Ireland's Military Story

Category: World War One

  • Ulster Tower Centenary Commemorated in France

    Ulster Tower Centenary Commemorated in France

    Ulster Tower Centenary Commemorated in France

    Photos by John O’Byrne

    Updated 13:07, 24 November 2021

    The centenary of the Ulster Memorial Tower was commemorated this morning in Northern France.

    Inaugurated on 19 November 1921, the Ulster Tower at Thiepval on the Somme commemorates the sacrifice of soldiers from Ulster and across the island of Ireland during the First World War. The Ulster Tower stands on the ground attacked at great cost by the 36th (Ulster) Division on the first day of the Battle of the Somme on 1 July 1916.

    The combined musicians of the Bugles Pipes and Drums, Regimental Band of the Royal Irish Regiment and the Irish Defence Forces 2nd Brigade Band, march on the standards provided by members of the Royal British Legion.

    This morning’s commemoration was attended by dignitaries including First Minister of Northern Ireland Paul Givan MLA, Ireland’s Minister of State Department of the Taoiseach and the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade with responsibility for EU Affairs Thomas Byrne TD, British Ambassador to France Her Excellency Menna Rawlings and Counsellor at the Irish Embassy in Paris Owen Feeney. The service was led by Rt. Rev. Dr. David Bruce, Moderator of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland; Rev. Dr. Sahr Yamhasu, President of the Methodist Church in Ireland; and The Most Revd. Francis John McDowell, Archbishop of Armagh.

    The ceremony was supported by the Bugles, Pipes and Drums and the Regimental Band of the British Army’s Royal Irish Regiment and by the 2nd Brigade Band of the Irish Defence Forces. The military musicians were accompanied by mezzo-soprano and alto Emma Brown who sung You’ll Never Walk Alone.

    Following the ceremony First Minister Mr. Givan said: “It’s an honour for me to be here today on this historic occasion to mark 100 years of the Ulster Tower which memorialises the sacrifice that was made by the men of the 36th Ulster Division and remembers those who served from right across Ireland in the First World War.”

    “The connections with the Ulster Division and the Irish Division is something that we always need to remember, where people stood side by side irrespective of their religion or indeed their identity, whether they were British or Irish, they shed blood together here in the trenches and stood in common cause for the freedoms that we enjoy today.”

    Reiterating the importance of today’s commemoration Minister Thomas Byrne stated: “It is an honour to be here at the Ulster Tower. It is essential that we commemorate all those who died in battle during World War One, knowing that the soldiers that are commemorated here are from all nine counties of Ulster and many are from across the island of Ireland North and South fought in World War One and died in World War One. It is critical that we continue to honour their memories and to work always for peace and reconciliation both at home and indeed across the globe.

    Today’s event was organised by the Somme Association, based in Newtownards, County Down, who are responsible for the maintenance of the Ulster Tower.

    As the combined Royal Irish Regiment and Defence Forces bands marched from the Ulster Memorial Tower at the end of the centenary commemoration last week to the tune of On Raglan Road, it was a moment to reflect on the importance on the occasion. The Ulster Memorial Tower stands tribute to those from the province of Ulster, in particular to members of the 36th Ulster Division, who fought during the Great War and especially those who made the ultimate sacrifice. Today it is sacred ground.

    Ulster Tower Centenary Album

    Ulster Tower Memorial Centenary 19 November 2021 Thiepval , France, Photos by John O’Byrne
  • Athy Remembers its Great War Fallen

    Athy Remembers its Great War Fallen

    Athy Remembers its Great War Fallen

    Photos by John O’Byrne

    Around Ireland today communities gathered for Remembrance Sunday, to reflect and commemorate those from their area that served and lost their lives during the Great War 1914 – 1918. Today we attended the annual service at Old St. Michael’s Cemetery, Athy, County Kildare. During the Great War some 2,000 men and women from the town and surrounding area served; of these at least 290 lost their lives. Incredible considering the small size of the population at the time. One of those who served was Major John Vincent Holland VC. Their service, and Athy’s role during that period, are remembered in the Shackleton Museum. The work on Athy’s Great War service continues, with historians Clem Roche and Frank Taaffe endeavouring to ensure all those who served or lost their lives are remembered.

    Thank you to Kildare County Council Heritage Office for their support.

