Marking the beginning of World War I this week, there have been several shows about it on the History Channel. Nothing brings it home so clearly as this news account of one of our boys who never came home. If it wasnt the trenches it was the dreaded Spanish Influenza which killed 50 to 100 million people 5% of the worlds population. Peekskill didnt escape as the 1918 toll is reported in news archives. Rowland Donnelly whos remains were sent home to be interred in Assumption. Read this tale: A telegram was received by J. J.Dorsey on Thursday afternoon from the Adjutant General at Washington stating it was reported Rowland M. Donnelly had died in France of Influenza on December 6. Rowland M. Donnelly was born at Van Cortlandtvllle, April 17, 1892, the son of Patrick and Mary Walsh Donnelly. He attended school at Van Cortlandtville and later at Oakside. After leaving school he was employed at the store of his brother-in-law, J. J. Dorsey, in the furniture business. In March, last year, he went West with the Davy Tree Company, doctoring trees. He was with t h i s company during the next six months and travelled extensively through the West. He returned to Peekskill on Election Day, Nov. 6. He was among the boys who left town on Dec. 5, 1917, for Camp Upton at Yapbank. Private Rowland M. Donnelly left Camp Upton for overseas on April 15. 1918, and was in the Upton Wreck where one of his companions was killed. He was on the water sailing for England on his birthday, April 17, 1918. Arriving in England he was a participant in a parade which passed in review of King George. Shortly afterwards he sailed to France and he was sent into active duty on the battlefield. He first went over the top about July 25th. He received a slight wound on the face and hand, caused by a shrapnel, which caused him to remain in the hospital. He returned again to duty about September 5th and remained on active duty until the armistice was signed on November 11th, 1918. He was in the famous battle in the Argonne Forest from which he escaped and returned to camp however he was taken down with the influenza and he died of nephritis following this form of disease on December 6th, 1918, one year and a day since he first donned the uniform of a soldier. In the same battle of Argonne forest his brother, Priv. Stephen B. Donnelly, lost his life. This is one of the saddest cases which has of yet come to our notice, where two brothers made the supreme sacrifice, that of giving up their lives for the honor of their country. They gave their today for our tomorrow. The bereaved family have the sympathy of the community. at large. He has two sisters, Mrs. Henry G. Abele and Miss Marguerite. He also has three half sisters, Mrs. J. J. Dorsey, Mrs. J. J. Laffm and Mrs. W J Bracken Published in The Highland Democrat December 28,1918 (The Upton Wreck mentioned happened in Yaphank LI where a troop train went over an embankment due to a broken rail)
Posted on: Thu, 07 Aug 2014 02:12:54 +0000
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