Michael Joseph Donelan (hereafter referred to as Joseph as per the Census records and some military records) was born in 1887 in Ballinasloe, Galway, the son of Patrick Joseph Donelan, a tailor.

By 1901, the family were living at Wood Street in Elton near Bury, Lancashire. At that time Joseph was employed as a doffer in a cotton mill.

By 1911, he was a cotton dyer and the family had moved to South Cross Street, Bury.

Joseph married Mary Lamb at St Marie’s Roman Catholic Church, Bury on the 31st August, 1912. The couple lived with Mary's parents at Lord Street, Heap Bridge, Bury and had one daughter, Kathleen, born in 1914.

Pre-war Joseph worked for Messrs. Frederick Durham and Company and, according to his obituary, he also worked as a labourer at Messrs. Wrigley’s Paper Mills at Bridge Hall.

Joseph was a special reservist prior to World War 1. He was mobilised as a Lance Corporal in F Company of the 3rd Battalion of the Lancashire Fusiliers on the 8th August 1914 and joined his regiment at Sutton-on-Hull.

His medal card indicates that he disembarked in France on the 2nd December 1914. After arriving in France, Joseph was gassed and wounded, but he recovered and returned to the front line, serving with the 2nd Battalion. 

Through early 1916 the battalion moved between billets at Neuvillette, Ransart, Bailleulmont and Beauval. In June 1916 they moved to Bertrancourt and Mailly to prepare for the Battle of the Somme.

On the 1st July 1916, the 2nd Battalion advanced at 8.30am at Redan Ridge. Initially they met little resistance but by the time they had reached the German lines at 9.15am they had suffered heavy casualties, mainly to machine guns and artillery. The battalion progressed to the third line German trenches but were forced to withdraw in the early hours of the 2nd July. The battalion suffered 368 casualties, including over 280 wounded, one of whom was Joseph.

After initial treatment in France, Joseph was evacuated to England, being admitted to the New End Military Hospital, Hampstead, North London. He died there on the 16th July 1916.

Michael was awarded the 1914-15 Star, British War Medal and the Victory Medal.

Michael Joseph Donelan is commemorated at Bury Cemetery, Redvales.

Michael’s CWGC headstone also commemorates his daughter Kathleen, who died in 1920, carrying the inscription “Also in memory of Kathleen, beloved daughter of Mary & M.J.Donelan aged 6 years.R.I.P.”

Joseph is also commemorated on the memorial to parishioners lost in World War 1 at St Marie’s Church in Bury.

Sadly for Mary, one of her brothers (Michael’s brother-in-law), Private Thomas Edward Lamb, was killed in action in Belgium on the 20th September 1917 whilst serving with the 2nd/5th Lancashire Fusiliers. He was 21 years old. He has no known grave and is commemorated on the Tyne Cot Memorial.