In 1922, 64 soldiers in the American Expeditionary Force killed during WW1 who originated from Ireland were repatriated to Ireland.
A list of the soldiers can be found at :
http://www.csn.ul.ie/~dan/jpquinlan/index.htm
Researcher and author Tom Burnell recently had a query on the Great War Forum re Edmond Brunick/Brunnock who died of wounds 1st October 1918. A short while ago the grave of Edmond Brunnock was rediscovered and a ceremony took place in 2012 at his grave to recognise his service in WW1.
News article can be found on the web re some of these soldiers e.g.
George Crefin
The American Legion have a couple of branches in Ireland and contribute to the upkeep the graves of US personnel buried in Ireland.
http://www.legion.org/magazine/214002/sacred-priority
Wednesday, 13 March 2013
Monday, 11 March 2013
Major George Robert Playfair MC
George Robert Playfair was born in Hampshire (Southsea or Portsea) in 1869, the son of John and Sarah Playfair. John was born in Ireland and had served as a soldier.
George enlisted in the Garrison Artillery in 1887 and rose to the rank of SQMS. He transferred to the Ordnance Corps in 1900 with the rank of Sub-Conductor (Warrant Officer).
In the 1901 census, he is listed as a Sub-Conductor. The 3 eldest children (ages 7, 6 and 4) all listed as born in Nova Scotia; the youngest child (aged 2) is listed as born in Devonport.
George appears to have been a Conductor in 1902
http://www.rlc-condu...torPlayFile.pdf
In 1908, he moves from Conductor to Assistant Commissary of Ordnance/Lt :
http://www.london-ga...s/8544/page.pdf
In 1911, he is in Dublin, with 2 additional children (1 born England aged 9, 1 born Dublin age 1). He appears to have been the Superintendent at the Royal Magazine Fort in Phoenix Park, Dublin.
His Medal Index Card, shows he entered a theatre of war (presume France) 13th August 1914. Ranks are listed as Hon Lt, Hon Capt, Hon Maj and then Capt. Address is shown as Room 169, War Office, London SW1
In June 1916 he appears in the London Gazette as Honorary Captain for the award of a Military Cross but no information so far about what the MC was awarded for. While George was in France, his eldest son George Alexander Playfair (aged 23) was shot during the Easter Rising and died of his wounds, 29th April 1916.
http://www.london-ga...upplements/5576
In August 1918, he is DCO (Deputy Commissary of Ordnance) and Captain; steps down from Honorary Major and role of C of O (Commissary of Ordnance?)
http://www.london-ga...upplements/9545
In May 1922, he is a C of O and Major once again
http://www.london-ga...upplements/3857
George was posted to Sierra Leone in July 1922 but appears to have died of heart failure in August 1922. He is buried in Freetown, Sierra Leone.
http://twgpp.org/inf....php?id=2109312
George enlisted in the Garrison Artillery in 1887 and rose to the rank of SQMS. He transferred to the Ordnance Corps in 1900 with the rank of Sub-Conductor (Warrant Officer).
In the 1901 census, he is listed as a Sub-Conductor. The 3 eldest children (ages 7, 6 and 4) all listed as born in Nova Scotia; the youngest child (aged 2) is listed as born in Devonport.
George appears to have been a Conductor in 1902
http://www.rlc-condu...torPlayFile.pdf
In 1908, he moves from Conductor to Assistant Commissary of Ordnance/Lt :
http://www.london-ga...s/8544/page.pdf
In 1911, he is in Dublin, with 2 additional children (1 born England aged 9, 1 born Dublin age 1). He appears to have been the Superintendent at the Royal Magazine Fort in Phoenix Park, Dublin.
His Medal Index Card, shows he entered a theatre of war (presume France) 13th August 1914. Ranks are listed as Hon Lt, Hon Capt, Hon Maj and then Capt. Address is shown as Room 169, War Office, London SW1
In June 1916 he appears in the London Gazette as Honorary Captain for the award of a Military Cross but no information so far about what the MC was awarded for. While George was in France, his eldest son George Alexander Playfair (aged 23) was shot during the Easter Rising and died of his wounds, 29th April 1916.
http://www.london-ga...upplements/5576
In August 1918, he is DCO (Deputy Commissary of Ordnance) and Captain; steps down from Honorary Major and role of C of O (Commissary of Ordnance?)
http://www.london-ga...upplements/9545
In May 1922, he is a C of O and Major once again
http://www.london-ga...upplements/3857
George was posted to Sierra Leone in July 1922 but appears to have died of heart failure in August 1922. He is buried in Freetown, Sierra Leone.
http://twgpp.org/inf....php?id=2109312
Wednesday, 6 March 2013
Number 2 Squadron
This is a garbled attempt to trace some information re the RFC pilots who flew from Scotland to Ireland in 1913.
