 1510/1918

Title: WWI Medals and Awards

Description: Naval War Medals - Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve

Connected by: Claire51584

URL: http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/records/our-online-records.htm
IWM is not responsible for the content of external websites. Please note that some sources will require payment to view.

Additional: All information collated and cross referenced matched

Source information

ID: 7606907

Title: WW1 Medals

Description: Victory Medal and British War Medal

Connected by: Claire51584

Additional: These medals were given to my great grand uncle

Source information

ID: 7611441

Name: RND_Anson Battalion_France

Title: World War 1 - Casualty Lists of the Royal Navy and Dominion Navies

Description: WESTERN FRONT. 21 August-September Second Battle of the Somme 1918 (or 3rd Somme, or Advance in Picardy), including 21-23 August Battle of Albert (First phase of Second Somme 1918)

Connected by: Claire51584

URL: http://www.naval-history.net/xDKCas1918-08Aug.htm
IWM is not responsible for the content of external websites. Please note that some sources will require payment to view.

Additional: Cross checked as accurate

Source information

ID: 7611611

Title: Remembering 100 Years

Description: To remember the "eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month" of 1918.

Connected by: Claire51584

Additional: RIP my grand uncle George Donkin

Source information

ID: 7611681

Title: Remembering 100 Years

Description: To remember the "eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month" of 1918. RIP my grand uncle George who has no known grave; just his name carved on a memorial stone in France

Connected by: Claire51584

Additional: This memorial dedication to George Donkin is part of the Tower of London Remembers; Blood Swept Lands and Seas of Red.

Source information

ID: 8487369

Reference: gbm_cwgc_casualties_iwm_ww1

Title: Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC) Casualty Records Transcription

Connected by: Claire51584

UPP: GBM/CWGCCASUALIWM/929550

Additional: All details match George Donkin

Credit: © Commonwealth War Graves Commission

Source information

ID: 9034615

Reference: gbm_rnd1914

Title: Royal Naval Division 1914-1918 Transcription

Connected by: Keith1947

UPP: GBM/RND/2513

Credit: © The National Archives

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