  • Tipperary Studies Launch Irish Great War Dead Archive

    Tipperary Studies Launch Irish Great War Dead Archive

    Tipperary Studies Launch Irish Great War Dead Archive

    Armistice Day, 11 November, each year marks the ending of the Great War 1914 – 1918. Marking the day this year Tipperary Studies have launched a new digital archive dedicated to Ireland’s Great War dead: www.irelandsgreatwardead.ie. The archive contains a database of 31,384 war dead entries of servicemen and servicewomen from the 26 counties of the Rep. of Ireland, in so far as the information is known. Work continues to record the names of the Great War dead from the six counties in Northern Ireland. Expanding on the list of entries recorded in Ireland’s Memorial Records, the database gives added detail about family connections, residence, where such has been identified.

    The archive is the work of military historian Tom Burnell. Tom has spent almost twenty years researching the Great War dead from Ireland and some added features of Tom’s research also includes contemporary press reports and death certificate information, where such was available to him. Tom offered this database of work to Tipperary Studies, to host, so that his research, the genealogical information and records therein would be available to a wider audience. There are various search options available, where people can use the search box to view specific entries and categories. Searches may also be filtered by Regiment or Service.

    A map of the war dead graves in Tipperary, from the two World Wars, is also included. Tom has photographed all grave memorials, and coupled with directions to each site, they give a local aspect to his research. The website also includes a list of several online resources from Ireland and around the world, that will help users delve deeper into the Great War period.

    Royal Irish Rifles ration party, Somme, July 1916.

    The database begins with Lance Corporal John Abbey from Baltinglass, County Wicklow. Serving with 1st Battalion Irish Guards, he was killed in action at Givenchy on 8 August 1915. He is buried in the Guards Cemetery, Windy Corner, France.

    The database ends with Rifleman Richard Zimber. Born in New Ross County Wexford, he served with 4th Battalion King’s Royal Rifle Corps under the alias Richard Frederick Cairns. He was killed in action on 8 May 1915. He is listed on the Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial, Belgium.

    We will remember them.

    You can visit the website here: https://irelandsgreatwardead.ie/

    On Sunday evening next, 14 November, both Tom Burnell and Pat Bracken will feature on The History Show, with Myles Dungan, to talk about the new website in a special Remembrance Sunday episode of the programme. The programme airs from 6:00pm to 7:00pm.

    Located above the Source Library and Arts Centre, Thurles, Tipperary Studies is dedicated to documenting and preserving the County’s rich cultural, social, economic and sporting histories, and aims to offer open, friendly and easy access to the Library’s collections to visitors both in person and through correspondence.

  • 31 August 1921 – The War Officially Ends

    31 August 1921 – The War Officially Ends

    31 August 1921 – The War Officially Ends

    Photo: a lonely Commonwealth War Grave Commission Headstone in Tay Lane Cemetery, Celbridge, Co. Kildare

    Walking through cemeteries you may have wondered why graves of servicemen dated 1919, 1920 and 1921 have a Commonwealth War Graves Commission headstone. This is due to a sometimes-forgotten fact, today 31 August, marks the official end of the Great War.

    Although guns fell silent with the signing of the armistice on 11 November 1918, treaties had to be signed and the war had to be officially ended. For example, the Treaty of Versailles, signed on 28 June 1919, ended the state of war between Germany and the Allied Powers. Different treaties were signed with other powers. To officially end the war the British Parliament passed The Termination of the Present War (Definition) Act 1918 which allowed the government to determine the official ending of the war between the British Empire and the Central Powers. Officially the war ended between the British Empire and Germany on 10 January 1920; Austria on 16 July 1920; Bulgaria on 9 August 1920; Hungary on 26 July 1921; and Turkey on 6 August 1924. It was declared for all other purposes, the Great War to have officially ended on 31 August 1921.

    The Commonwealth War Graves Commission was established by Royal Charter on 21 May 1917. They commemorate those who died as a result of their service up until the official end of the war on 31 August 1921. That includes those who died in service and those who died after they were discharged.

    Two such examples include:

    Air Mechanic 2nd Class, Charles Sheridan, Royal Air Force. Died on 16 August 1921. Buried in Tay Lane Cemetery, Celbridge, Co. Kildare, and Sapper J. Cash, Royal Engineers. Died 21 February 1919. Buried in Deans Grange Cemetery, Dún Laoghaire–Rathdown.

