Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Family group:

Three: Private J. Donegan, 15th (1st Salford Pals) Battalion, Lancashire Fusiliers, later Labour Corps
1914-15 Star (10258. Pte. J. Donegan. Lan. Fus.); British War and Victory Medals (10258 Pte. J. Donegan. Lan. Fus.) generally very fine
The G.S.M. awarded to Private P. Donegan, 2nd Battalion Manchester Regiment, killed in action, battle of Hillah, 24 July 1920
General Service 1918-62, 1 clasp, Iraq (75305 Pte. P. Donegan. Manch. R.); Memorial Plaque (Patrick Donegan) in card envelope of issue, with Aldershot Command Athletic Association prize medal, bronze, reverse engraved ‘Command Relay & Team Race Tournament May 1919 Winning Team 3rd Bn The Manchester Regt. Pte. P. Donegan.’, last in F. Phillips, Military Medallist, Aldershot case, generally very fine (lot) £400-£500

John Donegan was born in Drogheda, Ireland in 1864. In 1911 he was recorded as being a Brick Setter’s Labourer residing with his wife and children (including a ten year old son called Patrick) at No. 8 Brooks Buildings, off Booth Street, Pendleton, near Salford. Donegan was an original member of the 15th (1st Salford Pals) Battalion, Lancashire Fusiliers, and served with them in the French theatre of war from 22 November 1915. He subsequently transferred to the Labour Corps.

Patrick Donegan was born in Drogheda, Ireland, and was the son of John and Mary Donegan of 103 Clarendon Road, Salford. He served with the 2nd Battalion, Manchester Regiment and was killed in action with Arab insurgents at Hillah, 24 July 1920. As part of the campaign against Arab insurgents in Iraq in the Kifi - Kufa area on the Euphrates south of Baghdad, a column was despatched. The column commanded by Brevet Lieutenant-Colonel R. N. Hardcastle, D.S.O., Manchester Regiment, consisted of three companies of the 2nd Battalion Manchester Regiment; two squadrons of the 35th Scinde Horse; two sections of the 39th Battery Royal Field Artillery; one company of the 1/32nd Sikh Pioneers; and one section of the 24th Combined Field Ambulance. On 24 July 1920 whilst in the process of preparing a camp for the evening, a large number of insurgents were reported to be approaching. Misled over the actual numbers advancing, an ill-advised decision was made to retreat. The column headed towards Hillah but in a confused night action, the column became disordered and in many places chaos ensued. Elsewhere men fought bravely and and several decorations were won, including a posthumous V.C. awarded to Captain George Stuart Henderson, D.S.O., M.C. & Bar, 2nd Battalion Manchester Regiment.

Private Donegan is commemorated on the Basra Memorial, Iraq.

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