2082186 Lance-Corporal William Robert DONNELLY, 2 Coldstream Guards: 15 August 1944

Date of Transfer to CG: April 1939
Army Number: 2082186
Rank: Lance-Corporal
Name: William Robert DONNELLY
Unit: Royal Engineers ; 2 Coldstream Guards


Date of Death: 15 August 1944

 

https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/casualty-details/2613975/william-robert-donnelly/
LANCE CORPORAL WILLIAM ROBERT DONNELLY
Service Number: 2082186
Regiment & Unit: 2nd Bn. Coldstream Guards[/SIZE]
Date of Death: 15 August 1944
Age 24 years old
Buried or commemorated at FLORENCE WAR CEMETERY
Grave Reference: IV. G. 4.
Location: Italy
Additional Info: Son of John Malachie Donnelly and Florence Gertrude Donnelly; husband of Kathleen Marian Donnelly, of Willesborough, Kent.
Personal Inscription: MEMORIES ARE TREASURES NO ONE CAN STEAL FROM ALL WHO THOUGHT THE WORLD OF YOU

 

Good evening everyone.

My Great Grandfather is named on this list. William Robert Donnelly. He was KIA in Italy on 15/08/1944. He is buried in Florence War Cemetary.

I recently visited to take his sons ashes, my grandad, to be partially buried with him. What a sad but beautiful place it is.

 

Thanks very much for sharing the images.

I’m attaching the page containing his details from one of the CG registers on Findmypast. From the discharge dates of other men on the same page I’d say he likely joined about April 1939 - although he had prior service in another Regiment (likely a TA Battalion) as he does not have a CG army service number.

I’m also attaching the page with his name from the official Casualty list.

You can obtain a copy of his service record from U.K. MOD or National Archives via this link -

Requests for personal data and service records: a detailed guide

Steve

 

I see you've posted elsewhere about this poignant trip.

• Family Members in Florence War Cemetery?

Above posts moved to create a separate thread dedicated to your g. grandfather.

 

Thank you so much for this. I've attached a photocopy of the letter his wife received to inform her of his death.

Death Letter by Michael Donnelly posted Jun 8, 2024 at 3:29 PM