Source: 153rd Wellington web site.
Family Search: When Private Joseph Henry O’Donnell was born on 15 May 1886, in Ayton, Normanby, Grey, Ontario, Canada, his father, Michael O’Donnell, was 43 and his mother, Catherine Lynett, was 35. He registered for military service in 1916. In 1916, at the age of 30, his occupation is listed as farmer and stonemason in Mount Forest, Grey, Ontario, Canada. He died on 15 February 1958, in Mount Forest, Grey, Ontario, Canada, at the age of 71, and was buried in Holy Cross Roman Catholic Cemetery, Mount Forest, Wellington North, Wellington, Ontario, Canada.
“Trade listed as Farmer & Stone Mason. DOB 15-5-86, born Ayton. 5 foot 3 inches. Green eyes, dark brown hair. Catholic. NOK May ODonnell, sister. Enlisted Mt Forest 9-3-16 (29 years). Enlistment noted 16-3-16 edition Mt Forest Representative. On 153rd Battalion Nominal Roll 9-3-16, no transfer noted. On 153rd Nominal Rolls as published Guelph Mercury 10-6-16 and 1-12-16. Embarked with 153rd Halifax N.S. SS Olympic 29-4-17. Arrived Liverpool 7-5-17. Assigned 25th Reserve for Administration and Training. Taken on Strength 18th Battalion 14-12-17. Mount Forest Representative 24-4-18 reports: “There are only three from Mount Forest in this draft.Jack Smillie, Joe ODonnell, and myself. We are going to reinforce the 18th Batt. Sincerely yours, Jim Grant.” Shrapnel wounds 28-8-18 to head and neck, neck wound causing facial paralysis, total loss of hearing right ear. Returned to Canada aboard SS Araquava Halifax, N.S. 10-1-19. Disability: Gun shot wound right side. Discharged medically unfit Toronto 16-8-19. Veterans death card: died 15-2-58 at Mount Forest, cause not given, not war service related. Obituary Mount Forest 16-2-58 notes internment, Mount Forest Cemetery. Portrait photo courtesy Mount Forest Legion.
File: RG 150, Accession 1992-93/166, Box 7422 – 54, courtesy Library and Archives Canada.”
History of the 18th Battalion CEF, "The Fighting Eighteenth" 