    Air Mechanic 2nd Class, Charles Sheridan, Royal Air Force. Died on 16 August 1921. Buried in Tay Lane Cemetery, Celbridge, Co. Kildare. (Photo by Wesley Bourke)
    Sapper J. Cash, Royal Engineers. Died 21 February 1919. Buried in Deans Grange Cemetery, Dún Laoghaire–Rathdown. (Photo by Peter Molloy)

    Thank you to Tay Lane Cemetery and Peter Molloy.

  • Annual Somme Remembrance Service

    Annual Somme Remembrance Service

    Annual Somme Remembrance Service – Irish War Memorial Gardens

    Photos by John O’Byrne

    We were honoured to attend and photograph the Special Somme Service of Remembrance and Wreath Laying at Irish War Memorial Gardens, Islandbridge.A special ecumenical service of commemoration and wreath-laying was held on Saturday 10th July in the Rose Garden at the Irish National War Memorial in Islandbridge. This annual Somme time event is arranged and led by the Royal British Legion Republic of Ireland with the co-operation and assistance of the Irish Government. Due to Covid-19 restrictions, this years’ service was a special ‘scaled-back’ and socially distanced commemoration,This annual event commemorates all those who lost their lives at the Battle of the Somme in 1916 and in the two World Wars; in particular the estimated 60,000 Irish men and women who servedand died in those conflicts; it remembers too the often-unacknowledged loss felt by Irish families of those wartime generations.

    The War Memorial Gardens are a 32-county memorial, and the event is a shared Ireland ceremony.

    Representation of all traditions of the Island of Ireland is a central feature of this commemoration and the standards of Royal British Legion Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland are on parade

    throughout an ecumenical service of Remembrance. Official wreaths were laid by the Irish and Northern Ireland Governments, members of the Diplomatic Corps of the principle ‘Somme’ nations(UK, France, Germany, Canada, New Zealand and Australia), Service and veterans representatives from the UK and Ireland. A special wreath was laid this year on behalf of all those who cannot to be present at 2021 Islandbridge due to continuing Covid-19 regulations. Music was provided jointly by musicians of the Irish Defence Forces and the Royal Irish Regiment.

    In attendance:

    Jack Chambers TD, Minister of State & Government Chief Whip, representing An Taoiseach and the Government of Ireland. Paul Givan MLA, The First Minister of Northern Ireland. Michelle O’Neill, Deputy First Minister of Northern Ireland. Major General Seán Clancy, Deputy Chief of Staff (Support) – representing Vice Admiral Mark Mellett DSM, Chief of Staff Defence Forces, Ireland.H.E. Mr Paul Johnston, The British Ambassador accompanied by Col. Darren Doherty, British Defence Attaché. H.E. Ms. Nancy Smyth, (Ambassador of Canada)M. Julien Bouchez, Second Counsellor representing H.E. M. Vincent Guérend (Ambassador of France)H.E. Frau Deike Potzel (Ambassador of Germany)H.E. Mr. Brad Burgess (Ambassador of New Zealand)Mr. Tim Millikan, chargé d’affaires, representing H.E. The Hon. Gary Gray AO. (Ambassador of Australia)Mr. John Morrison, Membership Council, representing Lt Gen James Bashall CB, National President of The Royal British Legion. Lt. Col. Ken Martin, President, The Royal British Legion, Republic of Ireland. Maj. Philip J. Morrison MBE BEM, President, The Royal British Legion, Northern Ireland. Mr. Brian Duffy, District Chairman, The Royal British Legion, Republic of Ireland. Mr. John Stewart, District Chairman, The Royal British Legion, Northern Ireland, Mr Alan Mulligan, District Treasurer, The Royal British Legion, Republic of Ireland. Mr. Ciaran Crone, District Parade Marshal, The Royal British Legion, Republic of Ireland. Mr Geoff Barry, District Standard Bearer, The Royal British Legion, Republic of Ireland. Mr Graham Anderson, District Standard Bearer, The Royal British Legion, Northern Ireland. Mr Norman Espie BEM, Asst. National Parade Marshal, The Royal British Legion (Book Bearer).Mr Alan Pickett, Branch Standard Bearer, Dublin Central Branch, RBL ROI (Book Bearer).Mr. Paul Stephenson, District Vice Chairman, RBL ROI (Head Steward).Irish National War Memorial Committee, Brigadier General (Retd) Paul Pakenham, Chairman. Office of Northern Ireland Veterans Commissioner, Mr. Danny Kinahan, Commissioner. Royal Naval Association – Shipmate Dr Dermot Stone, President, RNA Dublin. The Irish Guards Association Republic of Ireland – Capt. Edward Cooper, President. 28.Royal Irish Regiment Association, Republic of Ireland – Mr. Justin McQuade, President. Royal Air Force Association, Republic of Ireland – Mr. Frank Brien, Chairman. Combined Irish Regiments Association – Col. Hubert K. McAllister OBE TD DL VR, Chairman. Royal Military Police Association of Ireland – Mr Les McClarence, Secretary. French Foreign Legion Association of Ireland – Mr. Phil Casey. Óglaigh Náisiúnta na hÉireann (ONE) – Mr. Jim Fay, National President. Irish United Nations Veterans Association – Mr. Derek Judge, representing Mr Martin O’Keefe, National Chairman.

