Donkin, Samuel Thornton | Universities at War

Personal details

Donkin Samuel Thornton - (060) - Image 2. Image kindly provided by the Fusiliers Museum of Northumberland ALNFM6904.

Name on Memorial:

Donkin, S. T.

Forename(s):

Samuel Thornton

Surname:

Donkin

Date of Death:

Saturday, December 25, 1915

Age at Death:

University life

College:

Armstrong College, Newcastle upon Tyne

Staff or Student:

Student

Military Service

The information displayed here is at the time of death.

Rank:

Second Lieutenant

Service:

Army

Unit:

Northumberland Fusiliers, 7th Battalion

Prisoner of War:

Military Training:

Officers’ Training Corps, Armstrong College

Theatre of War:

France and Flanders

Biography

Samuel was born in Rothbury. He was the son of Robert, an auctioneer, and Margaret Ann Donkin. They lived at Haw Hill House, Rothbury, Northumberland. According to the England & Wales, National Probate Calendar (Index of Wills and Administrations), 1858-1966 he left his widowed mother, Margaret Ann, effects of £2,917 6s 2d.

Samuel studied at Armstrong College between 1912 and 1914.

Samuel died on 25th December 1915 aged 21, in Ypres, Belgium.

Addresses before and during the war

Haw Hill House, Rothbury, Northumberland (place of residence as entered in the 1901 Census)

Place of Burial or Battle Site Memorial

Samuel is buried in the Railway Dugouts Burial Ground (Transport Farm) in Ieper West-Vlaanderen, Belgium.

Memorials

Other Memorials:

Samuel is also commemorated on an organ panel in All Saints Church in Rothbury, and on a cross in High Street in Rothbury.

Additional images

Research information

Sources:

Commonwealth War Graves Commission.

Newcastle University Archives (Roll of Service, Armstrong College Calendars, The Northerner Student Magazine)

UK Census registers, National Archives (available via Ancestry.co.uk)

UK Military Service Records, National Archives (available via Ancestry.co.uk)

Researched by:

Sophie Anderton

Ian Johnson

Rosie Setford

Alan Callender

Sam Mitchell