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Auction: 21001 - Orders, Decorations and Medals (conducted behind closed doors)
Lot: 377

Sold by Order of a Direct Descendant

A Great War D.S.O. group of four awarded to Lieutenant-Colonel T. Donnelly, Royal Field Artillery, late Royal Garrison Artillery

Distinguished Service Order, G.V.R., silver-gilt and enamel, with top riband bar adapted for mounting; 1914 Star, with clasp (Lieut: T. Donnelly. R.G.A.); British War and Victory Medals, with M.I.D. oak leaves (Major T. Donnelly.), D.S.O. with traces of Blue Tac to reverse cypher, otherwise good very fine (4)

D.S.O. London Gazette 4 June 1917.

Thomas Donnelly was born on 4 April 1883, the son of Sir John Fretcheville Dykes Donnelly K.C.B., C.B., Royal Engineers, and his second wife, Mary Frances Dykes of Dovenby Hall, Cumberland. His father had fought with distinction in the Crimea, being mentioned in Lord Raglan's despatches for work in the trenches before Sevastopol, and later, for obtaining a substantial lodgement in the Russian rifle pits at the Little Mamelon; he was subsequently recommended for the V.C., without result.

Enlisting into the Royal Artillery, young Donnelly was commissioned on 21 December 1901, a few months prior to his father's death at 59 Onslow Gardens, London. Promoted Lieutenant in 1904, he married Miss Ruby Davis, daughter of the late Lieutenant-Colonel Arthur H. Davis, Indian Army, on 4 August 1909. Proceeding to France on 21 September 1914 with the Royal Garrison Artillery, he was promoted Captain on 30 October 1914, Major on 1 May 1917 and Bt. Lieutenant-Colonel on 3 June 1919, as well as being twice mentioned in despatches (London Gazette 15 June 1916 & 18 May 1917, refers). His brother Gordon H. Donnelly also served with the Royal Artillery and later, on the Staff, during the Great War; sold together with copied research and MIC.


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Sold for
£1,300

Starting price
£600