2 German WW1 PoWs Died in Ireland

In graves 32 and 33 at the German Cemetery in Glencree, Co Wicklow are the graves of two German soldiers who died while prisoners of war at Richmond Barracks, Templemore, Co Tipperary.

Private M Anton Gierzewski died on the 20th November 1914. His cause of death was given as diabetes. (Grave 33 @ Glencree)

Private Ludwig Spellerberg of the 212th Infantry Regiment died on the 21st January 1915. His cause of death was given as food poisoning. (Grave 32 @ Glencree). His headstone can still be seen at the cemetery in Templemore.

Richmond Barracks housed about 2300 German and Austrian prisoners from the start of WW1 through to March 1915. While the decision to move them to England was given as sanitary arrangements it is believed that there were attempts being made by Irish Volunteers to contact the prisoners and to include them in plans for the Easter Rising.