Personal
Information
Sheet

Name: John Donnelly

DOB: 14th March 1915

Rank: Lance Corporal

Service Identity Number: 3054473

Service/Regiment/Corp: Royal Scots 2nd Battalion

Unit:

Died: 1st/2nd October 1942

John Donnelly Royal Scots 2nd Battalion, who was lost on the Lisbon Maru

Click image to expand and see all images

Personal history before the war

John Donnelly was the fifth of eleven children born to Arthur and Jane Donnelly from Helensburgh, Scotland. Only five of them survived to adulthood. Arthur 1910-1979, John 1915-1942, Mary 1916-1992, Bridget 1920-1982 and Simon, my father, 1924-1991. The others all died in childhood or infancy. William 1908-1920, Catherine 1912, Hannah 1914, Patrick 1918, Jane 1919 and Norah 1922-1936. Maybe this is what generated the need for the group photo when John was born and then the photo of John and his two, youngest siblings, Norah and Simon?

John joined the Royal Scots Regiment in 1933, aged just 19.

Wartime experience

All five surviving siblings served in active service during the Second World War (1939–1945).

John's full service record has not yet been explored, but it is known that his final posting was during the defence of Hong Kong.

Personal history post-war

My grandmother looked out daily for John's return. My father, aunts and uncle never got over losing John. He was lost. No physical evidence of his death. Just a telegram 2 years after the event, which said "presumed dead"!

John's demise was never spoken about within the family and we did not know the extent of this atrocity, until I visited Hong Kong to see the Sai Wan Memorial.

John’s war medals were carefully preserved as a tangible reminder of his service and sacrifice and are not only symbols of John’s wartime duties but also cherished pieces of family heritage. They serve as a bridge between past and present. An enduring memorial to a young man whose life was tragically cut short, and who remained deeply missed by his family until the passing of the last of his siblings, Mary in 1992.

Additional photographs (Click an image to expand and see all images)
Taken in 1915, the baby in the picture is John Donnelly, who was lost on the Lisbon Maru, held by his mother Jane. Standing beside them are John’s older brothers, William (far left who later died of tuberculosis aged just 12) and Arthur and his maternal grandmother (standing) and paternal grandmother (seated).
John Donnelly, who was lost on the Lisbon Maru, with his two youngest siblings, Norah who sadly died at 14 and Simon my father.
John Donnelly, who was lost on the Lisbon Maru, in 1935 pictured on the right of the photo. Shows John in his early days with the Royal Scots, with two fellow recruits preparing to enter a world transformed by war, facing the same uncertainties, dangers, and demands of service that lay ahead. Does anyone recognise these other two men?
John Donnelly, who was lost on the Lisbon Maru. This photo was created by my father, Simon, John’s brother.  It is a cut out from an enlarged copy of the three Royal Scots recruits, which he then painted.  It was mounted in a mirrored frame and had pride of place above our fireplace, for over 50 years.
John Donnelly, who was lost on the Lisbon Maru. From a group photo of the Royal Scots 2nd Battalion in Hong Kong. Colorised by his niece Susan Donnelly.
John Donnelly's war medals carefully preserved by his family. A tangible reminder of his service and sacrifice and an enduring memorial to a young man whose life was tragically cut short on the Lisbon Maru.

The above information was provided by Susan Donnelly niece of John Donnelly.

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