Hello Everyone,
I posted a while back, asking for help to find my Paternal Grandfather; John O'Donnell and the rest of my O'Donnell ancestors who originated from Carrick on Suir, Tipperary, Ireland.
With much digging and delving and a ton of help from some amazing genealogical geniuses on here I have managed to find much information about my Grandfathers immediate family and the early years of his life!
But I am here again calling on your expertise to help me with his latter years!
Up to date, I know that John O'Donnell was a Private in the Royal Munster Fusiliers in WW1 and his last deployment in 1922 was in Egypt until the RMF disbanded in the July of that year.
From Paperwork I have found, he was discharged to Warwickshire that thereafter.
The next trace I have on him is an admission record for St Pancras Workhouse on 1.1.1923 but discharged the same day for St Pancras Hospital.
& I also know that two of his sisters (Eliza Beckingham) and (Bridget Hemmi) lived in that local London Area at this time
Unfortunately I have been unable to access the admission records for St Pancras Hosp, in the hope of finding reason and discharge information.
But I am then able to place him at Rowton House, Arlington Road in South West St Pancras in the years 1924-1925. He was in fact living with his Brother Patrick O'Donnell at this address.
Although in 1926 only John is found on the electoral roll at Arlington Road.
Upon discovering my Grandfathers date of birth from Military Records; 31.05.1902 I was able to order his Death Certificate. He died on 31.01.1980 in Luton Bedfordshire at St Marys Hospital but was living at 77, Icknield Way also in Luton and also with his brother Patrick again!
I have found records that place Patrick and John living at the above address in the years 1978, 1979 and 1980.
In 1978 Patricks Wife; Olive Maud (Stilwell - Maiden Name) (Dodkin - Previous Marriage Name) was living at Icknield Way, also. However she died in the April of that Year.
Patricks DOB: 10.08.1900
Olives DOB: 17.12.1903
Patrick went on to live until 1990.
I have failed to find any address history for John, Patrick or Olive in Luton or quite frankly anywhere before 1978 and after 1980, but I would love to know more locations and dates for my Grandfather and where and when John and Patrick moved back in together after 1926.
Patrick and Olive were married on 27.09.1949 which is the same year my Father was born on 16.06, both in Watford, Hertfordshire.
Although I do know that Patrick and Olive lived with one another years before the marriage in 1939 at 6, King Edward Road, Oxhey Village, Watford, Hertfordshire. This is within the area that my Father grew up and thus myself years later.
Olives Mother; Elizabeth Rose was also named at the above address marked as divorced. Interestingly both Olive who was also previously married was noted, however, as Single with her married name spelt wrongly as Godkin instead of Dodkin and Patricks date of birth was recorded as 1902 instead of 1900 but I understand that mistakes were common in those days in these types of records.
I cannot find my Grandfather, John anywhere in the entire 1939 register!
I hope this ramble of random information that I have gathered so far, makes some sense to someone.. anyone that can help me to decipher some more.
I am just desperate to learn more about my allusive Grandfather's journey through life and place some more of the puzzle pieces into his bigger picture.
So any help, advice, information, anything and everything is welcomed with open, very grateful arms! (and if I have missed anything vital or something doesn't make sense please ask as its probably a consequence of my subsequent verbal diarrhoea!)
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