Michael O'Donnell MC**

Kyt · Oct 23, 2008

Honoured at last, Dubliner who won Military Cross three times - National News, Frontpage - Herald.ie

An Irish war hero, who won three Military Crosses in the First World War, has finally been honoured after being forgotten for 50 years.

The body of Michael O'Donnell lay in an unmarked grave in Dublin for decades until Dubliner Liam Dodd led efforts to erect a headstone in his memory.

Unmarked

He won his three medals within seven weeks in 1918.

"I couldn't believe he was in an unmarked grave in Glasnevin cemetery. I'm delighted and relieved he has finally got his memorial," said Liam Dodd of Deansgrange. O'Donnell was one of an estimated 30,000 Irishmen who served in the Royal Dublin Fusiliers during the bloody four-year war.

Dublin had a close attachment to the regiment and some 5,000 members of the regiment were killed in battle.

Large numbers of Dublin youths volunteered to serve together and big battles often resulted in several neighbouring families in the city losing loved ones on the same day.

O'Donnell survived the war and returned to a job in Dublin in the civil service. Widowed with no children, he became a familiar figure at the end of his life walking around the streets of Rathmines carrying a wooden crucifix, reputedly warning the public the world was going to end. He died in 1958, aged 72.

Amputated

Liam Dodd became interested in the story of the Dublin Fusiliers after hearing stories of two great-uncles who suffered at the Battle of the Somme.

One man, William Dodd (23) of Blackrock, was killed on the first day of the battle. On the same day, Liam's great-uncle, Patsy Roe of Blackrock, was wounded and had his leg amputated later on a hospital train.

Patsy's photograph was published in the Herald earlier in 1916 when he was awarded the Military Medal for gallantry. William Dodd's picture was also published in the Herald as one of the many fallen Dubs of the Battle of the Somme.

Liam (56) conducted extensive research about the Dublin regiment and a website run with the help of his family continues to get large numbers of hits and queries from Dubliners about their relatives at The Royal Dublin Fusiliers - Home Page.
Click to expand...

Royal Dublin Fusiliers - Capt. O'Donnell

liverpool annie · Oct 23, 2008

Kyt said: ↑

Honoured at last, Dubliner who won Military Cross three times - National News, Frontpage - Herald.ie

Royal Dublin Fusiliers - Capt. O'Donnell
Click to expand...

Liam has been on the case for ten years ...... thats whats known as perserverance isn't it ?!!

Michael Francis O´Donnell MC - Great War Forum

Antipodean Andy · Oct 23, 2008

A ridiculous state of affairs for someone like that not to have been honoured earlier. Heart congrats to Liam for his perserverance andultimate success. Well done indeed.

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Michael O'Donnell MC**

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