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Pte. Myles McDonnell
British Army 1st Btn. Cheshire Regiment
from:Altricham, Lancashire
(d.23rd Oct 1918)
Myles McDonnell was born in 1882 in Dublin, Ireland. He was the eldest son of Peter and Catherine McDonnell. In the 1901 Irish Census, when he was 18, he was recorded as living with his parents at 38a Francis Street in Merchants Quay District, Dublin along with his sisters Mary (21), Christina (6), and brothers Andrew (13) and Daniel (9). He married Margaret O’Brien on 4th January 1902 at St. Johns Church, Clontarf, Dublin. Their daughter Jane was born in 1903 in Dublin. Between 1905 and 1911, he and his family immigrated to England and settled in Bootle, Liverpool. In the 1911 census in England he can be found living with his family in 67 Boreland Street (off Marsh Lane), Bootle. He was employed as a dock labourer after working as a pavour in Dublin. 3 more children followed his arrival from Dublin, Peter born in 1912, Kate born in 1914, and Margaret born in 1917.
During the war, Myles moved to 17 Police Street Altrincham, Cheshire, working in the Ammonia and Soda works at Lostock Gralam, Northwich, Cheshire. The company produced salt, ammonia soda, sulphuric acid, and ammonia nitrate for the Ministry. This meant he was a protected worker and had an exemption certificate, Number 4207. However, in January or February of 1918 he left the Soda works and took up employment with Manchester Council Waterworks as a boiler attendant (fireman). Subsequently, this meant that his exemption certificate was withdrawn, and he was conscripted into the army at Chester on 29th of April 1918, joining the 14th South Lancashire Regiment.
On the 11th June 1918, he was transferred to 3rd South Lancashire Regiment, retaining his regimental number. On the 1st October, he was posted to France. After arrival in France, he was transferred to the 1st Battalion, Cheshire Regiment with a new regimental number of 68233.
In the early hours of 23rd of October 1918, he was killed in action during the Battle of the Selle, when his company was tasked with the objective of taking the German held village of Beaurain, just north of Le Cateau. He is buried in Amerval Communal Cemetery Extension, Solesmes, France.
