Lieut. Col. J McDonnell

Location address :Kilsharvan Cemetery, Kilsharvan, Co. Meath, Ireland

Details on cross (Text content of cross):

Lieut. Col. J McDonnell

5th Battn. Leinster Regt Attached 1st R. Inniskilling Fus.

Killed in action 29.9.1918

Text type (e.g. hand-written, GRU tags, carved): Painted

Cross dimensions (millimetres please) Unavailable

Other information

Mounting to wall: Mounted outside set in to a concrete cross with a protective canopy

Detailing: None

Finish (varnish, paint, oiled, unfinished etc): Once painted it is now fading.

Condition (cracked, paint peeling, woodwork, damage etc): Some pitting marks and broken off at the bottom.  However for a cross outside it is in remarkably good condition.

Notes and observations: (optional)

There is a plaque underneath the cross that states “ Above is the original cross erected on the grave of Lt. Col. John McDonnell.  5th Batt. Leinsters (Royal Meath Regt) Attached 1st Batt Royal Inniskilling Fus. on the 29th Sept. 1918. In the reservoir cemetery Ypres and was brought from there when the permanent stone was erected in 1924. Lt Col. John McDonnell of Kilsharvan was the only child of the late Dr Robert and Mrs McDonnell who are buried within the enclosure”

There is a further plaque which states “In loving memory of Robert Edward McDonnell VIIIth K.R.I Hussars of Kilsharvan son of   Lt. Col John McDonnell died of wounds at Barce, North Africa February 16th 1941 aged 26 years”

He was the son of Dr. and Mrs. Robert McDonnell, of 89, Merrion Square, Dublin; husband of Senta Woods (formerly McDonnell), of Kilsharvan, Drogheda, Co. Meath. He was 40 when he was killed. The inscription on his permanent gravestone reads “WHOSOEVER LIVETH AND BELIEVETH IN ME SHALL NEVER DIE”

He is buried at Ypres Reservoir Cemetery.

Survey and Photographs courtesy of: Alan Thorpe

Date of survey: 14.11.2017