Harold Donkin

[Terry_Reeves]

As part of a recent thread, forum member Bob Coulson asked about the circumstances surrounding the dismissal of 2Lt Harold Donkin. This is his story.

The second son of a country parson, the Reverend Arthur Donkin, Harold was born in 1897 at Sutton Maddock, near Shifnal in Shropshire. Educated at a prepatory school in Folkestone and at Rugby School, he gained a place at the Royal Military College, Sandhurst, where he was highly regarded by his company commander.

The only criticism of him during his time there was for passing a cheque for which had had insufficient funds to cover. His superiors however treated this lightly, noting that as soon as the cheque was dishonoured he immediately made good the debt. This incident, as it turned out, was a portent of things to come.

Commissioned into the West Yorkshire Regiment in July 1916, he joined the 3rd Battalion at West Hartlepool. He was given leave from the 8th-11th of August and spent it at the Burlington Hotel, Bloomsbury Street, London. His leave period expired at midnight on the 11th and he failed to report back to his unit. However, the following morning the adjutant received a telegram from him saying he was ill and not fit to travel. He was told to report back to his unit with a medical certificate to cover the period of his absence. If he was still too ill to travel, the certificate was to be sent on. In reply, Harold stated that he was still not well enough to travel but would forward the certificate. This he failed to do, and a further telegram was sent to his London hotel, but by then Donkin had disappeared and he was reported as being absent without leave.

Seven days later, 2Lt Donkin was arrested by the police at Brighton and charged:

"That between the 13th and 15th August 1916 he obtained by false pretences, from Emma George, the various sums of £2.10.0, £5.13.6 and £8, the money's (sic) of the Gordon Hotel Ltd with intent to cheat and defraud."

He was subsequently given police bail to appear before the Borough Magistrates at Brighton on the 29th August. The military authorities were notified , and Donkin was taken into custody by GOC Troops, Shoreham for being absent without leave, pending his appearance in court, and returned to his regiment at West Hartlepool.

His court appearance was in fact held one day late, the magistrates accepting that his absence on the appointed date was the result of his detention by the military.

Donkin admitted the offences, all of which amounted to obtaining money by cheque, knowing that he had insufficient funds. In mitigation it was said that up until he went to Sandhurst he had been a " thoroughly good boy" but whilst at the Royal Military College had fell into bad ways and "the old story resulted"

It was stated that he had fell under the influence of a woman, seven or eight years older than himself (he was eighteen at the time) and after receiving orders to go to France, had taken leave to go to London to see her. He told her that he had no money, but expected his debts to be covered by relatives. His downfall was due to his infatuation with the woman, of whom Harold said, on arrest, "Whatever happens, I will not let this woman down. I am going to marry her, as soon as I am free."

His solicitor, Mr Donne, asked the magistrates to bear in mind that he would almost certainly be court-martialled and reminded the court that his uncle , a Judge in India, had payed off all of his debts. He also stated that "this boy was brought up too sternly and strictly, and when he left his public school and went to Sandhurst at the most impressionable age, he yielded to bad influences."

After considerable deliberation, the Chairman of the Bench, the Mayor of Brighton, said they had " come to the conclusion that it was the repetition of an old and sad story". It was due to the unaccustomed freedom at Sandhurst that he had developed a passion for a woman which had led to a state of recklessness of which there was no criminal intent to a high degree. He then bound Donkin over in the sum of £100 for 12 months.

Donkin's tribulations were not over yet though; the matter of his absence still had to be dealt with. Family and friends gathered round. His father sent two long letters to the War Office asking for leniency. These were followed by a letter from a family friend, Edwin J Trench, who was Surveyor of His Majesty's Estate, Sandringham. The letter, written on Estate note paper, asked for his previous good character to be taken into account and the fact that "just a year ago, he was a schoolboy at Rugby".

These pleas were brushed aside however. The GOC, Northern Command recommended his dismissal from the Army, the principal reason being the court case and the publicity surrounding it. The War Office accepted this , and 2Lt Donkin was sent into civilian life, moving to live with his family at Semer Rectory, Ipswich, where his father now had a stipend. The military authorities had not finished with Harold yet though.

During the second week of October 1916, the Recruiting Officer of 12th Recruiting Area, Bury St Edmunds, received a letter from the Director of Recruiting at the War Office:

"11 October 1916

Sir

The undermentioned gentleman having resigned his commission in His Majesty's Forces, would appear to be eligible for service under the Military Service Act -

H. A. B. Donkin Esq.

Semer Rectory

Ipswich

Will you please note his name, and take the necessary action for his re-call to Army Service in due course, reporting to this branch the result of any action taken."

The Recruiting Officer did indeed take the necessary action. G/18971 Private Harold Arthur Bryan Donkin was duly conscripted into the 1st Battalion, The Queen's(Royal West Kent) Regiment. He died of pneumonia on 12th December 1916 aged 19 and is buried in Grove Town Cemetery, Meaulte, France, and commemorated on the Rugby School Roll of Honour.

Terry Reeves

[Derek Robertson]

Thanks for posting the very interesting story Terry.

[Bob Coulson]

Terry,

Great piece of research and quite a story.

I got my info that he was commissioned into the Yorkshire Regiment from Major Ferrars book Green Howards Officers.

Must admit can't find any mention in my paperwork so it looks as though he was briefly an officer with the West Yorkshires.

Bob.

[Bob Coulson]

Terry,

Just checked, West Hartlepool has to be Yorkshire Regiment, 3rd battalion were Tees Garrison, West Yorks were at Whitley Bay.

Thanks again for your efforts in bringing his story to us.

Bob.

[Tom Morgan]

I know this is just a "me too" follow-up to Derek's post, but I'd like to thank Terry for posting this interesting story. It just goes to show what can be unearthed, and adds another facet to the "human" side of the subject.

Tom

[rflory]

A photo of Pte Harold Arthur Bryan Donkin from Memorials of Rugbeians Who Fell in the Great War, Volume VII. Dick Flory

[Terry_Reeves]

Dick

Brilliant, many thanks.

Terry Reeves

[Bob Coulson]

Dick,

Nice one, a face to the story.

Bob.

[Paul Johnson]

Wonderful Stuff!

This is what the Forum is all about.

Thank You Terry.

Regards

PAUL J