Hello,

I am trying to trace a Lieutenant Patrick John Donovan who was wounded in May/June 1916 aboard the Trawler Lotus. He died of his wounds on the 23rd of June 1916 (possibly in Edinburgh). I have tried to find details of the trawler and what action this may have been part of (Jutland was at the end of May).

I have searched in the UK National Archives and get two Patrick John Donovan's but neither match the details above. (summarised from the CWGC website).

Many thanks.

You will not find him on-line at Kew because he was RNR, not RN. You need to search in ADM 240 at Kew. The FAA museum may have more material.

All I can find so far is DONOVAN, Patrick J, Temporary Lt, RNR, Lotos, died of illness on 23 June 1916
The LOTOS was a 216-tons gross (83tn) steel trawler completed as Yard 406 and launched in 1914 by Duthie Torry at Aberdeen in 1914 (Official No.137157) for Associated National Steam Fishing Company Limited, Aberdeen
She was Requisitioned in November 1914 and converted to minesweeper. Returned to owners, 1919. Owned in 1923 by Carnie & Gibb, Edinburgh.
1938 owned by L. Carnie AO of Glasgow Port Reg: GN.92
Owned in 1948 by Lotos F Co. Ltd, Granton. Fishing number A21.
Scrapped in October 1959.

As the MW she was armed with one 12-pounder Admiralty No.471, Port Reg: A.112 and powered by a 70hp 3-cylinder triple expansion steam engine

Cheers Ron

Ron, Lieut-Colonel,

Many thanks for that. Family lore had it that he died of an illness rather than wounds but CWGC has him dying of wounds and medallion also has 'wounds'. Also thanks for the spelling of the ships name.

Hello Idonovan, thanks for the promotion

Bit more info on the vessel:
Launch Date: 20 August 1914
Date of completion: September 1914

Cheers Ron

Hello

From the Officer Death Cards at TNA, Donovan died from an aneurism.

Checking my medical sources, an aneurism may be pre existing or can be induced by blunt trauma.

All best

don

Thanks for that. This was the next thing I was going to try to find out. I also think that there is a mistake on his CWGC cert. He was born in 1872 and so he would have been 44 rather than 40.

Hi Idonovan

If you write to the CWGC they will alter his records

Cheers Ron

Ron,

Just worked out what the ranks mean; more posts - higher the rank.

Welcome to the forum
There may also be records for him at the UK Natioanl Archives, Kew, in ADM 340/42 RECORDS OF SERVICE CARDS - DATES OF BIRTH BEFORE 1900 DOBSON - DOWDESWELL. Unfortunately, there is not a Ships Log available.