Military – Our Folk Stories

November 17, 2023September 26, 2025

The Family of James Donelan and Emma Denbow. Part 5 – Later Years

James’s and Emma’s nine children were: Edward (1863-1868), Emma (born 1864), Mary (1866-1917), Agnes (1869), Thomas (1871), Elizabeth (1873), Catherine (1875), James (1877) and William (1880-1917). Mary had been married to William Ambler and they had a son, Noel. Thomas was married to Blanche Sewell and they had two surviving sons, John and Denis. Lily (Elizabeth) married Charles Wall in … Continue reading The Family of James Donelan and Emma Denbow. Part 5 – Later Years

November 17, 2023August 23, 2025

The Family of James Donelan and Emma Denbow. Part 4 – The Great War

James’s and Emma’s nine children were: Edward (born 1863 and died 1868), Emma (born 1864), Mary (1866), Agnes (1869), Thomas (1871), Elizabeth (1873), Catherine (1875), James (1877) and William (1880). Mary married William Ambler in 1893 and they had a son, William Noel. Thomas married Blanche Sewell in 1904 and they had two surviving sons, John and Denis. Lily (Elizabeth) … Continue reading The Family of James Donelan and Emma Denbow. Part 4 – The Great War

August 17, 2023February 21, 2025

James Donelan – a military life

My great grandfather James Donelan was born in County Longford, Ireland in early 1823. Although no birth record has surfaced to date, James’s military service record from March 1864 lists his age as 41 years and 1 month, so he was likely born in February 1823. The record also states that his place of birth … Continue reading James Donelan – a military life

July 17, 2023April 3, 2024

Four brothers in the Great War

From New Zealand Herald, vol LIV, issue 16481, 6th March 1917 Mr John McDonald of Jersey Park, Waipipi, Waiuku can be justly proud of the record his sons are putting up in defence of the empire. His eldest son, Ernest, aged 35, a married man with a wife and four children, left with one of … Continue reading Four brothers in the Great War