The Curragh’s status as one of the major installations in military affairs on these islands was reinforced in July 1899 when British royalty joined top brass to review manoeuvres and mock battles on the plains. 

The Duke of Connaught, third in line to the British throne, his wife the Duchess of Connaught, a Prussian princess, arrived in Kingstown (Dun Laoghaire) early in the morning of the first Monday in July 1899. The Kildare Observer noted solemnly that their visit was ‘private and unofficial’ , a description cast into doubt by the fact that the Observer was able to carry two columns of reports on the royal party’s visit to Co. Kildare!  

Their special train left Kingsbridge at 6.40am for Newbridge from where they travelled to the Curragh where the party was welcomed by Lord Roberts, Commander of the Forces in Ireland, and who in a matter of months was to find himself taking charge of a British force in South Africa which had been stopped in its tracks by a motley crew of Boer farmers. But back to the more peaceable scenes on the Curragh. Their Royal highnesses were escorted to the headquarters block, where during their stay in Ireland they were to be the guests of Lord and Lady Roberts. 

Their first official function was a field inspection of a cavalry regiment famed in song and song and in story -- the Inniskilling Dragoons, then based at the Curragh. The weather conditions for the occasion, as described by the Observer columnist, were typical of a summer’s day on the  Curragh: “The day luckily proved very fine, though a rather cold breeze swept over the spacious crown lands, and rain once or twice threatened to mar the effect of the display”. But the rain held off and what a sight the Dragoons must have made as they drew up on the plains -- every inch bridle, tack, belt and uniform polished and buffed to perfection: “The distinguished regiment, which was to form the centre figure in the day’s proceedings, was drawn up in review order on the grounds facing their headquarters, and with lances and drawn sabres, and with pennants floating gaily, they made a brave show indeed.” 

The Duke of Connaught had a special reason to be interested in the performance of the Inniskillings as was its titular Commander-in-Chief of the regiment. The Duke, mounted on horseback, then inspected the regiment to the accompaniment of a military band playing the regimental quick march. Meanwhile the Duchess of Connaught, Lady Roberts, and other ladies, watched the proceedings from a carriage within the review enclosure.  The inspection over, the Regiment then proceeded to display its equestrian proficiency in front of the Royal party galloping past the reviewing position in a variety of formations. The Curragh has seen many feats of horsemanship but the spectacle of a cavalry regiment at a full gallop with lances lowered and sabres unsheathed must have presented a thrilling sight to even the most experienced observers of equestrian skill. A particularly impressive manoeuvre was one which the saw the Regiment stop while in the gallop and come to a halt in front of the inspecting officer – a difficult manoeuvre given the momentum of a horse at galloping pace. 

The Duke of Connaught completed his inspection and then advanced congratulations to the officer in charge of the Inniskillings, Colonel Thompson, on the excellence and precision which had characterised the manoeuvres. He then addressed the men expressing his pride at the manner in which “ they had gone through the various evolutions and mimic charges.’ 

According to the Observer this spectacle on the Curragh plains drew to a close when “ His  Royal Highness, with Lord Roberts, General Combe, and the two staffs, then rode back to the Headquarters block, and the Inniskillings returned to their more humble quarters in the Camp.’ 

But the spectacle on the Curragh was far from over and the short-grass plains would echo to the sound of massed cavalry as the British forces on the Curragh pulled out all the stops to impress their royal visitor.  

Series No. 127

At a meeting of Killarney Town Council, Co. Kerry, on Monday July 5^th 2010, a leather bound book containing over 300 names of those from Killarney and the surrounding area who fought in the First World War, was presented to the town during which the town council meeting was informed that of 308 young soldiers listed, 192 had died with the majority of them   killed at Gallipoli  and others at the Somme  It is anticipated that the list will  grow over time as the result of on-going research as  it is  expected that more Killarney people will be uncovered.  Relatives of the 126 who survived said that many retuned home injured and carried emotional and other scars.  

Noel Grimes, chairman of the war memorial committee, in presenting the book to Donal Grady, newly elected Mayor said that future generation must know that Killarney was not just all about tourism and that there was another part of the town that must not  be forgotten, namely  its people.  

The project got under way following a visit on  September 2009 to Killarney by President Mary McAleese to unveil  the Killarney Great War Memorial  alongside the Munster Fusiliers monument, which generations of Kerry men enlisted in, to all those who had died and who had recently remained unspoken about publicly.

854734 Corporal Stephen Doyle 3^rd Infantry Battalion

Born in Dublin he enlisted on the 27^th of June 1990 with the 2^nd Infantry Battalion, at Cathal Brugha Brks Dublin aged 18 years.

Cpl Doyle is currently serving with the 3^rd Infantry Battalion, James Stephens Brks, Co Kilkenny. After basic training he was posted to the 2^nd Cavalry Squadron at Cathal Brugha Brks where he served until his transfer to the Military College in Feb 2000.

During his time with 2^nd Cavalry Squadron his duties involved being a member of the Escort to the President as well as visiting Dignitaries and Heads of State. The unit was also tasked with border operations and overseas commitments.It was during this time he served on six overseas tours with armoured recce units under (U.N.I.F.I.L) the United Nations Interim Force In Lebanon.

After service with both the Cadet School and United Nations Training School, he transferred to 3rd Infantry Battalion on the 3^rd of Dec 2007. He continues to employ his skill in the mechanised infantry role, having been recently deployed to K.F.O.R (Kosovo) with the 40^th Infantry Groups, (APC) Armoured Personnel Company, Mowag detachment from Mar to Oct 2009.

He is will deploy with the 105^th  Inf Bn to U.N.I.F.I.L. (Lebanon) on the 17^th of November 2011.

Both His brothers Laurence and Mark also served with the forces, starting out with the 2^nd Infantry battalion. Laurence is now a Sgt Instructor with the Infantry Weapons School having just returned from Fort Bragg North Carolina representing the Army in the annual international sniping competition.

Mark is now serving with An Garda Siochana in Dublin.

 

5235 Private Matthew Green 2^nd Battalion Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers

Born in the parish of Birkenhead, Liverpool England he enlisted on the 21^st February 1896 for the Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers in Carlow aged 19 years.

He was five foot and five inches in height, with blue eyes and brown hair.

He served abroad for just short of six years. Firstly on active service in India.

The newly formed regiment first saw action in 1897, when the 2^nd battalion was sent to the Northwest region of India to take part in the Tirah Campaign where the Mohmand tribesmen had closed the Khyber Pass and was raging war on the Indian Government.

The 2^nd Battalion arrived in South Africa from India at the close of 1901. They were sent to operate in the Pietersburg district under Colonel Colenbrander, and did good service there. In his telegram of 13^th April 1902 Lord Kitchener said; “Bayers Laager having been located at palkop, the force under Colonel Colenbrander moved by different routes from Pietersburg so as to block all the principal outlets. The march was successful, and at 3pm on the 8^th a half battalion of the Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers, led by Colonel Murray, attacked the entrance of Molipspoort, covering the enemy’s position. The Royal Inniskilling fusiliers advancing magnificently in the face of opposition, and making skilful use of cover, by dusk had seized a hill to the east of poort”.

In the fighting on the 8^th and 9^th 1 officer was killed, 3 officers and five men wounded. Two officers gained mention in despatches for good work on this occasion.

The 2^nd Battalion then Left South Africa on October 24^th 1903  embarking on the H.T Dunera for Egypt, where they would serve for a further five years.

After returning home from the war he discharged himself from the army on the 20^th February 1908 in Belfast.

He served a total of 12 years in the Forces.

During the civil war he would be called upon again to share his knowledge in guerrilla tactics to the flying columns who were rising up to meet the new foe. The dreaded Black and Tans. For his services he was awarded the Black and tan medal.

 

 

8876 Private Michael Doyle 2^nd Battalion Royal Dublin Fusiliers

Born Rathoe, County Carlow, enlisted in the RDF aged 18 on the 28^th December 1903, having previously served the local militia of the 8^th battalion Kings Royal Rifles.

He was at that time 5 foot 4, and weighed 12st/14lbs had grey eyes and brown hair.

Landed in France with the 2^nd battalion 23^rd August 1914 and taken POW 27^th August 1914 while fighting a rearguard action with the BEF at the battle if Le Cateau, Mons.

He was then held in Limburg POW camp for the remainder of the war.

Out of a battalion of twenty two officers and one thousand and twenty three other ranks that landed in France on the 23^rd of August, all that was left on the 13^th of September after twenty days of fighting, was ten officers and four hundred and seventy eight other ranks, the rest were killed, wounded or taken prisoner.

