World War 1 - The Wexford Casualties

John Redmond and Recruitment in Wexford

'The war is undertaken in defence of the highest principle of religion and morality and right, and it would be a disgrace for ever to our country, and a reproach to her manhood, and a denial of the lessons of her history, if young Ireland confined their efforts to remaining at home to defend the shores of Ireland from an unlikely invasion, and shrunk from duty of proving on the field of battle that gallantry and courage which has distinguished our race through its history.'

Stories of German atrocities in Catholic Belgium were a further incentive to join. (These rumours were gratefully used by the British propaganda machine). In Taghmon, men from both religious backgrounds enlisted. Many men had joined the armed forces before the war as the army provided secure employment and a comparatively good income at a time of high unemployment and low wages.

The Number of Irish Casualties

Taghmon War Participants 1914/18

Lance Corporal M. J. (Mike) Martin, 3rd Battalion Royal Irish Regiment, from Taghmon, appealed to his contemporaries in a letter to Sergeant Donohoe of the Recruiting Staff for Wexford - 'to place to one side the football and the play-book, and take up the sword, to play a man's part in this great fight in the cause of liberty and justice. They will not regret it, I can assure them, and when afterwards they are asked what they did in the Great War they can answer with pride - I have played a man's part, I did my bit', he wrote.

Mike Martin would be horrified to read the views of today's historians concerning the utter carnage of the Great War. There was nothing glorious about the participation of the largely innocent and uninformed recruits in what Professor Joe Lee has called 'the most frightening exhibition of mass slaughter in history'. 'The saving grace for the human race is that nobody planned it that way. Had the generals and politicians – and what about all those laughing faces in the trains in August 1914 taking the soldiers towards the front, as if they were day-trippers to a sporting event – known what they were doing, they would indeed be guilty men. Stupidity, or at least myopia, is the justification for the sustained mass slaughter' .

Those who did enlist in the British Army faced a dangerous and uncertain future. Many ended up in the trenches of Northern France. Adam Monaghan, who enlisted with his three brothers in 1914, described life in the trenches in his poem 'Tommy in The Trenches'.

Attitude In Taghmon

In 1917, the year after the Easter Rebellion and the executions which followed, support among the local populace seems, on the surface at least, not to have waned. 'The Free Press' of February 24th describes a visit to Taghmon by the Irish Guards band -
'On Friday last the pipes and drums of the Irish Guards visited Taghmon, where they were made most welcome by all assembled for the local fair, and delighted the audience by their fine playing of jigs and reels.'
They were touring Ireland in the interests of recruiting.

(The reality of course was that the large numbers of recruits from the area widened the growing chasm between two distinct groups – those who supported the status quo and those who wanted change. The aftermath of the Easter Rebellion of 1916 had made a huge impression and, in Taghmon, a number of families had become involved in the Gaelic League and the growth of Irish Nationalism and Irish identity. These activities, which would see a number of Taghmon men and women take up arms on the Republican side in the War of Independence, conflicted greatly with those who supported the Redmond line 'to fight for the freedom of small nations'. The Parles, the Creanes, the Williams's, the Boggans of Growtown, Paddy Monaghan of Tottenham Green, the Ryans of Tomcoole and a small number of other local families became active in the fight for independence and a few other locals sympathised with the ideals of republicanism. Their attitudes did not meet with the general approval of the majority of the population of the area and particularly not with the Rev. Wm. Fortune P.P. who was known to refuse Holy Communion to those he suspected of Republican activities. )

Local Support For War Effort

Layout of Details on The Casualties

Notes On Some Taghmon Victims

PRIVATE MICHAEL COOPER, 2273 6th Battalion Royal Irish Regiment. A younger brother of John he was a keen hurler and footballer with the Taghmon G.A.A. club and he died of wounds in France. He had won the Military Cross for his bravery on the field of battle some months before his death . Obituaries in the local press spoke of the sadness of his parents and fellow club members. Private Cooper died on the 14th August 1917 and is buried in Plot 5, Row D, Grave 1 Brandhoek New Military Cemetery, Belgium.