  • ANZAC Day 2021

    ANZAC Day 2021

    ANZAC DAY 2021


    25 April marks the national day of remembrance in Australia and New Zealand to commemorate all Australians and New Zealanders who served and died in all wars, conflicts, and peacekeeping operations and to mark the contribution and suffering of all those who have served. The day is observed on 25 April each year, originally to honour the members of the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps (ANZAC) who served in the Gallipoli Campaign. It is estimated approximately 6000 Irish born men served in the Australian Imperial Force during WWI.
    The Dawn Service, symbolically links commemorations with the dawn landing by the ANZAC at the Gallipoli Peninsula in Turkey on 25 April 1915.

    In accordance with Covid-19 restrictions the Australian Embassy, Ireland, and New Zealand Embassy in Ireland will be commemorating a second ANZAC Day without the ability to come together in person. As a result, the annual ANZAC Day and Dawn Service commemoration at Grangegorman Military Cemetery, Dublin will not go ahead. Instead, a wreath will be laid on behalf of Australia and New Zealand at a private ceremony at Dawn on Sunday 25 April 2021.


    With the help of Dún Laoghaire Library the Australian Embassy, Ireland are running an ANZAC Day Quiz on Sunday 25 April at 19:30 pm, you can join the quiz here – https://www.crowd.live/ANZAC there will be some Australian and New Zealand goodies as prizes.

    You can watch ANZAC Day Commemorative Dawn Service live on ABC Australia.

  • Remembrance Sunday

    Remembrance Sunday

    Remembrance Sunday

    Updated: 22:44 8 November 2020

    Sadly due to prevailing Level 5 Covid-19 restrictions, the traditional Choral Service of Remembrance at The National Cathedral of St. Patrick in Dublin, now in its 101st year, must be conducted without the attendance of any congregation.

    The 2020 Remembrance Sunday Evensong worship, by clergy and choir only, will be broadcast by St Patrick’s Cathedral via live video stream at 3.15pm on Sunday. Wreaths will be laid during the service by The Very Reverend Dr. William Morton, Dean and Ordinary of St Patrick’s Cathedral, on behalf of the President of Ireland and the President of the Royal British Legion.

    2020 is the 75th anniversary of the end of the Second World War and this year we pay a special tribute to the men and women of the Second World War generation who served and sacrificed to defend our freedoms and ways of life.

    To mark this year’s Remembrance Sunday the Royal British Legion Rep. of Ireland produced a remembrance video.

    We will remember them.

    Michael D. Higgins arriving at St. Patrick’s Cathedral. (Image: Royal British Legion Rep. of Ireland)

    In honour of Ireland’s fallen, President of Ireland, Michael D. Higgins, insisted on attending the service at St. Patrick’s.

    President Higgins lays a wreath and pays his respects at St. Patrick’s Cathedral. (Photo: Royal British Legion Rep. of Ireland)

    Meanwhile Taoiseach Micheál Martin joined Northern Ireland’s First Minister Arlene Foster at a socially-distanced Remembrance Day service in Enniskillen, County Fermanagh. The Taiseach laid a wreath at the war memorial and took part in a minute’s silence to remember those who fought and died in service becoming the first Fianna Fáil  leader to do so on Remembrance Sunday.

  • Round Table Discussion in the Somme Museum

    Round Table Discussion in the Somme Museum

    Roundtable Discussion in the Somme Museum

    Mrs Carol Walker MBE, Director of the Somme Association and Museum; Professor Brian Walker, School of History, Anthropology, Philosophy and Politics, Queens University; historian Dr. Brendan O’Shea; and Wesley Bourke, CEO The Irish Military Heritage Foundation.

