Ireland's Military Story

Tag: Royal Engineers

  • Cycling for Veterans in the Footsteps of Wellington’s Army

    Cycling for Veterans in the Footsteps of Wellington’s Army

    Cycling for Veterans in the Footsteps of Wellington’s Army

    Cycling for Veterans in the Footsteps of Wellington’s Army

    This September George Chesney is taking on a solo unsupported 450-mile cycle trip from Madrid to Bayonne, in Southern France, to raise money for SSAFA – Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Families Association: funds will be divided between SSAFANI and SSAFA Republic of Ireland. George has named the route The Wellington Trail, as it roughly follows the route taken by The Duke of Wellington’s allied armies in the latter part of the Peninsular Campaign during The Napoleonic War in 1813; a large portion of whom were Irish.

    George from Ballymena, Co Antrim, is a graduate of Sandhurst and serving five years with the Royal Engineers and 24 with the Territorial Army. He is the Chair of the Reserve Forces and Cadets Association Northern Ireland.

    I have no idea how far I will cycle as I meander through Northern Spain, avoiding all motorways and the steepest of climbs.  No doubt there will be thrills (probably just a few) and spills (hopefully none!) as I cycle the Wellington Trail.

    As with many veterans, as time goes on, bits tend to fall off but have been glued back on. Thanks to the NHS, Surgeon Mark Chapman and the staff at the Sports Surgery Clinic in Dublin this is George’s second fundraising cycle trip, and should be a breeze after successful surgical repairs earlier this year.

    We look forward to updating you with George’s progress as he takes on this mammoth challenge!

    Thank you to the Northern Ireland Veterans Support Office for letting us know about George’s Wellington Trail and photographs.

    You can support George on his JustGiving page.

    https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/wellington-trail

  • 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.