The terrible loss of men at this time was enormous. The French Army was almost wiped out and after four days of action lost 40,000 men, on the 22^nd of August alone a staggering 27,000 men fell, the bloodiest day in the history of the French Army.

At the battle of the Marne as it was known, the German advance stalled thanks to the brave sacrifice and gallant action of those men who held their positions in the face of overwhelming odds. The French’s losses would amount to 400,000.  The Schlieffen plan was halted, but not before the flower of German manhood was killed as well. The name for those opening months was kindermorder , “the slaughter of the young”.

                                                                                   

72441 Private Laurence Doyle 3^rd Infantry Battalion

Born Rathoe County Carlow, enlisted in the 3rd Infantry Battalion aged 18 years on the 21^st July 1931.

He served with the 3^rd Infantry Battalion until his transfer to 6^th field signals on the 2^nd December 1942.

This time in Irelands History 1939 to 1945, was known as the “Emergency” due to An Taoiseach, Eamon de Valeras neutral stance during the conflict raging in Europe.

However Ireland was not immune from the war and it eventually visited the country in the form of the Luftwaffe. In August 1940 German bombs fell on the creamery of Campile in Co Wexford, killing 3 women and on 31^st may 1941, the North Strand area of Dublin was bombed, killing 34 people and injuring another 90 as well as destroying over three hundred houses. Navigational error was to blame for these attacks however in Belfast there was no mistake. Some 1,100 people died and 56,000 houses were destroyed with 100,000 made homeless during ten hours of intense bombing. The blitz in Belfast was the worst suffered by any city in the UK outside London.

To prepare for potential invasion the “Blackwater Manouveres” were carried out to prove to our British counterparts of our readiness and ability to stem any such event.

They commenced on the 17^th August 1942 starting in Dublin with the principal exercise area roughly between killavullen and Cappoquin Co Waterford this being the estimated German landing place.The exercise ended in Dublin on the 27^th September.

One officer and three other ranks were drowned during the Blackwater river crossing.

Pte Laurence Doyle discharged from the Army on the 23^rd of January 1946, ‘on termination of his engagement’ having served 15 years with the forces. He continued to serve as 612017 Pte Laurence Doyle with the LDF/FCA until his discharge on the 22^nd May 1954.

 

818038 Trooper Laurence Doyle 2^nd Motor Squadron.

Born in Barracks St Tullow Co Carlow 0n 31^st August 1950 he enlisted in Army in 1968 aged 18 years. He served with the 2^nd Motor Squadron and was on active service with the unit during the Northern Ireland Troubles from 1969 onwards.

He had the distinction of presenting An tUchtarain Mr Eamon De Valera with a presentation on behalf of the Unit upon his departure from office.

During the 1960’s 2 motor Squadron personnel served with distinction in ONUC in the former BELGIAN CONGO. At the NIEMBA Ambush of 08 November 1960, Sgt HUGH GAYNOR, Tpr THOMAS FENNELL and Tpr ANTHONY BROWNE lost their lives. Tpr Browne was later posthumously awarded the Military Medal for Gallantry. – With the following citation. “He had a reasonable opportunity of escaping because he was not wounded but chose to remain with an injured comrade”.

By 1964 the CONGO situation was beginning to cool but the temperature was rising in CYPRUS because of the GREEK/TURKISH confrontation.

Many Squadron personnel served in CYPRUS with UNFICYP where sixteen AML 60 Panhards were first deployed.

The ‘TROUBLES’ in Northern Ireland escalated in 1969 and eight of the sixteen armoured cars deployed to CYPRUS were returned home. A Troop from 2 Motor Squadron moved to CAVAN for a time, then to CASTLEBLANEY and DUNDALK and remained there actively involved on Border operations from 1972 to 1984.

Tpr Laurence Doyle discharged from the Army in 1984 after 15 years service.

                                            

834959 Sgt Matthew Doyle 3^rd Infantry Battalion

Born In Barracks St Tullow co Carlow on 31^st March 1947 he enlisted on the 8^th of January 1976 aged 29 years.

He began his military career like most men, in the G.T.D (General Training Depot) Mc Donagh Brks in the Curragh. After a period he was posted to the 3^rd Infantry Battalion in Connolly Brks.

He was one of the founder members of the Irish Army (S.A.G) Special Assault Groups and then the Army Ranger Wing (A.R.W) Irelands Special Forces, in the early eighties, as most European powers began to rise to the threat of potential subversive and terrorist elements which were emerging both inside and outside the state.

He served on two tours of duty with the (U.N.I.F.I.L) the United Nations Interim Force In Lebanon. Firstly the 46^th Inf Btn / B coy and then the 52^nd Inf Btn / H.Q. Coy.

The village of At Tiri was located at the forward edge of the Irish AOR, dominated by Hill 880. Four Irish UN posts were in this enclave and while of no great strategic value, were politically important.

The post’s became commonly known as ‘hostage spots’ due to their vulnerability.

During the 46^th Infantry battalions tour they would be engaged in what would be forever more known as the Battle for At Tiri. 

Between the 6^th and 13^th of April 1980 at At Tiri village Pte Stephen Griffin Irishbatt and Pte S Sornaivalu Fijibatt were killed in action,(R.I.P) amongst many others who were wounded.

He discharged himself from the Army on the 4^th of October 1990 at the rank of sergeant having completed 15 years service.

Kerry Interviews of Ernie O’ Malley

Book Review

The Civil War (1922 – 23) which followed the War of Independent (1919  - 21) was a great tragedy for the country as it had an long term effect on Irish life and society for several decades afterwards by dividing  families, neighbours, and friends  and pitted former War of Independence comrades against each other. The Civil War was particularly bitter in Co, Kerry where the majority of the I.R.A. opted to side with the Republican cause and was one of short engagements, summary executions, reprisals, and  atrocities.

In the 1940s and 1950s, Ernie O’Malley, who wrote about his own experiences during the War of Independence in ‘ On Another Man’s Wound ‘, and       ’ Raids and Rallies ‘ and those of the Civil War in ‘ The Singing Flame ‘, all of which are currently available from Mercier Press, interviewed more than 450 survivors of the War of Independence, or Tan War as he called it, and the Civil War, at a time when the Bureau of Military History was engaged in similar work.   Many of those who would not speak to the Bureau of Military History interviewers, were prepared to speak to him as they considered him one of their own and in the process he collected a vast amount of information in his notebooks which were written down in his own unique style, the manner of which is explained in this remarkable book.  Very simply O’Malley’s method was to write down rapidly what interviewees said while they speaking to him in a series of notebooks and to later rewrite this material into a second series of more coherent notebooks. Occasionally he included drawings of the site of an ambush or the attack on a police barracks but in the re-writing process added his own comments in parentheses.  Examination of the notebooks reveals that he appears not to have used a consistent interview technique and opted to allow interviewees to ramble on and cover several topics, all of which he wrote down – the tone of the interviews recorded are conversational and he often wrote down the names of people and places phonetically – these are corrected in this new text. The notebooks themselves are part of the Ernie O’Malley Archives in the UCD Archives, Dublin.

This book focuses on eighteen O’ Malley interviews relating to Co. Kerry - fifteen those interviewed rejected the Anglo-Irish Peace Treaty, two reflect the view of those who accepted the Treaty terms and one who opted to remain neutral.

Each interview is reproduced in full, complete with blanks where sometimes O’Malley intended to insert further information resulting at times in sentences that  make no sense. The style of local phrasing has been included in the text which contains words and phrases no longer in current usage.

These interviews provide the reader with a graphic picture of the great difficultly that the I.R.A. in Co. Kerry faced in mounting operations during the War of Independence, the successes they had, and the various tensions that arose between local commanders and H.Q.  The recollections of the Civil War reminds the reader just how bitter and bloody this conflict was in Co. Kerry compared to other parts of Ireland.

The footnoting is excellent as it explains items and people referred to in the course of interviews and are of great assistance to the reader then knows what the interviewees are talking about and can subsequently cross-check references to these events and people in other books.

A biographic note and photograph is provided for each of the eighteen interviewees and this excellent and engrossing book concludes with a ‘ Chronology of Significant Events in Kerry (1916 – 1923).

 

Edited by Cormac K.H. O’Malley and Tim Horgan, pb, 350pp, Ills, ISBN 978 1 85635 952 8, published by Mercier Press.

Cooke of Kilcullen

 

William Cooke was born in 1885 in Kilcullen, Co. Kildare the eldest son of William, an army pensioner and his wife Annie. He enlisted in the Royal Dublin Fusiliers at Naas, Co. Kildare shortly before the First World War.  After initial training he was posted to the 1^st Battalion but it was with the 2^nd Battalion that he embarked for France on the 23^rd August, 1914, after the outbreak of the War. He soon gained a reputation for courage and initiative and was soon promoted Corporal.

