WORLD WAR ONE HERO INSPIRES FOYLE CADETS

A challenge to find out more about the history of World War I by researching stories of ‘local heroes’ has connected students of Foyle College with ‘a quiet man’ of the Great War.

Cadet Leading Hand Jack McQuillen (16), Cadet Corporal David Donnell (15) and Cadet Petty Officer Hanna Keys (17), all enthusiastic members of the College Combined Cadet Force, chose to research the story of Corporal David Donaghy who fought with the 10th Battalion of the Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers, known popularly as ‘the Derrys’.

The history they unearthed of an unassuming man who repeatedly carried out acts of bravery in the most daunting of circumstances inspired and moved the modern-day teens.

Jack McQuillen said, “We have all studied World War 1 in history classes and at the Cadets, but those lessons will take on a whole new significance for us, thanks to our work on the Local Heroes project.  Looking at Corporal Donaghy’s experiences made us think more deeply about the real people who were caught up in the war and taken from ‘ordinary’ lives into the front lines.”

David Donaghy joined up in 1915 and soon found himself in France, working as Batman to Colonel Macrory of the 10th Inniskillings.   That may well have seemed like a fairly easy job, but it placed David in real danger and was to test his courage.   At Passchendaele he accompanied his Colonel as he  reconnoitred the heavily shelled front lines and, in the process, the pair lost their way and ended up  in no-man’s-land where a german sniper spotted them and shot Colonel Macrory in the thigh, badly wounding him.  Donaghy, with little thought of his own safety, dragged the wounded officer through no-man’s-land to the safety of the British lines.  Recognising the bravery of the act, Colonel Macrory presented the young Corporal with a gold watch.

With Colonel Macrory hospitalised, Donaghy  was, in effect, out of a job and was posted to the 109th Trench Mortar Battery where, just a few months later he showed his selflessness and courage again, this time rescuing his commanding officer, 2Lt J.T.M Bennett – an act which earned him the Military Medal.

The information accumulated in the young people’s research will now become an important learning resource for others in the Cadet movement.

Fifteen-year-old David Donnell says of his local hero, “Corporal Donaghy had a relatively humble role in the war, as batman which was, in effect, an officer’s servant, but he didn’t let that hold him back or define him.  His courage was absolutely outstanding and what is truly amazing is that two such noble acts are recorded about him.  Our local hero really did make history.”

Hanna Keys says, “Despite his bravery, there is very little information available about Corporal Donaghy today and we would all love to hear from his family if they have personal stories or any extra facts to add to our research.”

The information accumulated in the young people’s research to date will now become an important learning resource for others in the Cadet movement.

Pictured below showing off the certificates which marked their participation in the research challenge are, from left, Cadet Leading Hand Jack McQuillen (16), Cadet Leading Hand David Donnell (15) and Cadet Petty Officer Hanna Keys (17), students of Foyle College and members of the College Combined Cadet Force.