Date of birth:

November 17th, 1914

Service number:

243971

Nationality:

British

Donoghue enlisted into the British Army on 20th June 1933 and was later commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant (No.249371) and joined The Durham Light Infantry with the outbreak of the Second World War, Donoghue who had been promoted to Lieutenant, saw service with the 9th Battalion, Durham Light Infantry as part of 151st Brigade, 50th Division in North Africa. During the battle of Mersa Matruh, Donoghue was awarded the Military Cross for an action on the 27th June 1942.
Donoghue was captured and made prisoner of war during the Battle of El Alamein just one month later on 27th July 1942, and was initially interned at Campo 75 in Bari during August 1942, being moved to Camp 78 at Sulmona in September 1942 through to August 1943 when he was moved to Camp 19 at Bologna and was again moved in October 1943 to Oflag 7A at Moosberg in Germany, this was known as Fort Bismark. Moved to Oflag 5A a Weinsburg from the end of October 1943 he then returned to Moosburg in April 1944 where he remained through to 29th April 1945 when he was liberated. Donoghue made a number of attempts to escape during his time in captivity, the most successful attempt being during the removal of prisoners by the Germans from Bologna to Moosburg in a train. Donoghue escaped from a hole cut into the rear of a cattle truck which he was being transported in and climbed out onto the buffers jumping whilst the train was in motion between Bolzano and Trento, and was free for between six and seven hours but was then recaptured, after which he once again escaped but only for a few minutes and was recaptured again, they had been informed upon by a local Italian who they had asked for help. He also made several unsuccessful attempts by digging tunnels presumably whilst in Germany.

Promotions:
26 April, 1942: Second-Lieutenant
19 April, 1947: Lieutenant
19 April, 1947: Captain, seniority 17 November, 1945
17 November, 1950: Major

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Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Second-Lieutenant

Unit:

9 Battalion, The Durham Light Infantry

Awarded on:

September 24th, 1942

Recommendation:
"Recommended for personal bravery, and complete disregard for his own safety. On 27th June 1942, while the Battalion was engaging the enemy south of Matruh after the majority of his company had been overrun by the enemy, Lieutenant Donoghue took over command of the remnants of "A" and "B" Company's, and organised them into a defensive position. He walked about under heavy fire with extreme coolness collecting weapons from the forward positions which had been evacuated, and distributing them amongst his men, and successfully withdrew them under heavy fire. Lieutenant Donoghue's complete disregard for his own safety, acted as a steadying influence on his men who had previously been shaken by heavy enemy fire."

WO 373/21/85

• - The London Gazette Publication date:22 September 1942 Supplement:35715Page:4155
  - The London Gazette Publication date:2 October 1942 Supplement:35730Page:4337
  - The London Gazette Publication date:15 April 1947 Supplement:37933Page:1715
  - The London Gazette Publication date:20 May 1947 Supplement:37962Page:2305
  - The London Gazette Publication date:18 May 1948 Supplement:38294Page:3058
  - The London Gazette Publication date:17 November 1950 Supplement:39068Page:5730