The first serving officer of the British Army to be awarded a Pilot's Certificate in England
was Captain George William Patrick Dawes who was awarded Certificate No. 17 for qualification on a Humber monoplane at Wolverhampton on 26th July 1910.
Dublin born Captain Dawes died on 17th March 1960 aged eighty. He had served in South Africa between 1900 and 1902 when he was awarded the Queen's Medal with three clasps, and the King's Medal with two clasps. He took up flying privately in 1909 and was posted to the R.F.C. on its formation in 1912. He commanded the Corps in the Balkans from 1916 to 1918, during which time he was awarded the D.S.O. and the A.F.C., was mentioned in despatches seven times, and awarded the Croix de Guerre with three palms, the Serbian Order of the White Eagle, the Order of the Redeemer of Greece and created Officer of the Legion d'Honncur.
He served with the Royal Air Force in the Second World War as a Wing Commander, retiring in 1946 with the M.B.E. He thus was one of the very few officers who served actively in the Boer War and both world wars.
http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1949/1949%20-%201072.html
http://www.freefictionbooks.org/books/w/9945-the-war-in-the-air-vol-1-by-raleigh?start=129
Becke
http://newspapers.nl.sg/Digitised/Article/straitstimes19140722-1.2.43.aspx
Becke at 17000ft in an RE8
http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1954/1954%20-%202850.html
Montrose
http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1913/1913%20-%200230.html
Waldron
http://www.flickr.com/photos/drakegoodman/5286911411/
http://www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/304359/WALDRON,%20FRANCIS%20FITZGERALD
http://www.crossandcockade.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=833&title=harveykelly-or-waldron
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:The_first_Central_Flying_School_course.jpg
http://www.gracesguide.co.uk/1912_Aviators_Certificates_-_UK
http://salisburyinquests.wordpress.com/1913-2/merrick-george/
The first serving officer of the British Army to be awarded a Pilot's Certificate in England
was Captain George William Patrick Dawes who was awarded Certificate No. 17 for qualification on a Humber monoplane at Wolverhampton on 26th July 1910.
Dublin born Captain Dawes died on 17th March 1960 aged eighty. He had served in South Africa between 1900 and 1902 when he was awarded the Queen's Medal with three clasps, and the King's Medal with two clasps. He took up flying privately in 1909 and was posted to the R.F.C. on its formation in 1912. He commanded the Corps in the Balkans from 1916 to 1918, during which time he was awarded the D.S.O. and the A.F.C., was mentioned in despatches seven times, and awarded the Croix de Guerre with three palms, the Serbian Order of the White Eagle, the Order of the Redeemer of Greece and created Officer of the Legion d'Honncur.
He served with the Royal Air Force in the Second World War as a Wing Commander, retiring in 1946 with the M.B.E. He thus was one of the very few officers who served actively in the Boer War and both world wars.
http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1949/1949%20-%201072.html
http://www.freefictionbooks.org/books/w/9945-the-war-in-the-air-vol-1-by-raleigh?start=129
Becke
http://newspapers.nl.sg/Digitised/Article/straitstimes19140722-1.2.43.aspx
Becke at 17000ft in an RE8
http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1954/1954%20-%202850.html
Montrose
http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1913/1913%20-%200230.html
Waldron
http://www.flickr.com/photos/drakegoodman/5286911411/
http://www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/304359/WALDRON,%20FRANCIS%20FITZGERALD
http://www.crossandcockade.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=833&title=harveykelly-or-waldron
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:The_first_Central_Flying_School_course.jpg
http://www.gracesguide.co.uk/1912_Aviators_Certificates_-_UK
http://salisburyinquests.wordpress.com/1913-2/merrick-george/
Friday, 1 March 2013
Sir Roger Casement - reburied
On this day in 1965, Sir Roger Casement was returned to Ireland and reburied in Dublin
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tYexm368VPs
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tYexm368VPs
Wednesday, 13 February 2013
Colonel Portal
In command of the troops that travelled to Dublin from the Curragh was Colonel B P Portal (later Brigadier General Sir Bertram Percy Portal). Colonel Portal was listed in the despatch from Sir John French. He also gets a mention in a Sherwood Forester diary.