Accounts of his gallantry are legion and come from a variety of sources including not only his own comrades in arms but from the officers of other regiments who witnessed these deeds of valour.

On one occasion he went out into no-man’s land at night and having reconnoitered the enemies trench found his way back to his lines blocked by a party of Germans.  He lay still for a while until the next flare shell illuminated their position.  He had fifty rounds of ammunition with him and he poured rifle fire into the enemy party having taken them by complete surprise.  He fired some twenty five rounds before his rifle jammed but by then had accounted for several of the enemy.   The remaining Germans quickly cleared out of his path when he charged them with the fixed bayonet shouting “Come on the Dubs” and “Come on Boys we have them now” giving the Germans the impression that he was part of a larger force.  His ruse worked and he made his way safely back to this own lines where he received an ovation from his comrades. 

One of his comrades said that the never saw the like of his coolness and courage and that he never knew the meaning of fear.  He said that his chief amusement was to go out into no-man’s land on his own looking for snipers and when an Officer would ask where Corporal Cooke was he was told that he was out there cutting the German barbed wire. 

Billy as he was known would walk off with his rifle in his hand looking for some fun and would come back whistling with his cap on the back of his head looking cool and calm.  He was mentioned in the despatches of Field Marshall Sir John French on the 2^nd February, 1915 for his services in France.

The Germans by the unexpected use of gas made a successful attack on the Allied positions and forced a five mile wide gap in the lines.   The counter attack on the Ypres Salient, known as the second battle of Ypres, started at 6.30am on the morning of the 25^th April, 1915.  A few men of the 2^nd Battalion Royal Dublin Fusiliers reached the outskirts of St. Julien and in a fierce fight helped close the gap which had been opened between the Canadians east of the village and those north of Fortuin. 

Billy, now an acting Sergeant with the 2^nd Battalion, was involved in this fighting.  He warned his Officer that the Germans would counter attack under the cover of the twenty foot high cloud of poison gas that was approaching their position.  He then crept out to a farm house and perched on the roof where he overlooked the German positions.  He saw a German Officer and between ten and fourteen men crawling along a lane leading towards the house.  He opened fire on the Germans starting with the one who was furthest away, he picked them off one by one, in his own words “they came in force, and I got a young chap named Maloney to get the machine gun into the lower part of the house.  I remained on the roof directing the fire and the gun simply mowed them down.  On leaving the roof I observed a German Officer crouching beside a ditch and advancing on him, with my rifle presented, I took him completely by surprise and he surrendered.  I brought him back to our lines”.

Brigadier W. Carden Roe, Royal Irish Fusiliers is quoted as saying “ The only satisfaction I got out of that day’s fighting was to see the disgusted face of a German Officer captured by Sergeant Cooke, a Dublin Fusilier.  Posted as outlook on a farm, he was above the main force of gas and saw an enemy section of fourteen creeping along a ditch.  He shot each man from the rear at a range of fifty yards until only the Officer was left.  He (Cooke) then got down and captured him”.

A Dublin Fusilier Officer reported Cooke as saying “I fairly cut the legs off them”.  This Officer regarded Cooke as “an absolute marvel when any fighting is on, he is all over the place and will patrol anywhere.  He has a sort of stammer and he said “You see when I am out in front and I have any signs of the Germans I take cover behind a body.  But these young fellows won’t do it, says it makes them sick”.

The fighting continued around St. Julien with the Dublin Fusiliers in the thick of it until they were withdrawn on the 4^th May.

Sergeant Cooke who had patrolled up to the enemy lines for eight continuous nights was wounded on the side of the head by a bullet on the 10^th May and was affected by gas poisoning.  He was awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal (London Gazette 23^rd June, 1915).

One of his comrades said that if he had been in any other Regiment apart from the Royal Dublin Fusiliers he would have been given a Victoria Cross long ago.  This was a fairly usual complaint and Fr. Doyle, Chaplin to the Royal Dublin Fusiliers, who was recommended for the Victoria Cross by his CO, his Brigadier and by General Hickey, was refused. “The triple disqualification of being an Irishman, a Catholic and a Jesuit proved, according to his biographer insuperable”.   Recovering from his wound and from the affects of gas poisoning Sergeant Cooke was back on leave at the beginning of June, 1915 and returned to his home in Kilcullen, where he was hailed as a hero.  Supplement to the London Gazette, on the 30^th June, carried the citation to the Distinguished Conduct Medal and this was published in the Kildare Observer on the 3^rd July.  It stated that the medal was awarded “for conspicuous gallantry on the 25^th April 1915 and the following eight days, patrolling every night up to the enemy lines.  From the top of a farm he killed about ten Germans, and then went out and took prisoner their leader, an Officer”.

One of his comrades was interviewed by the Kildare Observer and recounted how on one occasion, while in the trenches, Sergeant Cooke had his eyes fixed firmly on a spot on the brick wall of a house opposite them where bullets fired by a German sniper continued to knock chips out of the same place on the brickwork.  “I’m going to get that fellow” said Cooke taking off his coat and cap and propping them up on an old broom near where the bullets were hitting.  He then went off in another direction to locate the sniper from the flash of his rifle.  “He got him alright” reported his comrade “and the brick wall was not hit again”.

The London Gazette on the 25^th August, 1915 announced that Sergeant Cooke had been awarded the Russian Medal of St. George 2^nd Class.  When Sergeant Cooke returned to active service he went to his original 1^st Battalion, then serving in Gallipoli.  This Battalion had a rough time since landing on V Beach under heavy fire on the 25^th April, 1915, the same date that the 2^nd Battalion became involved in the 2^nd Battle of Ypres.  After many severe engagements in May and June of 1915 the 1^st Battalion embarked from W Beach in HM Transport ‘Prince Abbas’ on the 18^th August, 1915 and landed at Suvla Bay on the 19^th . They moved to Chocolate Hill and then to the front line trenches on Hill 53.  They remained at Suvla until the 8^th September when they embarked for Imbros.  They were ordered back to Suvla on the 19^th but, due to weather conditions, did not leave until the 21^st. Drafts of three hundred men had been received throughout August and September and I suspect that Sergeant Cooke came out with one of these drafts. 

So far he had led a charmed life.  During all his adventures in France and Flanders the worst thing that had happened to him was a bullet grazing his head from eye to ear.  Perhaps he began to believe he was invincible or perhaps he just did not care, but, he was soon volunteering for every dangerous assignment and according to Lieutenant Colonel John Henry Patterson DSO he “was constantly out reconnoitering the enemies position and bringing in useful information to his Officers”.

It was here however that his luck ran out and during one of his usual brave exploits he was mortally wounded and died on the 3^rd October, 1915.  Lieutenant Colonel Patterson described his death in ‘With the Zionists in Gallipoli’: “Although he must have been in great agony for a couple of hours before he died he never uttered a groan. Just before the last he said “Am I dying like a British Solider?. No solider” concluded Colonel Patterson, “ever died more gamely”.

He was buried in Azmak Cemetery Suvla Plot I.C.9 and lies there along with 1,073 other First World War casualties.

His brother, Corporal John Cooke, died of wounds on the 1^st day of the 3^rd Battle of Ypres 31^st July, 1917 at the age of 30 and another brother Private Robert Cooke served in France from the beginning of the War with the Durham Light Infantry.

Sources:
Fr. William Doyle SJ, by Alfred O’Rahilly
With the Zionists in Gallipoli, by Lt. Col. John Henry Patterson DSO
Orange, Green and Khaki, by Tom Johnstone
Regimental Histories of the Royal Dublin Fusiliers

Civil Defence Medal for 50 Years Service

Members of the Irish Civil Defence who had served for 50 years were honoured at a ceremony in Dublin Castle on Friday 21^st November 2014. The Minister of State at the Department of Defence, Paul Keogh T.D., presented the new Long Service Medals and congratulated the recipients. He was joined in congratulating the medal recipients by Mr. Brian Spain of the Department of Defence. The recipients both serving and retired came from all over the country.

The new 50 year Long Service Medal has the Harp and words Cosaint Shibhialta – Civil Defence on the obverse and on the reverse the words Long Service - Seirbhis Fhada and the number 40 in the centre. In addition, attached to the ribbon is a clasp with the figures 50. The ribbon is dark blue and has two wide and two narrow orange stripes.

The same basic design of medal is awarded for 40 years service, the only difference is the absence of the 50 year clasp and the blue ribbon has three orange stripes of the same width.

There is also another version of the medal awarded for 30 years service. This has the figures 30 on the reverse and the blue ribbon has three orange strips, of equal width.

