Although Joseph was buried in Hawarden and there was a gravestone, I cannot find him nor any entry in the 1911 census. The Hawarden Parish Magazine casts a little light on where and with whom he lived (Mr. & Mrs. Burns) but I cannot find them on the 1911 census.
UK, Soldiers who Died in the Great War, 1914-1919 accessible on www.ancestry.co.uk includes an entry for for a Jack McDonough. Itconfirms the regimental details above left and tells us that he was born in Liverpool and enlisted in Shotton. His medal card also on ‘Ancestry’ details his medals and tells us that his first Theatre of War was France and he entered it on the 18th December 1915. The name of “Jack” appears on this document, was this a clerical error or was Joseph known by that name?
Joseph is mentioned in the book “Soldiers who Died in the Great War 1914 – 1918 Royal Welsh Fusiliers Volume 28”, this also tell us he was born in Liverpool and enlisted in Shotton.
The Royal Welsh Fusiliers Archives includes a data base of casualties which has an entry for Joseph McDonough which says he was wounded on the 5th July 1916. He died in Bramshott Military Hospital in Hampshire on the 14th July 1916 and his body was brought home to be buried at Hawarden..
His Army Service Records have survived – just. They are on Ancestry but are very badly damaged and mostly illegible. There are snippets of information. He enlisted in Shotton in August 1914. His next of kin was listed as his father Patrick McDonough. He appears to have got into trouble in the army at some point because he was given 42 days detention for what looks like using bad language to an officer There are inter military telegrams stating that he died at 11.45 pm on the 14th July 1916 at Bramshott Military Hospital in Hampshire. There is some correspondence stating the Coroner had given permission to release the body. There was correspondence within the army in an effort to identify his next of kin but eventually his mother living at Vine Cottage Sandycroft was identified. She was not named but we know from other sources that she was Agnes Burns
The UK, Army Registers of Soldiers’ Effects, 1901-1929 in which the army calculated what moneys were owed to deceased soldiers includes an entry for Joseph McDonough. This source tells us that he died of wounds in Bramshott Military Hospital and the sole Legatee was Mrs.Agnes M. Burns who received £3 2s 5d on the 29th November 1916 and his War Gratuity of £8 10s.0d. on the 30th September 1919.
His Flintshire WW1 Index Cards (Sandycroft F7) tells us that his address was 4, Vine Cottages, Sandycroft, Nr. Chester. He had seen service in the Army for 2 years and died of wounds on the 14th July 1916. The card was signed by A. Burns June 16th 1920
It would seem that his mother, Agnes was possibly once married to Patrick McDonough, had remarried a Mr Burns. On the other hand she could have been Joseph’s stepmother or even his adoptive mother. This is all speculation as so far there is only circumstantial evidence. Can anyone help?
Joseph was buried in St. Deniol’s Churchyard, Hawarden – St. Deniol’s Churchyard – East of Church – B 6 Private J. McDonough R.W.F. 14 July 1916 11697.
Photos added to “Find a Grave” by: Iain MacFarlaine
2/13/2016, many thanks Iain.
He is also named on the Sandycroft War Memorial in St. Francis’s Church.