He is one of the officers credited with the idea for the improvised armoured cars using lorries from Guinness with smoke boxes and metal plates from the railway works at Inchicore.
29th August 1885, Lt in the 17th Lancers from Royal Military College
19th February 1895, Captain in the 17th Lancers
18th March 1896, seconded for service on the Staff
4th April 1899, Supernumerary Captain to Captain
29th May 1900, Major in the 17th Lancers
1900-1902, Boer War
5th February 1904, Lt Col in the 17th Lancers. Has a DSO
2nd November 1906, Colonel in the 17th Lancers
30th October 1907, retired pay
13th December 1912, Deputy Lt in Southampton
1st May 1916, Major Salt, Staff Officer to BPP
24th January 1917, retired pay Reserve of Officers, temp Brigadier General
16th March 1932, Vice Lt Southampton
20th November 2021
Following a tip from Easter Rising author Mick O'Farrell via Twitter, I have just received a copy of "A Soldier and a Gentleman : Brigadier General Sir Bertram Portal 1866-1949".
He is one of the officers credited with the idea for the improvised armoured cars using lorries from Guinness with smoke boxes and metal plates from the railway works at Inchicore.
29th August 1885, Lt in the 17th Lancers from Royal Military College
19th February 1895, Captain in the 17th Lancers
18th March 1896, seconded for service on the Staff
4th April 1899, Supernumerary Captain to Captain
29th May 1900, Major in the 17th Lancers
1900-1902, Boer War
5th February 1904, Lt Col in the 17th Lancers. Has a DSO
2nd November 1906, Colonel in the 17th Lancers
30th October 1907, retired pay
13th December 1912, Deputy Lt in Southampton
1st May 1916, Major Salt, Staff Officer to BPP
24th January 1917, retired pay Reserve of Officers, temp Brigadier General
16th March 1932, Vice Lt Southampton
20th November 2021
Following a tip from Easter Rising author Mick O'Farrell via Twitter, I have just received a copy of "A Soldier and a Gentleman : Brigadier General Sir Bertram Portal 1866-1949".
Just reading this now and this looks to be a good read, adding more understanding re Portal's life in general and his and others roles during the Easter Rising.
Will have to add a page re Major Thomas Salt and possibly a few others.
A Terrible Beauty is Born
A new docudrama titled "A Terrible Beauty is Born" is due out shortly.
Having watched the trailer I'm not too sure about this production. Sloppy saluting and uniforms, trying to link the events at Mount St Bridge to the murders at North King St, making it look as though Capt Dietrichsen's wife was close enough to see him shot...... Hopefully the final production will be better.
In 1966, Radio Eireann commissioned Brian Boydell to compose a piece of music for the 50th Anniversary events. Boydell called the piece "A Terrible Beauty is Born".
Both these productions link back to the poem Easter 1916 by William Butler Yeats.
Having watched the trailer I'm not too sure about this production. Sloppy saluting and uniforms, trying to link the events at Mount St Bridge to the murders at North King St, making it look as though Capt Dietrichsen's wife was close enough to see him shot...... Hopefully the final production will be better.
In 1966, Radio Eireann commissioned Brian Boydell to compose a piece of music for the 50th Anniversary events. Boydell called the piece "A Terrible Beauty is Born".
Both these productions link back to the poem Easter 1916 by William Butler Yeats.
Henry Hugh Peter Deasy
On Wednesday 26th April 1916, a Major Deasy contacted Guinness to see under what terms Guinness would allow the lorries requisitioned on the Monday to be converted to improvised armoured cars for use during the Easter Rising.
The only Major Deasy I can find is an Irishman by the name Henry Hugh Peter Deasy.
29th June 1866, born in Dublin.