It is interesting to note that some years earlier, Dublin Civil Defence had made awards for 30, 40 and 50 years service to its members. The award was a metal shield 5.5 cm long and 4.5 cm wide. On the shield is a circular badge with the Harp and words, Cosaint Shibhialta – Civil Defence; this is the same size as the standard service medal. Below this is a smaller metal disc with showing the number of years, 50, 40 or 30, served. The 50 year shield is in a golden coloured metal, the 40 year shield in silver colour and the 30 year shield in bronze. The shields, mounted on a leather backing, are worn on the right side of the uniform tunic.

The Civil Defence Long Service Medals for 10 years and 20 years service, first issued in 1997, continue to be awarded. They were described in earlier issues of this Journal.

References

“Civil Defence Service Medal”, Eamonn O’Toole, Journal of the Medal Society of Ireland, Number 42, November 1997.

“Irish Civil Defence Medals”, David J.Murnaghan, Journal of the Medal Society of Ireland, Number 73, June 2006.

East Link Bridge Renamed

On Tuesday 3^rd  May 2016  President Michael D. O’ Higgins unveiled a plaque which renamed the East Link Bridge spanning Dublin’s River Liffey as the Tom Clarke Bridge.  Earlier this year the Tom Clarke Memorial Committee submitted an application to Dublin City Council’s Commemorative Naming Committee   requesting that the East Link Bridge should be renamed the Tom Clarke Bridge.  The application was approved by the committee and was submitted to the March meeting of the City Council recommending it.

The East Link Bridge opened on 1984 connecting East Wall Road on the northside with  Ringsend  on the southside with upwards of 14000 vehicles  crossing this toll bridge every day.

FATALITIES OF THE CUSTOM HOUSE FIRE, 1921

The Custom House in Dublin City was built on the north bank of the River Liffey facing towards George's Quay on the south side of the river. The construction, under the direction of English born Architect, James Gandon, commenced in 1781 and was completed in 1791. It was built to replace the old Custom House that was situated on Wellington Quay near Grattan Bridge.

An imposing symbol of British administration in Ireland, the Custom House became a target of the Irish Republican Army (IRA) in 1921, two months before the end of the Irish War of Independence.

In the early afternoon of 25^th May 1921, members of the 2^nd Battalion of the Dublin Brigade entered the building in small groups and rounded up members of staff. Volunteers were also positioned outside to prevent any effort to interrupt their operation. However, when Crown forces and Auxiliary police arrived on the scene a fierce gun battle ensued. Volunteers proceeded to set fires throughout the building. Many were arrested including staff and civilians who eventually emerged from the burning building with their hands up. Gunfire inside and outside the building resulted in several injuries and a total of nine deaths, five IRA men and four civilians, two of which were employed at the Custom House, all had addresses in Dublin.

Civilians:

John Byrne (27) was one of twelve children of James and Ellen (nee Farrell) Byrne. He was born in 29 Moore Street, Dublin on the 13^th March 1894. On the day of the Custom House fire, he was shot sometime after one o’clock, as he cycled by on his way home from Bailey's of Rathmines, where he was employed as a poulterer. At a Military Inquiry on the 27^th of May he had been mistakenly identified by a Mrs. Bridget Kelly as her husband, James Kelly. She subsequently learned her husband was alive and being held prisoner in Arbour Hill Prison. The Military Inquiry was resumed on the 2^nd of June, when Ellen Byrne identified the body as that of her brother, John Byrne, a Poulterer, of 14 Killarney Street, Dublin. The inquiry heard he was dead when admitted to the King George V Hospital (St. Bricin's Military Hospital) Dublin at about two o'clock in the afternoon. When examined he had wounds on the left and right hand sides of his chest and the back of the right shoulder. His death is recorded as, ‘Shock and haemorrhage caused by bullets fired by some person or persons unknown - accidental death’, He is buried with his brother James and sister in law, Marcella Byrne. in grave FK 129 in St. Patrick's section of Glasnevin Cemetery.

James Connolly (50) of 26 Gardiner Street Lower, Dublin was shot at the junction of Gardiner Street and Beresford Place to the rear of theCustom House. Connolly's death received very little news coverage, except to report, that he was a Quay Labourer an ex-Soldier and Sailor and left a wife and five children, the eldest who was eleven years old. His death certificate records ‘Shock and haemorrhage caused by a bullet fired by the Crown Forces, in execution of their duty - accidental death’. He is buried in an unmarked grave, QB 76 in St. Paul's section of Glasnevin Cemetery. The arrangement for his burial was made by a Mrs. Mary Anne Connolly, also of 26 Gardiner Street Lower, Dublin.

Francis James Miall Davis (62) was born on the 1^st December 1858 in The Moors, Aldershot, England to James and Matilda (nee Rigg) Davis. He married Bertha Wyatt in Peckham, London in October 1895. Employed by the Customs Service, he moved to Dublin and took up the position of resident caretaker in the Custom House, where he lived with his wife and children, two of which were born in the Custom House. During the IRA attack on the Custom House, his wife was in their living quarters, on the top floor, when she heard shouting and the sound of a gunshot.She rushed out to find two men, one with a pistol in his hand, standing over her wounded husband. They said they had ‘taken over the Custom House in the name of the Irish Republic'. Davis was taken to the King George V Hospital (St. Bricin's Military Hospital), Dublin, where he died later that evening. The medical evidence at the Military Inquiry into his death confirmed he died from a bullet wound in the left side of the chest. His death was recorded as 'Shock and hemorrhage caused by a bullet willfully fired by some persons unknown, other than the Crown forces - Willful murder'. His wife applied for compensation and received a total of £3,000 (€2,362).

Mahon Patrick Lawless (23) of 87 Lindsay Road, Glasnevin, Dublin was the eldest child born to Peter and Hannah (nee Buckley) Lawless on the l8^th November 1897 in 3 Janeville, Sunday's Well, County Cork. He joined the British Army in November 1915 enlisting into the Durham Light Infantry and later he served with the Yorkshire and Lancaster regiment. He fought on the Western Front from December 1917 and was discharged in 1919 while serving with 121 POW Company. He was awarded the Victory and British medals. At the time of the Custom House fire he was a temporary clerk with the Local Government Board for Ireland which had its headquarters there. Having been ordered, along with other members of staff out into the court yard of the Custom House, he was shot in an exchange of gunfire between IRA men and Auxiliary Police. The Military Inquiry into his death heard that he was dead on admission to the King George V Hospital (St. Bricin's Military Hospital), Dublin, at about two o'clock, where on examination a small wound was found on the left side of the chest. His death certificate records the cause of his death as, 'Shock and haemorrhage caused by a bullet fired by the Crown forces, in execution of their duty - accidental death'. He was buried in Kilossory Graveyard, north west of Swords, County Dublin.

IRA Members:

Edward Christopher Dorins (22) of 145 Church Road, East Wall, Dublin, was born in 40 Patrick Street, Kingstown (now Dun Laoghaire), County Dublin on the 1^st January 1898 to Thomas and Mary Ellen (nee Travers) Dorins. He was employed as a plumber by the Dublin Dock Yard Company. The military inquest into his death heard that he was shot in the back of the head and through the right thigh. It concluded that he ‘died of shock and hemorrhage caused by bullets fired by the crown forces in the execution of their duty - Justifiable Homicide', He is buried in the North Section of Deans Grange Cemetery in grave 95 on row A4 and his name is also inscribed on the 'Roll of Honour' memorial which overlooks the Republican Plot in the West Section of the cemetery.

John (Sean) Joseph Doyle (34) of 55 Amiens Street, Dublin was born to Patrick and Kate (nee Dolan) Doyle on the 13^th July 1887 in 48 Tyrone Street, Dublin. He married Elizabeth Ward in August 1919. They had one child, Kathleen, born on the 9^th August 1920. He was employed as a Bookmakers Clerk. On the day of the Custom House fire, he was wounded and taken to the Meath Hospital where he underwent an operation, he died five days later, on the 30^th May. The inquest into his death heard that he had a wound in the chest and in the back, caused by gunshot. The death certificate records his death as 'Pneumonia following bullet wound, no evidence to show how wounds received'. He was buried in the Republican Plot in the South New Chapel section of Glasnevin Cemetery, Dublin. He died ten weeks after his brother, Patrick, who was hanged in Mountjoy Prison, having been found guilty of high treason and taking part in an ambush in Drumcondra, Dublin. Patrick was buried in Mountjoy Prison and was one of ten members of the IRA who became known as 'The Forgotten Ten'. He was reinterred on the 14^th October 2001 in the O'Connell Tower Circle in Glasnevin Cemetery.