Thomas Cardiff	Patrick Cardiff	John Cardiff

PRIVATE PATRICK CARDIFF 4380 2nd Battalion Royal Irish Regiment volunteered for active service after the outbreak of hostilities in 1914. Patrick had left his employment with Mr. Thomas Rennicks at Coolaw after he enlisted. In early October his widowed mother was informed that he was missing in action. She was later informed that he had been killed. Aged only 22, the 'Free Press' newspaper reported that much regret was felt in the village at his demise. His brother, John, volunteered for active service after leaving the employment of Mr. John Winters, Ballintartan, joining the 4th Battalion Leinster Regiment. The third brother to see active service, Thomas, joined the Scottish Borderers. He had been in the employment of Mr. Thomas Kendrick, at Coolaw, and when his two brothers volunteered he crossed to Scotland where he was engaged for some time on war work. Private Patrick Cardiff Grave Reference Panel 11 and 12 LE TOURET MEMORIAL, Pas de Calais, France.

PRIVATE PATRICK CONDON 2281 2nd Battalion Royal Irish Regiment. On April 13th, 1918 Mrs. Alice Condon, Taghmon was informed that her 25 year old son had died of wounds on Good Friday, 29th March 1918. He had been seriously wounded a few days previously. He had been wounded three times during the war and had received the parchment certificate for gallant conduct and devotion to duty. His brother, Private John Condon, was taken prisoner during the battle of Mons. On his return home, John became a well-known cattle drover and was one of the most familiar figures at the famous Taghmon cattle fair.

LANCE CORPORAL JAMES DOOLEY 9075 Irish Guards was killed in action in France on the 9th October 1917. He is buried in Grave V111. F.7. ARTILLERY WOOD CEMETERY, BOEZINGE, Belgium.

CORPORAL EDWARD FURLONG 15932 38th Brigade Ammunition Col. Royal Field Artillery son of John and Anastasia Furlong, Taghmon, and husband of Elizabeth Furlong, 48, Slievekeale, Waterford. Corporal Furlong was killed in action on the 30th July 1915, aged 41 years. He served in China in 1900 and in the South African Campaign. He is buried in Grave Reference I. G. 3. POPERINGE NEW MILITARY CEMETERY, Belgium.

PRIVATE MICHAEL GAYNOR 3062, 2nd Battalion South Lancashire Regiment, son of Mr. and Mrs. Gaynor, Furlongstown, Taghmon. Private Gaynor was killed in action in France on September 3rd 1916. He was a brother of Mrs. Kehoe, Shelmalier Commons, Cleariestown and a close relative of Mr. Peter Gaynor who lives at Ballintartan, Taghmon. Private Gaynor is commemorated on Special Memorial 16. BLIGHTY VALLEY CEMETERY, AUTHUILE WOOD, Somme, France.

PRIVATE PATRICK HOGAN 10589 1st Battalion Irish Guards son of Mr. and Mrs. Henry Hogan, Stream Street, Taghmon. Private Hogan died of wounds in France on the 10th October 1917. Age 19 years. He is buried in Grave Reference V111. C. 40. MENDINGHEM MILITARY CEMETERY, Belgium.

JOHN ULICK JOYCE Son of Mr. John Evans Joyce, Clerk of the Petty Sessions for Taghmon, lost his life when the battleship H. M. S. Bulwark, on which he served, was blown up at Shearness. Three more of his brothers also joined. Theobald Joyce was invalided from the South African Police at the close of the Boer war and joined the staff of the Royal Naval Ordnance, Portsmouth. Charles Joyce joined the Royal Marine Artillery and served on the H. M. S. Suffolk. Walter Joyce was on active service in the Dardanelles with the Portsmouth Battalion Royal Marine Brigade.

PRIVATE THOMAS LEIGH, of the Royal Irish Regiment, a native of Taghmon, died at Bristol on March 10th, 1915 from injuries received while on active service. He was interred after Requiem Mass at Anne's Vale Cemetery, Bristol with full military honours.

Adam Monaghan	Henry Monaghan	James Monaghan

LANCE CORPORAL THOMAS MONAGHAN 3186 "D" Coy 6th Battalion Royal Munster Fusiliers was killed in action at Gallipoli on 9th October 1915. Age 28 years. Three of his brothers also enlisted. Adam, who was working in Wales at the outbreak of war, joined the Wiltshire Regiment. He was a talented young man and composed poems about happenings in his native district. When he went to the firing line he wrote a poem entitled 'Tommy in the Trenches'. James was engaged at his trade in Manchester when war was declared.

