Patrick O'Donnell

Corporal Patrick O'Donnell served with the Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers, fighting in the North African and Italian campaigns. Born in the Falls Road area of Belfast, he enlisted in 1939 and was deployed to North Africa in 1942. He fought at the Battle of Kasserine Pass and the advance through Tunisia. The regiment then landed in Italy, where O'Donnell participated in the brutal fighting at the Gustav Line and the advance to Rome. He was wounded during the crossing of the Rapido River but recovered and rejoined his unit. After the war, he returned to Belfast and worked as a bus driver for Citybus.