Daniel Joseph Head (17) of 3 Courtney Place, Ballybough Road, Dublin was the youngest to be killed at the Custom House. He was the eldest child born to Michael and Mary (nee Hammond) Headon the 9^th July 1903 in the National Maternity Hospital, Holles Street, Dublin. He was an unemployed apprentice carpenter and was described by his father as 'slightly Nationalist, if anything'. Two days after his death, the Military Inquiry heard that there was 'three wounds in the region of the heart up to about the size of a half crown', He also had a large wound and a fracture of the right arm. His death certificate records his death as 'Shock and Haemorrhage caused by a bullets fired by some person or persons unknown – accidental death’ However, he is commemorated on the memorial at the Custom House. He is buried in Kilbarrack Graveyard, Dublin.

Patrick Thomas Reilly(26) was born in 3 Wellesley Place, Dublin on the 1^st November 1894 to Thomas and Sidney (nee Masterson) Reilly. He was a Captain in the I.R.A. He worked as a Clerk for Arnotts in Henry Street, Dublin. The Military Inquiry into his death heard that there were four irregular perforating wounds on the rightside of the chest and similar wounds on the forehead, mouth, left thigh and right forearm. The verdict of the inquiry recorded that he died of ‘Shock and hemorrhage caused by bullets fired by Crown forces in the execution of their duty, justifiable homicide'. His funeral took place from St. Agatha's Church, North William Street, Dublin. He was buried in the family grave, PH 85 in St. Bridget’s section of Glasnevin Cemetery along with his youngest brother, Stephen who was also shot and killed at the Custom House.

Stephen John Reilly (19) was born in 3 Wellesley Place, Dublin on the 13th July 1901. He was the youngest child of Thomas and Sidney (nee Masterson) Reilly. He worked as a Commercial Traveler for newspapers. He was an Assistant Adjutant in the I.R.A. At the Military Inquiry Capt. R.F. Bridges R.A.M.C. stated that on examination, Reilly had wounds in the groin, outside the left thigh, the left upper arm and the back. He is buried along with his brother, Patrick Thomas Reilly in grave PH 85 in St. Bridget’s section of Glasnevin Cemetery. Patrick and Stephen Reilly were brothers of Thomas Reilly who was married to Eileen O'Hanrahan, the sister of Michael O’Hanrahan who was one of the fourteen 1916 Easter Rising leaders who were executed in Kilmainham Jail. He is buried in the Easter 1916 burial plot in the grounds of Arbour Hill Prison, Dublin.

In 1947, surviving members of the 2nd Battalion of the Old IRA met and decided to raise funds to erect a memorial to the men of their battalion who died in the battle at the Custom House and those who gave their lives for Irish freedom. The government provided the site at the Custom House and in 1949, the Custom House Memorial Committee advertised a competition for designs for the memorial, offering a prize of £100 (€127) for the most suitable design selected.

The winning entry was created by Jean Renard Goulet (1914-1999), a French born sculptor who became an Irish citizen in 1953. His bronze design is 4.5 metres high, it represents Ireland beside a dying soldier. The base on which it stands, is inscribed in Irish and English with the names of the men who died in the battle at the Custom House.

On Sunday the 20th May 1956, President of Ireland, Sean T. O'Kelly, unveiled the monument in the presence of government ministers, leading members of all parties and members of the Dorins, Doyle, Head and Reilly families.

Oscar Traynor T.D., who led the raid on the Custom House, placed a copper casket in the base of the memorial. It contained the names of the 2nd Battalion of the Dublin Brigade of the IRA and of Cumann na mBan. The Last Post and Reveille were sounded during the ceremony.

The restoration of the Custom House was completed by 1928 and in the 1980s another program of restoration was undertaken. It remains a government location, accommodating the Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government.

 

Sources:

Civil registration records, Ireland and England; Military inquests, National Archives, London; Census records, Ireland and England; Military Archives, Dublin; Newspaper archives, Ireland and England; Burial records of Glasnevin Cemetery, Deans Grange Cemetery and Kilbarrack Cemetery.

Acknowledgements:

Manv thanks to Paul Baillie, Military Research, London; Liam Dodd; Conor Dodd; the staff of Dublin Public Libraries; Dun Laoghaire Rathdown Lexicon; Fingal County Council and Glasnevin Cemetery, Dublin. 

 

The Link Between Irish Lights & RMS Lusitania

 

Albert Arthur Bestic was a 24 year old Junior Third Officer bringing luggage up on deck as the torpedo hit the Lusitania. When she sank he commanded one of the ship’s collapsible boats and is credited with plucking about a dozen people from the water before they were subsequently rescued by the small steamer Bluebell that had come to their aid. He remained friends with Captain Turner visiting him regularly up to the Captain’s death in 1933.

 

He Joined the Commissioners of Irish Lights on 24 November 1922 as a 2^nd Officer on SS Alexandra. He subsequently served as 1^st Officer on SS Ierne and, again, on SS Alexandra and was Acting Commander of SS Isolda when she was bombed by a Luftwaffe aeroplane on 19^th December 1940 which sank with the loss of 6 lives.

 

Below is the official statement of the events that he gave to the investigating team in the immediate aftermath of the attack. 

 

Albert Bestic continued his career with the Commissioners until his retirement in January 1949

 

 

Statement of Captain Albert A. Bestic, c/o Irish Lights, D’Olier Street, Dublin, taken on 19th day of December 1940, by Inspector B. Carr, 3751, Wexford.

 

I was in charge of the “ss Isolda” registered in Dublin, which was proceeding from Rosslare Harbour to carry out the relief of the Coningbeg Light-Ship on this date. We left Rosslare Harbour at about 8.50 a.m. and approximately at 11 a.m. a plane was sighted when our vessel was approximately 2 miles ENE magnetic of Coningbeg Light Vessel. I was in my cabin at the time and was informed by the 2nd Officer who was on watch that a plane was in the vicinity. I immediately went on the Bridge and in about 10 Seconds the plane descended over the ship and immediately afterwards there was a violent explosion. This operation was repeated on three successive times, registering hits. The vessel took a violent list and caught fire. The 2nd Engineer who was on watch stopped the engine to the Telegraphs from the Bridge. Orders were passed to abandon the ship and this was done by taking to small craft. The small boats stood by picking up survivors. The crew consisted of 30 men all told and 7 Relief men for Light Ships. Six members of the crew are missing. Mr Thornton and I were the last to leave the boat.

 

When ship was finally abandoned and I eventually left no member of the crew or relief was apparently left on board.

 

I have not taken accurate measurements on chart and find the estimated position of my ship to be between 2½ & 3 miles ENE of Coningbeg Lightship.

 

Signed: A.A. Bestic

Witness: B. Carr, Inspector 3751

Fr. Daniel Hickey

Pete Sobolewski 

Kilmacud Curate and World War I Chaplain

When World War One broke out in 1914 Fr. Daniel Hickey was serving as a curate in Kilmacud, Co. Dublin. Some nineteen months later he volunteered to serve as a chaplain in the army. Unfortunately little is known of his role at the front and as a consequence one can only make speculations based on some documentary materials and the role played by Catholic chaplains in war conditions. The reason for this is the dearth of sources. Few sources involving Fr. Hickey have been located. His career in the Chaplaincy is outlined in his military records but these are merely skeletal. Fortunately he is mentioned in the Army Chaplains’ Department Lists for 1918. If he kept a diary its existence and whereabouts are unknown. Consequently this story is limited, yet the events and places mentioned are placed in context. Hopefully this will give a picture of the world Fr. Hickey entered while serving at the front.

Daniel was born in 1877 in Templenoe, Co. Tipperary, to Philip and Bridget Hickey. Philip has been described as a substantial farmer, and his family was a devout Catholic one. His sister, Sr. Mary Ursula, was a nun as was his niece, Sr. Assumpta. He was educated in Rockwell College, Cashel, entered Clonliffe College on completing his secondary education, and finished his studies at the Irish College in Paris from which he was ordained in 1903. He served as a curate in Kilmacud (then part of the Parish of Dundrum) from 1910 – 1916, and it was while ministering here that he applied to become an army chaplain. He wrote to Archbishop Walsh for permission to offer his services on 4 March 1916. His letter consisted of exactly 18 words, giving absolutely no clue as to why he wanted to join.

During the course of the war about 444 Irish priests served as chaplains. No doubt their reasons for serving were varied, but the main one was quite clear. The Catholic Faith laid stress on the sacraments of Confession, the Eucharist and the Anointing of the Sick. Catholics in Ireland wanted to see the priest on their deathbeds to receive these Sacraments; this was genetically bred into them, and, unsurprisingly, Irish soldiers were no different. They wanted their priests at the front, and at the same time the priests who served as chaplains wanted to be available to Catholic soldiers (and soldiers of any faith or none) to carry out the ministry of serving God. One can only assume that Fr. Hickey’s motives were similar to these.

