Died in a fire at St Stephens Hospital, Chelsea.
Jeremiah Donovan was born on 10 March 1905 in Battersea, London, one of the six children of Jeremiah Donovan (b.1868) and Mary Donovan née Cunningham (b.1867). His birth was registered in the 2nd quarter of 1905 in the Southwark registration district, London.
On the 1911 census return form completed by his father he is shown as at school and living in three rooms at 26 Belfour Street, Battersea, with his parents and three surviving siblings: Michael Donovan (1898-1940); Johanna Donovan (b.1899) and Catherine Donovan (1907-1964). His father described himself as a gas stoker and all his children were at school. His father also confirmed that his wife had given birth to six children but that only four were still alive.
On 11 September 1923 he enlisted in the Royal Air Force, service number 355699, stating that his mother was his next of kin.
He married Catherine Davies (1906-1964) in the 4th quarter of 1927 in the Wandsworth registration district. (The marriage registration records show her name as Kathleen Davies). They had three children: Sheila Donovan (1928-1992); Catherine Donovan (1931-2017) and Ann P. Donovan (b.1936).
Electoral registers in 1929 & 1930 show him, his wife, his parents and his sister, Catherine Donovan, all listed at 22 Everett Street, Battersea. However by 1932 he and his wife were listed at 59 Fontarabia Road, London, SW11. The electoral registers in 1933 show him and his wife listed at 2B Beaufoy Road, London, SW11 and in 1934 & 1935 at 2A Beaufoy Road, SW11. In 1936 & 1937 they were both registered to vote at 77 Lavender Hill, London, SW11 and in 1938 at 3 Lambourn Road, London, SW4.
He was a fireman in the Auxiliary Fire Service and died, aged 39 years, on 20 December 1944 at St Stephens Hospital, Fulham Road, Chelsea.
He is shown as Fireman Jeremiah Donovan on the Chelsea Firefighters plaque at Chelsea Fire Station, 264 King's Road, London, SW3, as Donovan, Jeremiah on the Civilian War Dead Roll of Honour 1939-1945 that is kept just outside the entrance to St George's Chapel at the west end of Westminster Abbey and as J Donovan on the National Firefighters Memorial at Sermon Lane, London, EC3. He is also commemorated on the Commonwealth War Graves Commission's website.
Credit for this entry to: Alan Patient of www.plaquesoflondon.co.uk and Andrew Behan.
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