    Spent a very enjoyable and engaging day in the Somme Museum discussing future projects supported by the Dep. of Culture Heritage and the Gaeltacht, focusing on Ireland and the Great War, and exploring Irish identity, diversity and reconciliation. Thank you to the museum staff for their hospitality.

  • Celbridge’s Lost Son – Private Robert Beveridge

    Celbridge’s Lost Son – Private Robert Beveridge

    Celbridge’s Lost Son – Private Robert Beveridge

    Over the past year and half we have been researching for our first project – Celbridge’s Military Story. This project has led us down history trails we never envisaged. A project by the History Squad in Scoil Na Mainistreach on Celbridge’s casualties of the Great War led us to Major William Dease – son of Sir Col. Gerald Dease – who in turn had recruited local men into the Remounts in 1914. By pure chance we came across a casualty of the Great War not on the Celbridge war dead list: Private Robert Beveridge 28th Remount Squadron who is buried in Naas, County Kildare. Robert died on 25 January 1919 in the Curragh Military Hospital. The Kildare Observer confirmed he had been given a military funeral with honours paid by the Royal Dublin Fusiliers. Robert’s military records have not survived and no birth cert exists. Last year we inconclusively connected Robert to Celbridge through census records: the census listed a Robert Beverage, foster child with the Lennon family in Celbridge and later a labourer. Digging up several conundrums we came to multiple dead ends to conclusively prove the two Roberts were one of the same.

    Not wanting to leave it at that we endeavoured to find out more. With the help of historians Drs Ann Mathews and Brendan O’Shea, local historians Jim Tancred and George Bagnall, Graham Hughes and Martin Whyte of St. Corban’s cemetery, and David Grant (www.cairogang.com) the story of Robert began to come together piece by piece. Through documents such as Robert’s Soldier’s Effects we were able to link the Private Beveridge buried in Naas to Celbridge and the Lennon family. As it turns out the Lennon family are still in the area and proudly remember Robert. We met the Lennon family – who still poses Robert’s medals and his photograph – and paid tribute at his grave. The History Squad had the key all along. 100 years ago, the Lennon family were the stuart’s of the Dease estate in Celbridge Abbey and Kilmacredock.

    We will be bringing you Robert’s full story in the coming months.

    Nora and Eoghan Lennon at the grave of Private Robert Beveridge in Naas. (Photograph by Wesley Bourke)

    This project is sponsored by Kildare County Council Heritage Office.

  • Annual Ceremony of Commemoration and Wreath-laying

    Annual Ceremony of Commemoration and Wreath-laying

    Annual Ceremony of Commemoration and Wreath-laying

    Photographs by John O’Byrne and Niall Keating

    The Annual Ceremony of Commemoration and Wreath-laying took place today at the Irish National War Memorial Gardens at Islandbridge. Due to Covid 19, restrictions were in place and a smaller ceremony was held in the Rose Garden.The event was arranged and led by the Royal British Legion Republic of Ireland District with the co-operation and assistance of the OPW – Office of Public Works. The ceremony corresponds with the anniversary of the Battle of the Somme and commemorates those who lost their lives in the two World Wars, in particular the estimated 60,000 Irish men and women from all parts of the Ireland who served and died in those conflicts.

    Representation from all parts and traditions of the Island of Ireland is a key feature.The ceremony commenced at 12.30 pm. Unfortunately, due to restrictions there was no colourful parade of standards this year. An ecumenical service of remembrance, recitals and music and the laying of official wreaths by members of the government and civic leaders from Ireland and Northern Ireland, members of the Diplomatic Corps, Service and veterans’ representatives.Music was provided by Óglaigh na hÉireann / Irish Defence Forces and the Royal Irish Regiment.

    The event was attended by Minister of State at the Department of Finance with responsibility for Financial Services, Credit Unions & Insurance, Jack Chambers TD, DCOS Support Major General Seán Clancy, British Ambassador to Ireland HE Mr. Robin Barnett CMG.German, Ambassador to Ireland HE Ambassador Deike Potzel, New Zealand Ambassador to Ireland HE Brad Burgess, French Ambassador to Ireland HE Mr Stéphane Crouzat, First Secretary Embassy of Australia Mr Rober Owen-Jones, The President The Royal British Legion, Republic of Ireland, Lt. Col. Ken Martin,The President, The Royal British Legion, Northern Ireland, Major Philip J. Morrison MBE BEM.

    The service was given by the Church of Ireland Rector of Kindle Rev Peter Rutherford.