Brocton Camp, Cannock Chase

On 7 April 1916 Fr. Hickey was appointed Acting Chaplain to the forces, 4^th Class with the relative rank of Captain while so employed. On 3 May he commenced his duties at Brocton Camp, Cannock Chase. There were two military camps at Cannock Chase, Brocton Camp and Rugeley Camp. The camps were a complex of timber huts adapted to suit barracks, mess rooms and workshops. Construction of the first huts began in March 1915 and the first battalions arrived soon after. The construction of the camps and their huts began just months after the outbreak of the War. They were built on Lord Lichfield’s estate. A workforce of over 100 men built the camps and the associated railway – later nicknamed the Tackeroo. The infrastructure of the camps – water supply, sewage and roads – had to be put in place before work on the huts could begin.

 

 

The Role of a Chaplain

First and foremost army chaplains of all denominations were non-combatants. Their role was to accompany the soldiers of their battalion to their destinations in order to minister to their religious and spiritual needs. They were not there to ‘oil the wheels of war’.

During WWI Catholic chaplains to Irish Battalions seldom lived far from their men. They may have dined with their fellow officers and have had better accommodation than the men during lulls in the fighting. However, while at the front all had the same conditions. Chaplains worked their way through the defensive positions discussing the situation with the soldiers, sharing cigarettes, having a cuppa, and relaying any news they had from home. Chaplains reported that the soldiers were constantly looking for religious emblems, such as scapulars, medals and rosary beads. Many found these to be a source of comfort in times of danger.

During the fighting chaplains sought out the wounded and dying to administer the Last Rites. By so doing they placed themselves in mortal danger, as evidenced by the deaths of 179 of all denominations. Their next task was a very distressing one. They helped to identify the remains of soldiers in their battalion, often scattered remains. They were the ones who broke the awful news to the men of the deaths of their friends and comrades. They organised the burials, so essential for the morale of the men who were determined that their dead comrades receive a proper burial. Finally, the chaplains usually wrote to the families of dead soldiers telling the fate of their loved ones. Their kind and thoughtful words gave some small ray of light to the families in their moments of shattering sadness.

Whenever it was possible chaplains celebrated Mass and heard Confessions. Some of the more imaginative ones even organised entertainments and sporting events during lulls.

 

Orders

On 14 June 1916 Fr. Hickey was nominated to serve in Salonika with the 38th General Hospital. The military authorities seem to have immediately changed their minds as two days later he was selected for duty with the Egyptian Expeditionary Force. On the 26 June he was instructed by the War Office to be prepared to embark at short notice, and was allowed to take up to 1.5 cwt of baggage. On arrival in Egypt he was to report to the Deputy Adjutant-General for instructions.

 

Egyptian Expeditionary Force (EEF)

The Egyptian Expeditionary Force, formed in March 1916, was mostly created from the troops evacuated from Gallipoli, and its purpose was to defend the Suez Canal. Without the Canal, Britain’s communication links with India, Australia and New Zealand would be seriously jeopardised. To accomplish this the EEF constructed defensive posts east of the Canal. General Murray was eager to push the defensive line out into the Sinai Desert, hoping to eventually advance to the Egypt-Palestine border. This would allow Egypt to be defended with fewer troops, thereby freeing up manpower for use in Europe. This was an ambitious plan requiring a railway line, roads, and most importantly, a pipeline to supply water, especially for the horses. By August the Ottoman forces were compelled to retreat to northern Sinai and by December the EEF had reached the border with Palestine. From then until April, the Turks fought a successful defensive battle, resulting in Murray being replaced by General Allenby.

Just weeks before Allenby assumed command of the EEF in June 1917, Fr. Hickey agreed to renew his contract with the army ‘for a period of twelve months, or until my services are no longer required, whichever shall first happen.’

General Allenby reorganised his forces and was supplied with additional troops. These included the 10th (Irish) Division which arrived from Salonika. After a brief break the Irish, with the other divisions, departed for the front. Catholic chaplains were obviously included to minister to the division, so one wonders if Fr. Hickey was among those.

The offensive against the Turks began on 28 October 1917, and in early December 1918 Jerusalem surrendered to the British when the mayor handed the keys of the city to Irishman Major-General John Shea.

Fr. Hickey’s contract with the army expired on 20 July 1918 and less than a month later he was gazetted out. He returned for a brief period to Kilmacud and was appointed to the parish of Ballybrack where he served until 1922. He then served in Terenure (1922-1933), Celbridge (1933-1941), and finally in Crumlin where he served until his death in May 1956. Thanks to Finola Watchorn’s book on Crumlin we get a few insights into the parish priest’s personality. By all accounts he was larger than life as he built the new parish of St. Agnes. One suspects his own army days were recalled during this episode recounted by Miss Watchorn:

A soldier was lounging against the wall during Mass. ‘Stand erect’, commanded the Canon. The soldier straightened–up. ‘Move up front’, the Canon then ordered him. ‘It’s too warm up there’, was the soldier’s reply. ‘You’d be a lot warmer if you were in the desert’, retorted the Canon.

 

Sources

Brennan, John Martin (2011). Irish Chaplains in the First World War. Birmingham University

Cummins, Niall, (2013). Defend Them With their Lives. The Political and Spiritual Role of Irish Roman Catholic Priests in the British Army, 1914 – 1918. Dissertation, Trinity College.

Dublin Diocesan Archive, March 1916

Johnstone, Tom (1992). Orange, Green & Khaki

The National Archives, Kew

Watchorn, Finola (1985). Crumlin and the way it was.

 

Civil Defence - Air Raid Precautions, The 'Emergency'

World War Two, Badges and Insignia

By David J. Murnaghan

 In Ireland, a proliferation of badges for Civil Defence was issued in 'The Emergency' of World War Two. A series of Air Raid Precautions (ARP) badges in a range of colours were issued. The enamelled colour was an indication of a particular service e.g. Casualty (white), Warden (green), Auxiliary Fire Service (AFS) (red), Welfare (light blue) etc. The initial badges were of shield form with a horizontal inset with the letters ARP. An interesting badge had the letters LFP on the horizontal band but hollow spaces were left where the coloured enamel should have been. This badge, probably never issued, could have been intended for some Local Fire Service, such as a fire prevention or picket. The later badges, again of a shield form, carried the Irish harp in the centre with the letters ARP around it, at the bottom was an Irish knot. All the ARP badges were individually numbered. A St. John Ambulance lapel badge is shown with the range of ARP badges as the Brigade played a major part in the ARP during 'The Emergency'. Dublin Corporation requested the St. John Ambulance Brigade in Ireland to be the official Casualty Service of the Air Raid Precautions organisation in the City. The members wore their St. John uniforms with an oval cloth badge on the lower arm with the letters ARP in red embroidery. After 'The Emergency' ended, members were awarded the ARP version of The Emergency Service Medal.

The British issued many Civil Defence and ARP badges. The ARP Wardens were issued with hallmarked sterling silver badges, with a crown above the letters ARP. This was used as a form of identification in the period before uniforms were issued. As the war progressed these numbered badges were no longer made of silver but of a base metal. The Women's Voluntary Service had a square badge with a crown above it.The initial badge had the wording 'ARP Women's Voluntary Service'. This was replaced with the words 'WVS Civil Defence' on a later issue of badges. Oval badges with a crown were issued to Civil Defence Instructors, these had coloured enamel to indicate the relevant service. During the war, the regional Fire Brigades were amalgamated into a National Fire Service. In addition there was an Auxiliary Fire Service. Both of these had distinctive cap and lapel badges. A reserve of nurses was established. Their badge was a blue shield below a crown with the wording 'Civil Nursing Reserve'. The British railway companies, LMS, LNER, GWR etc., had many workers who were essential to keeping the trains running. These workers were exempt from conscription into the armed forces. To protect these exempt workers from ridicule and possible abuse, they were issued with lapel badges with the words ' Railway Service' and identified the railway company involved.

Medal of Honor to Irishman sells in Germany

  By Conor Dodd

 

A Medal of Honor awarded to Irishman Thomas Kelly has been sold for €14,000 by Munich based auction house Hermann-Historica in their May 2020 auction.

Described as a “...five-rayed star (Army, first model) embossed in copper and bronzed, standing upright on one tip, bearing the engraver's signature ‘Paquet F’... on the original ribbon in the design issued between 1896 and 1903” it is engraved on the reverse “The Congress to Private Thomas Kelly - C° H 21st U.S. Infty., for gallantry in action at Santiago, Cuba, July 1, 1898”.

