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Samuel Donaghy - Information

Samuel was part of a family that came from Campbelltown, where he was born and raised. He eventually followed his family to Leichhardt, where he found work as a labourer. At the age of 25, he joined the AIF in Sydney on the 20th of October 1915. Samuel became a Private with the 8th Reinforcements, 19th Battalion during training, and began his voyage from Sydney on the 12th of December 1915 aboard the HMAT Berrima.

Samuel arrived in Egypt in late January 1916, and was then transferred to the 54th Battalion at Zeitoun in February. He was subsequently shipped from Alexandria to France in June, joining his new Battalion on the Western Front. They were soon rushed into action on the 19th of July 1916. Samuel ran from the trenches towards the German line during the Battle of Fromelles. Here, he was wounded, and captured by German troops. Samuel was firstly interned at a POW Camp as part of Barracks 36 B in Dulmen, where his wound was treated. In October 1916, he was transferred to Group 4 Gefangenenlager (Prison Camp), Minden in Germany. By April 1917, he was again moved to a Camp in Friedrichsfeld.

Sadly, Samuel was still interred in Germany when his brother, James, was killed in April 1918. After the war ended, Samuel was repatriated, arriving in England on the 8th of December 1918. He was given some much deserved leave in the UK, but a few weeks later, was admitted to the 3rd Auxiliary Hospital with influenza. Samuel commenced his journey home to Australia on the 9th of February 1919, landing in Sydney in April. When he got home, Samuel underwent a medical examination. While he was a POW, he had been experiencing heart palpitations and chest pain since January 1918. These pains continued for some time, as he returned to his civilian life and family.

Samuel soon met and fell in love with Margaret Mary Hindley. Margaret had suffered much during the war years. Her husband, William, died in action at Pozières on the 24th of July 1916. She was left a war widow with two children, May and new baby William Jr. to take care of. Then in 1918, she shockingly lost her baby son. Finding happiness again, Samuel and Margaret married in Bulli in 1920. They were blessed with two more children Grace and Don.