Thursday, January 1, 2015



KOLAR GOLD FIELD MINING HOSPITAL – Dr. T. J. O’DONNELL

I was pleasantly surprised to receive this email from Mr Hugh O’Donnell , the grandson of
Dr T. J. O’Donnell the first Chief Medical Officer of the Kolar Gold Field Hospital
Dear Bridget
I am the grandson of the famous Dr O'Donnell who founded the Kolar Hospital.  I am sending you a few photos and memorabilia in a download link. I have a copy of your book. If any of the photos are of interest you may use them on your website. One day I hope to visit Kolar myself and walk on O'Donnell Road, if it is still there.
I should explain that my father Godfrey O'Donnell, the second son of Thomas O'Donnell, had a second marriage later in his life (after the death of his first wife), and I was born when he was in his sixties!  Sadly I never knew the great Dr O'Donnell in person, but am thrilled to discover the contribution he made to the people of Kolar.
Best wishes
Hugh O'Donnell
Dr.. T J O’Donnell was born and educated in Ireland. He qualified as a surgeon from the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland where he became a ‘Fellow’. He started working as a doctor at the Rhymney Iron Works in Wales and after a few years he joined the Consett Iron Works in Derbyshire. In 1885, he was contracted by the John Taylor and Sons Company to set up a health service in the Gold Fields. He was the only Medical Personnel at the time and a clinic was set up for him in a Bungalow near Marikuppam. He immediately went to work to set up a good health and sanitation system.  
In 1887 the John Taylor and Company established a small hospital to accommodate 48 patients initially . It was centrally located in Champion Reefs and Dr. T J O’Donnell was appointed as the Chief Medical Officer. He was later joined by his brother Dr.J D O’Donnell. More Medical staff were appointed and by the year 1900, this Mining Hospital became a well equipped hospital, to cater to the medical needs and emergencies of the miners and their families. He served as the Chief Medical Officer for more than 35 years and when he retired in 1911 to return to Ireland, he left behind a first class medical hospital service run by the 6 Irish Doctors specially trained by him. He was awarded the Kaiser-i-Hind Medal by the Maharaja of Mysore in recognition of his services in the medical field and especially during the severe Cholera and Plague outbreak in early 1900.
Dr. T J O’Donnell also served as a Surgeon Lieut. Colonel in the Kolar Gold Field Rifle Volunteers and held the Volunteers Service Decoration for ‘long and good service’ as Hon. Surgeon. He was a keen Cricket and Tennis Player as well. In appreciation of his long services in Kolar Gold Fields, the John Taylor and Sons Company named the road between Champion Reef and Andersonpet as O’Donnell Road,

He passed away at the age of 87 at his residence at Dublin Ireland.

Here are some photographs send to me by Hugh O'Donnell and with his permission I'm sharing it on my Blog 







2 comments:

  1. I am the historian of the Pontet family (France-UK-USA etc). I was excited to read the article you published from Hugh O'Donnell, the grandson of Lt Col Thomas Joseph O'Donnell RAMC (born about 1857). He married 13/12/1890 at Madras, India with Annie Mary ROGERS (born about 1868), daughter of Michael Rogers. Their son, Hugh Niall O'DONNELL, born 25/02/1893 at Champion Reef, Mysore, Madras, India. 1914-15 2Lt 6th Leinster Regt in Servia; later with 4 TDS RAF” (Training Depot Stations of the then RFC & subsequently the RAF, where aspiring pilots did the flying part of their training – research shows 4TDS being at Tern Hill, Shropshire, which moved to Hooton Park, Cheshire on 19 September 1917, and was disbanded in 1919). He was awarded the 1914-15 Star, which he received on 28 March 1919. He was an engineer by profession. On 2 Feb 1924 at Rio de Janeiro he married Mildred Audrey PONTET (born 31/07/1903 Para, Brazil, d/o Alfred Louis PONTET (1873-1934), Master Mariner & later manager Power & Light Co in Rio, and his wife Florence Adelaide CROFT.

    They had a daughter Maureen O'DONNELL born 07/05/1925 in Rio de Janeiro; and if the right person died in January 2000 in Wandsworth.

    I wasn't aware of another child, though your article now identified as Hugh O'DONNELL.

    If there are living relatives of this family, I would be very pleased to hear from them via my email patrick@pontet.com or patrick.pontet1945@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  2. I am the historian of the Pontet family (France-UK-USA etc). I was excited to read the article you published from Hugh O'Donnell, the grandson of Lt Col Thomas Joseph O'Donnell RAMC (born about 1857). He married 13/12/1890 at Madras, India with Annie Mary ROGERS (born about 1868), daughter of Michael Rogers. Their son, Hugh Niall O'DONNELL, born 25/02/1893 at Champion Reef, Mysore, Madras, India. 1914-15 2Lt 6th Leinster Regt in Servia; later with 4 TDS RAF” (Training Depot Stations of the then RFC & subsequently the RAF, where aspiring pilots did the flying part of their training – research shows 4TDS being at Tern Hill, Shropshire, which moved to Hooton Park, Cheshire on 19 September 1917, and was disbanded in 1919). He was awarded the 1914-15 Star, which he received on 28 March 1919. He was an engineer by profession. On 2 Feb 1924 at Rio de Janeiro he married Mildred Audrey PONTET (born 31/07/1903 Para, Brazil, d/o Alfred Louis PONTET (1873-1934), Master Mariner & later manager Power & Light Co in Rio, and his wife Florence Adelaide CROFT.

    They had a daughter Maureen O'DONNELL born 07/05/1925 in Rio de Janeiro; and if the right person died in January 2000 in Wandsworth.

    I wasn't aware of another child, though your article now identified as Hugh O'DONNELL.

    If there are living relatives of this family, I would be very pleased to hear from them via my email patrick@pontet.com or patrick.pontet1945@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete

Copy Right

ALL CONTENT ON THIS BLOG IS THE SOLE COPY RIGHT & PROPERTY OF BRIDGET WHITE-KUMAR.
PLEASE NOTE: NO ARTICLES, PHOTOGRAPHS, INFORMATION OR PART THERE OF, of this SITE / PUBLICATION may be reproduced, stored in or introduced into a retrieval system or transmitted in any form, or by any means, electrical, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise without the prior permission of the owner of this blog as any copying without permission will amount to Plagarism and infringement of Copy Right.