Born in Ireland, Thomas Kelly emigrated to New York and enlisted in April 1894. He served continuously until his death in 1920, including service during the First World War. While a member of H Company of the 21st Infantry Regiment he took part in the attack on the Spanish troops in Santiago, Cuba, beginning on 22 June 1898. On 1 July the regiment fought in the Battle of San Juan Hill during which “Private Kelly assisted in the rescue of the wounded from in front of the line and while under heavy fire from the enemy” and was awarded the Medal of Honor. Kelly died in New York in December 1920 at age 43 and is buried in Plattsburg Barracks Post Cemetery. 

His medal is one of the few in private hands that have been made available for purchase as the sale and barter of the Medal of Honor is illegal in the United States.

References

Images: Medal of Honor to Thomas Kelly (Hermann-Historica) 

Operation Banner

The Green Howards in Ulster 1970 – 2004

Book review

Jonathan D J Maguire

Anyone with the slightest interest in recent current events knows that Operation Banner, the British Army's deployment in Northern Ireland, was the longest army campaign in its history, endured by generations of soldiers. Yet there are only really a scattering of general or unit histories available of the 'troubles' of varying quality. After almost forty years of conflict one might imagine that we would be tripping over books covering personal experiences from the humble Private soldier to General Officers Commanding. Overshadowed by Iraq and Afghanistan in the public imagination the conflict in Ulster is old news. Not so to the hundreds of thousands who served there and their families.

In four hundred and sixty two pages Captain Tom Wharton (Retd) has created a unique triumph. Not only has he done his old Regiment, The Green Howards a great service but has produced an invaluable military history. He has also succeeded in covering much that could be described as a social historian’s dream and keenly observed.

Tom Wharton served on eight of the Green Howards tours from 1970 until 1995 in which he was wounded and received two GOC's Commendations.

Whilst reading Wharton's book one feels the full gamut of emotions from humour to pathos such is his skill and his use of carefully selected excerpts from contemporary, superbly detailed Regimental publications, which of course are extremely difficult to source elsewhere. This reviewer, an indigenous ex-infanteer from Portadown, has seen 'tour' magazines reach three figures on internet web sites and painfully remembers piles being swept up from locker rooms and company lines in the 1980s and 1990s. Many regimental museums astoundingly do not hold copies of these and no doubt some issues are now lost forever. 

Odd things resonated with me, for example, the 'coke machine', If you don't know what that refers to, read the book. Or page 14, 'soldiering proper', God help us! The original writer evidently did not possess a crystal ball. Not only are around two thousand Green Howards individually named, many appear in the hundreds of photographs, but other army units are mentioned in detail. This well arranged book undoubtedly deserves to be counted as the most recent volume of the Regimental history series.

If forced to fault the book, all I would say is that I noticed four typos, two of which look like they were inherited from the original documents, some refreshingly none too 'pc', typed under stress and exhaustion in the wee hours by subalterns propped up by NAFFI coffee. 

Compiled by Capt (QM) Tom Wharton

Great Northern Publishing

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Cpl R Hughes 4th Dragoons in India 

Later Captain R Thurle-Hughes Indian Army

Peter Sheen

Almost extremely fine, and probably a unique combination to a former member of the 4th Royal Irish Dragoon Guards. Tharle-Hughes is recorded in the published medal roll for the 1911 Delhi Durbar Medal as being a 2nd Lieutenant in the Simla Volunteer Rifles and Sub-Conductor, Indian Miscellaneous List. Medal accompanied by copied research on the Hughes family, photocopied medal roll for India General Service Medal, copied extract 1911 Delhi Durbar published roll, copied Medal Index Card (confirming BWM as sole WW1 medal entitlement) and extracts from the London Gazette and Indian Army Lists of the period.

Born Reginald Tharle Hughes, the son of Alfred Wright Hughes and Alice Jane Tharle, Captain Hughes adopted his mother's maiden name, also his second christian name, “Tharle”, circa 1910, as an additional surname, and subsequently went by the name Reginald Tharle-Hughes (the first published record of his use of the surname Tharle-Hughes occurs in the 1911 Delhi Durbar roll). This accounts for the naming on his India General Service medal with Corporal R. Hughes. Reginald Tharle-Hughes was the grandson of the acclaimed pioneering English photographer, Cornelius Jabez Hughes (born Cornelous Hughs, 1819). After initially studying phrenology, Hughes changed careers and in 1847 became an assistant to the prominent London photographer John Jabez Edwin Mayall (1813-1901), who after working as a photographer in America during the early 1840s, established a photographic studio at the Strand, London. Hughes quickly became Mayall’s secretary and chief assistant daguerreotypist. In 1847 Hughes relocated to Glasgow, where he opened his own photographic studio, and became a member of the Glasgow Photographic Society. After working as a daguerreotypist in Scotland for eight years, Hughes returned to London and purchased the photographic studio of his former mentor, John Mayall. Subsequently, Hughes transferred to the Isle of Wight, establishing the Regina Studio at Union Street, Ryde, close to Balmoral, Queen Victoria's country home on the Isle of Wight. There Hughes did a considerable amount of photographic work for the royal family, producing a large number of studies of Queen Victoria and other members of her immediate family, including an 1862 photograph of the grieving Queen, that became the inspiration for Sir Edwin Landseer's painting “Sorrow”. He also took a famous series of photographs of the ageing former prime minister, Benjamin Disraeli, at the Queen's request, in 1878. During his time on the Isle of Wight Hughes also developed a carbon process noteworthy for its virtual elimination of silver printing. In addition to his practical photographic work, Hughes devoted a considerable amount of time to publishing articles on photography, his outstanding contribution being a “how-to” manual for early amateur photographers, The Principles and Practice of Photography Familiarly Explained (1858).

Cornelius Hughes's son and Reginald Tharle-Hughes's father, Alfred Wright Hughes, born 1/10/1843, followed in his father's footsteps as a photographer, being employed by him as a photographic assistant. Alfred Hughes married Alice Jane Tharle, the daughter of Barton Tharle (recorded in the 1861 census as a 45 year old carpenter living at Godshill, Isle of Wight) on 6/10/1870 at Godshill, Hampshire. The couple had three children, Reginald and his two sisters, Esther Mildred and Elfrida Alice. Tragedy struck the Hughes family on 1^st February 1878, when Alfred Wright Hughes committed suicide at St James's Park, Westminster, by taking a fatal dose of prussic acid. The early death of Alfred Hughes caused enormous difficulties for Alice Hughes, who now faced the difficult prospect of bringing up her young family without the support of a husband.

At the time of the 1881 census Reginald is recorded as an 8-year-old boy resident at his grandfather's photographic studio at 60 Union St, Ryde. Reginald's grandfather died at Ryde on 11/8/1884, at the age of 64, and by the time of the 1891 census Reginald was living with his mother, who had by now established herself as a “boarding house keeper”, with premises at 50 King's Road, in the upmarket Pavilion district of Brighton. The 1891 census records Reginald as being an 18-year-old “fitter's apprentice”, his now 19-year-old Esther as a “school governess” and the 16-year-old Elfrida, as an “art student”. Reginald Tharle-Hughes enlisted into the 4^th (Royal Irish) Dragoon Guards in July 1893 and saw service with that regiment to November 1900, when he was discharged to the Army Reserve. At the time of his discharge the 4^th Dragoon Guards were serving in India. Rather than return home, Tharle-Hughes elected to be discharged to the Army Reserve in India, and was posted for service with the rank of Sergeant with the Permanent Staff of the Adjutant General's Division, Auxiliary Indian Forces. Tharle-Hughes was promoted Sub-Conductor (Warrant Officer), Adjutant General's Division, 15/5/1906 and subsequently commissioned into the elite 4^th Simla Volunteer Rifles, being appointed 2^nd Lieutenant, in that regiment, 20/8/1912. He was subsequently promoted Lieutenant, 1/10/1915, admitted to the Indian Army Reserve of Officers, 19/3/1917, and promoted Temporary Captain, 12/9/1918. Whilst serving with the Auxiliary Indian Forces, Tharle-Hughes also held a series of ministerial posts at Army Headquarters, Simla, and with the Government of India, 1900-1929. After a series of minor appointments, Tharle-Hughes was promoted Registrar, Army and Marine Department, Government of India, 12/12/1914 and subsequently appointed Assistant Secretary, Indian Army Department Secretariat, 25/3/1920 and Establishment Officer, Indian Army and Marine Department, Government of India, 1/4/1921 (Officiating Deputy Secretary, May - August 1924 and April 1926).

