Reginald Charles O'Donoghue

Reginald Charles O'Donoghue
Rank 
Lance Corporal
Regiment 
London Regiment (Artists' Rifles)
Date of death 
30 October 1917
Age of death 
22
Address 
85 St Albans Road
Ilford
RED
IG3 8NW
Address source 
1911 Census
Cemetery / Memorial 
Belgium
Biography 

Reginald Charles O’Donoghue was born in 1895 to Charles Dennis O’Donoghue and his wife Elizabeth. Charles and Elizabeth moved to Ilford from Cornwall in the late 1880s, when Charles left his teaching position at the ‘Merry Meet’ National School. He then found work as a teacher for the London County Council.

Reginald, known as Reggie, was the youngest of the three O’Donoghue children; his sister and brother, Gertrude and Dennis, were born in 1892 and 1894 respectively. In 1911, the census records the family, including Reggie who was 15, as living at 85 St. Albans Road in Ilford.

The three O’Donoghue children attended Downshall School, which opened in 1899 on Meads Lane and Aldborough Road, very near the O’Donoghue home. The boys continued their studies at the Ilford County High School. After school, Reggie worked at the Whitechapel branch of the London Provincial Bank.

At the outbreak of war, in 1914, Reggie and his brother enlisted with the 1st/28th Battalion, London Regiment (Artists Rifles). This regiment attracted many middle-class men who often went on to train as officers. Both Reggie and Dennis became Lance Corporals.

Reggie was killed in action on 30th October 1917 at the Battle of Passchendaele. A letter from his commanding officer was sent to his parents, and published in the Ilford Recorder on 16th November 1917: ‘It is with the deepest regret that I have to inform you that your son Reg was killed in action on the 30th October; also that his brother Dennis is missing after the same action, and I fear there is little help.’ It was later confirmed that Dennis had also been killed.

The brothers belonged to South Park Swimming Club. The swimming club created a trophy in memory of the men of the club who lost their lives during the war. Reggie’s name appears on the cup, along with his brother and seven other men.

Research by Redbridge Museum

Sources:

Ilford Recorder, 16th November 1917