Joseph O'Donnell | ParaData

Pte Joseph O'Donnell was a pre war regular soldier who joined up in 1934 at the age of 18.

He joined the Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers/Royal Irish Fusiliers seeing service in Palestine, Malaya and India with this Regt.

In January 1942 he volunteered for the Army Air Corps in India serving with 151/156 Battalion Parachute Regt.

In Sept 1942 he transferred to the Royal Signals (Airborne) He took part in OP Market-Garden arriving on the second day. He was taken prisoner of war on 20 September 1944 and was liberated on 23 April 1945. He continued to serve in the reserves until 15 April 1948. The following day he re enlisted with the Territorial Army and served with 18th Battalion The Parachute Regt and later with the Airborne Royal Engineers.

On 21 July 1960 while serving with 131 RE, 301 Sqdn twisted his ankle while parachuting.

Created with information and imagery kindly supplied by A Stevenson.

1942
151 Parachute Battalion, 156 Parachute Battalion (Private)
1944
1st Airborne Divisional Signals (Signalman)
1948
131 Independent Parachute Squadron RE (V) (Sergeant)
1948
18th Parachute Battalion (TA) (Sergeant-Major)

Operations

Event

Arnhem (Operation Market Garden)

1st Allied Airborne Corps, which included the American 82nd and 101st Airborne Divisions, was tasked to secure the main canal and river crossings between Eindhoven and Arnhem.

Decorations

Group photos_5

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Joseph O'Donnell with RE comrades 1950s

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Joseph O'Donnell with members of The Parachute Regiment

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Joseph O'Donnell 151/156 Bn

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Joseph O'Donnell with comrades in smocks

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Joseph O'Donnell with 'Monty'

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