Tharle-Hughes retired in June 1929 and returned to England. He is recorded in the 1934 Electoral Register as being resident at 21 Roehampton Lane, Putney, London, with his wife, Emmeline Dorothy Tharle-Hughes, and his daughter Mary Elfrida. Tharle-Hughes died on 17/5/1941, leaving an estate valued at £9,189. Tharle-Hughes first saw active service with the 4^th Royal Irish Dragoon Guards on the Punjab Frontier, 1897-98, and with the Tirah expeditionary force 1897-98 (awarded India General Service Medal, 2 clasps). During WW1 he saw service “on special duty” in Mesopotamia, 31/10/1918 to 8/11/1918 and Persia, 1/11/1918 to 26/11/1918 (awarded British War Medal). Tharle-Hughe's MBE was announced in the London Gazette of 4/12/1917 “for services in connection with the war” (2^nd Lieutenant Reginald Tharle-Hughes, Indian Army Reserve of Officers, Registrar, Army Department, Government of India). He was subsequently promoted OBE, London Gazette 1/3/1929 (Reginald Tharle-Hughes Esquire, MBE, Establishment Officer, Army Department, Government of India). Tharle-Hughes's 1917 MBE was an early award, the Order only being instituted in June 1917, and the first awards announced in the London Gazette of 4/6/1917 (53 awards). Tharle-Hughes's MBE was one of the second group of awards to be gazetted, one of only eleven announced in the London Gazette of 4/12/1917, and is recorded in the Handbook of the Order of the British Empire (1921 edition) as being the 59^th MBE to be awarded.

Reginald Tharle-Hughes was the author of the poem “To Rudyard Kipling”, written whilst he was serving as a Sergeant with the 4^th Dragoon Guards. Dated Cavalry Barracks, Rawalpindi, 5/3/1899, the poem is now housed in the Kipling Papers Archive, University of Sussex. The poem was forwarded to Kipling by Tharle-Hughes after Kipling and his two daughters Elsie and Josephine were struck down by pneumonia during a visit to New York in February 1899. The bout of pneumonia killed Josephine and almost killed Kipling. Rudyard Kipling's illness and the loss of his daughter promoted a flood of sympathetic correspondence from around the world, well-wishers from the most high and mighty, emperors, kings, statesmen and writers, all the way down to ordinary serving soldiers like Tharle-Hughes.

Reginald Tharle-Hughes was also the author of Field Marshal Sir William Birdwood's Command in India (Revue Belge Philologie et d'Histoire, Vol 10, 1931, no. 3, pp 867-904). The Australian War Museum Archives record Tharle-Hughes as being in correspondence in 1934 with Field Marshal Sir William Riddell Birdwood, who commanded the Anzac Army Corps during WW1 and post WW1 rose to be Commander in Chief of the Army of India, 1925-30. The two men had served alongside each other at Army Headquarters in India, 1904-1925 (when Tharle-Huges was appointed Registrar of the Army and Marine Department, India, in December 1914, Birdwood was Secretary of that department). The correspondence between Tharle-Hughes and Birdwood took place whilst the former was travelling to Australia, December 1934-January 1935, aboard the Orient Line liner Otranto.

All three of the Tharle-Hughes children changed their surnames, adopting their mother's maiden name in later life, in recognition of the devotion displayed by their mother when raising them without the support of a father. As noted, Reginald changed his name to Reginald Tharle-Hughes circa 1910, and both his sisters, Esther Mildred and Elfrica Alice both changed their names in later life. Elfrida changed her name to Elfrida Alice Tharle-Hughes 1921, and is recorded travelling as Elfrida Tharle-Hughes aboard the American Merchant Line American Trader in both September 1934 and May 1935. She died in 1950 leaving an estate valued at £25,071. Esther Hughes, known in later life as Esther Mildred Tharle, died in 1954, leaving an estate valued at £4,185. Elfrida Tharle-Hughes (1874-1950) received her art training at the Slade School of Fine Art in London and ateliers in Paris. She spent two years travelling in Asia in the 1920s, including China, Japan, Korea, India, Burma, Thailand and Indonesia. Examples of her work are now in the Victoria & Albert Museum and the Imperial War Museum. Both Queen Victoria and her husband Prince Albert had a keen interest in the new science of photography, and were patrons of the Royal Photographic Society, founded in 1853.

The post WWI civil division O.B.E. (promoted from 1917 M.B.E. “for services in connection with the war”, campaign and long service medal group to Captain Reginald Tharle-Hughes, Indian Army (late Sergeant 4th Royal Irish Dragoon Guards), grandson of the pioneering photographer Cornelius Jabez Hughes, court photographer to Queen Victoria, who rose from Private in the 4th Dragoon Guards to become a senior administrative officer at the Indian Army HQ at Simla.

 

• The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, 1^st type, Civil Division, officer's breast badge (O.B.E.), silver-gilt, hallmarks for London 1928
• India General Service Medal 1895-1902, 2 clasps, Punjab Frontier 1897-98, Tirah 1897-98 (officially engraved in running script: 4117 Corpl. R. Hughes 4th. Dragoon Gds.)
• British War Medal 1914-20 (officially impressed: CAPT. R. THARLE-HUGHES.);
• Delhi Durbar Medal 1911, silver (officially engraved in ornate serifed capitals: SUB. CONDR R. THARLE-HUGHES. INDIA MISc. LIST.); 
• Army LSGC Medal, George V, 1st type, with swiveling suspender and Field Marshal's bust, issue of 1911-20 (officially engraved in running script: Sub. Condr R. Tharle-Hughes India Misc List). Court mounted for display, official correction to “T” of Tharle and “H” of Hughes in surname on LSGC Medal, otherwise attractively toned, generally

Belfast’s Linen Hall Library Recalls 1941 Belfast Blitz

 James Scannell

On 7 April 2011  Belfast’s Linen Hall Library, in partnership with the Northern Ireland War Memorial, launched an exhibition ‘ City in Flames ‘ to mark the 70^th anniversary of the April and May 1941 Belfast Blitzes by the Luftwaffe, which ran until 30 June, and featured rarely seen photographs of the aftermath, Air Raid Patrol reports, video footage and other ephemera, which captured some of the city’s darkest days.

 

Speaking at the launch Linen Hall Librarian said that nearly every family in Belfast and in Northern Ireland was affected by this horrendous attack which left thousands homeless and that following a search of their archives had found a number of items that vividly captured the panic and terror at that time. Lt.Col. C.T. Hogg, Chairman of the Northern Ireland War Memorial said that they were supporting the exhibition as the role of the Northern Ireland War Memorial is to remember the sacrifice made by the people of Northern Ireland during the Second World War and that the April and May 1941 Blitzes on Belfast were the most single destructive events in the history of the city and that it was appropriate that the Linen Hall Library should mark it’s 70^th anniversary with such an impressive exhibition.

 

In conjunction with the exhibition, there were a number of talks and film screenings including footage by Northern Ireland Screen’s Digital Film Archive on 20 April of the Ulster Home Guard, the precaution the public took before, during, and after the Blitz, American troops arriving in Northern Ireland and the devastation caused by the Luftwaffe. This footage was rescreened on Wednesday 15 June at 1 p.m.

 

 

Talks included  ‘ The Blitz on Belfast ‘ on Wednesday 27 April by Ian Montgomery. Senior Officer responsible for private records at the Public Records Office of Northern Ireland, and one by Major John Potter on Wednesday 4 May in which he gave his teenage recollections of Belfast immediately after the Blitz and his assessment of its impact on the city. 

 

by James Scannell

The Drogheda Independent for Saturday 23 December 1916 listed the following local men who had been killed, wounded or taken prisoner in the First World War at that time.

by Eamonn O’Toole

by Liam Dodd

Killiney Brevities 

On Tuesday, Constable Hurst at Ballybrack arrested a deserter from the Royal Field Artillery. Curiously enough, the man gave the name of Patrick Henry when later in the day he was taken before Mr. Joseph Ward, when Mr. Patrick Henry P.S.C. was also present. He was put back to await a military escort.

Maj Gen Harry Grimshaw
Talented solider who got award for bravery

Maj Gen Ewing Henry Wrigley “Harry” Grimshaw, who has died aged 96, was one of the most experienced British soldiers of his generation. During the second World War, he served at El Alamein and Kohima, in both places winning medals for courage and leadership. During his post-war career he won awards for bravery in Malaya and east Africa.

by Ron Gittings

The airfield at Tamet, on the coast road between Tripoli and El Agheila, was 250 miles behind the front line. The German and Italian pilots enjoying themselves in the mess hut that night in December, 1941 believed themselves to be beyond the reach of any enemy attack. They were stunned into silence when the door was booted open and framed in the doorway was a huge figure of a man dressed in British khaki, in his hand was a Thompson sub-machine gun, its drum magazine filled to capacity with fifty rounds of .45inch ammunition.