20th April 1886, Lt in the 4th Royal Munster Fusiliers
10th November 1888, 2nd Lt in the 6th Lancers
29th January 1890, Lt in the 16th Lancers
17th February 1894, Captain in the 16th Lancers
1894, Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society
1896, exploration of Tibet
24th March 1897, resigns his Captaincy in the 16th Lancers
10th August 1897, Reserve of Officers
May 1900, note re his exploration work
August 1900, wrote article "Journeys in Central Asia"
1901, wrote "In Tibet and Chinese Turkistan" following 3 years of exploration work
1903, founded H H P Deasy and Company Ltd, importing cars
1905, completed a 1000 mile motor trial around Ireland
1905, shareholder of the London Power Omnibus Company Limited
1906, founded Deasy Motor Car Manufacturing Company Limited (in 1912 it was to become Siddeley-Deasy Motor Company Limited having been taken over by John Davenport Siddeley)
11th October 1906, resigns as Chairman of London Power Omnibus Company Limited
22nd February 1907, winding up of H H P Deasy and Company Limited
24th June 1910, H P P Deasy and Company Limited accounts/liquidation
14th March 1911, Deasy Motor Car Manufacturing Company Limited
5th May 1915, Temporary Major, 8th Reserve Regiment of Cavalry
The 8th Reserve Regiment of Cavalry was formed in August 1914 and based in the Curragh. Affiliated to 16th and 17th Lancers
18th May 1915, Temporary Major 8th Reserve Regiment of Cavalry, Deputy Assistant Quartermaster General
25th July 1916, relinquishes rank of Temporary Major.
4th July 1919, ceases to be employed with the Labour Corps (his Medal Index Card shows Labour Corps and makes no mention of 16th Lancers or 8th Reserve Regiment of Cavalry ie he served in a theatre of war with the Labour Corps. He entered France in the last days of the war - 17th October 1918).
12th September 1919, placed on the Retired list as a result of ill health
A summary of his life can be found online in a Grace's Guide relating to his work with motor cars.
26th January 1947. Died.
So far, I've found no official documentation or any publication to show that Henry Deasy was the Major Deasy who called Guinness. The idea for the improvised armoured cars originated with Colonel Portal, one of the officers in charge of the troops coming from the Curragh (including 8th Reserve Regiment of Cavalry) to which Deasy was attached in a Quartermaster role.
The only Major Deasy I can find is an Irishman by the name Henry Hugh Peter Deasy.
29th June 1866, born in Dublin.
20th April 1886, Lt in the 4th Royal Munster Fusiliers
10th November 1888, 2nd Lt in the 6th Lancers
29th January 1890, Lt in the 16th Lancers
17th February 1894, Captain in the 16th Lancers
1894, Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society
1896, exploration of Tibet
24th March 1897, resigns his Captaincy in the 16th Lancers
10th August 1897, Reserve of Officers
May 1900, note re his exploration work
August 1900, wrote article "Journeys in Central Asia"
1901, wrote "In Tibet and Chinese Turkistan" following 3 years of exploration work
1903, founded H H P Deasy and Company Ltd, importing cars
1905, completed a 1000 mile motor trial around Ireland
1905, shareholder of the London Power Omnibus Company Limited
1906, founded Deasy Motor Car Manufacturing Company Limited (in 1912 it was to become Siddeley-Deasy Motor Company Limited having been taken over by John Davenport Siddeley)
11th October 1906, resigns as Chairman of London Power Omnibus Company Limited
22nd February 1907, winding up of H H P Deasy and Company Limited
24th June 1910, H P P Deasy and Company Limited accounts/liquidation
14th March 1911, Deasy Motor Car Manufacturing Company Limited
5th May 1915, Temporary Major, 8th Reserve Regiment of Cavalry
The 8th Reserve Regiment of Cavalry was formed in August 1914 and based in the Curragh. Affiliated to 16th and 17th Lancers
18th May 1915, Temporary Major 8th Reserve Regiment of Cavalry, Deputy Assistant Quartermaster General
25th July 1916, relinquishes rank of Temporary Major.
4th July 1919, ceases to be employed with the Labour Corps (his Medal Index Card shows Labour Corps and makes no mention of 16th Lancers or 8th Reserve Regiment of Cavalry ie he served in a theatre of war with the Labour Corps. He entered France in the last days of the war - 17th October 1918).
12th September 1919, placed on the Retired list as a result of ill health
A summary of his life can be found online in a Grace's Guide relating to his work with motor cars.
26th January 1947. Died.
So far, I've found no official documentation or any publication to show that Henry Deasy was the Major Deasy who called Guinness. The idea for the improvised armoured cars originated with Colonel Portal, one of the officers in charge of the troops coming from the Curragh (including 8th Reserve Regiment of Cavalry) to which Deasy was attached in a Quartermaster role.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)