He rejoined his regiment, in which he had some years previously served in India. He served his apprenticeship with Mr. L O'Grady of High St, Wexford. Henry, prior to joining the very important unit, the Army Service Corps, was employed by Mr. Ryan, Tomcoole, Taghmon.

PRIVATE EDWARD MURPHY 17235 1st Battalion Grenadier Guards son of Patrick and Catherine Murphy, Barmoney, was killed at the battle of St. Eloi on the 14th March 1915. Age 21 years. Private Murphy was the first Taghmon casualty, and is commemorated on the LE TOURET MEMORIAL Pas de Calais, France. Panel 2.

LIEUTENANT PEMBERTON PIGOTT 1st Battalion Royal Irish Regiment killed in action on the 24th June 1915. Age 21 years. He was a Grandson of Captain Pemberton Pigott of Slevoy Castle. Lieutenant Piggott is commemorated in the HOUPLINES COMMUNAL CEMETERY EXTENSION Nord, France. Plot 3. Row A. Grave 27.

PRIVATE JOHN ROSSITER 6786 Royal Irish Regiment transferred to (390341) 361 1st Coy. Base Depot, Labour Corps. He died in France on the 27th March 1918, Private Rossiter Grave Reference Panel 94, POZIERES MEMORIAL Somme France.

PRIVATE JOHN FRANCIS ROTHWELL 5624 7th Battalion South Irish Horse died on the 21st March 1918 in France. Age 24 years. Son of Matthias and Sarah Rothwell, Growtown, Taghmon. Private Rothwell Grave Reference is Panel 6 POZIERES MEMORIAL Somme France.

Conclusion

Now, however things are changing and this is reflected in the words of President McAleese, speaking at the inauguration of the Messines Peace Tower in Belgium.

'Those whom we commemorate here were doubly tragic. They fell victim to a war against oppression in Europe. Their memory too fell victim to a war for independence at home in Ireland'.

Ireland has changed dramatically in recent years. It is now a modern, confident and outward looking society with respect and understanding for different traditions and cultures on this island. It is in this climate that it has been possible to remember and understand why so many men were prepared to leave these shores and fight on foreign fields. President McAleese quoted the words of Sean Lemass from about 30 years ago, during her speech

'In later years it was common - and I was also guilty in this respect - to question the motives of those who joined the new British armies at the outbreak of the war, but it must in their honour and in fairness to their memory, be said, that they were motivated by the highest purpose.'

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

The First World War by A.J.P.Taylor, Penguin, London 1970

Phrases Make History Here by Conor O'Clery, The O'Brien Press, Dublin, 1987

The Public Records Office, Kew, Richmond, Surrey, England.

The Ministry of Defence, Droitwich Spa, Worcestershire, England

The Commonwealth War Graves Commission, 2, Marlow Road, Maidenhead, Berks, England.

The Royal British Legion, 26, South Frederick St., Dublin.

Ireland's Memorial Records 1914 - 1918

The Free Press 1914 – 1918

The Gilbert Library, Dublin

Paddy Donovan, Bob Cudmore, Peter Gaynor, Phil Doyle, Hilary Murphy, Leo Jones, Padge Reck, Tom Williams.
Special thanks to Leslie Boxwell for all his help in research and recordings.

REFERENCES AND NOTES

1. The numbers quoted concerning Irish participants in the First World War are continually subject to gross inaccuracy. The leading authority on the subject is Professor David Fitzpatrick of Trinity College, Dublin. He gives the total number of male Irish participants as 206,000. He concludes that 'about 30,000 died'. Statistics of the Irish dead numbering 'more than 50,000' (The Irish Times), 'upwards of 35,000 (The London Times) and '55,000' (The Daily Telegraph) are therefore inaccurate.
2. Mike Martin's letter appeared in The Free Press on 4th March 1916.
3. Joe Lee is Professor of History at U.C.C. and he made the comments in an article in The Sunday Tribune on Feb 21 1999.
4. From an unpublished article by Tom Williams concerning the political divisions in the Taghmon district during the years before and after The War of Independence.
5. See article in this journal Reviving and Fostering Gaelic Games (1915-1927) Part 11 by Paddy O'Reilly
6. From A Fairday in Taghmon by Tom Williams