Noor's Royal Dublin Fusiliers humble collection

[Noor]

Thomas Murray
Private
7th (Service) Battalion, Royal Dublin Fusiliers

Regimental number 15876

Regarding Medal Index Card, Private Murray was entitled to:

- 1914-15 Star (B/7B Page 243)
- British War Medal (B/101 B5 Page 398)
- Victory Medal (B/101 B5 Page 398)

Regarding Thomas’ service number and his unit, Thomas Murray enlisted to the army as a New Army recruit around second half of October 1914.
When the Royal Dublin Fusiliers formed new service battalions, they continued with the same numbering series that was in use for the regular 1st and 2nd Battalion. Number 15075 joined on the 1st October and 16339 joined 2nd November 1914 (11/13).

After Minister for War, Field Marshal Earl Kitchener called up on 5th August 1914 a New Army then as a part of K1, 7th Royal Dublin Fusiliers, was formed. Each man signed up for new "general service" terms of three years or the duration of the war (whichever the longer) and would agree to being sent to serve anywhere the army needed them (2/4).

The 7th Battalion was formed in August 1914 and was stationed first at the Curragh. On the 2nd February 1915 they moved to the Royal (now Collins) Barracks in Dublin. Battalion trained in trench warfare in the Phoenix Park and musketry training at Dollymount beach (2/7/11).

Private Murray unit were attached to the 30th Brigade in 10th (Irish) Division and moved to Basingstoke, Hampshire on the 1st May 1915 from Dublin. Next three months whole Division underwent training until 27th June 1915, when they were ready for action (7/11).

Thomas and his battalion embarked on the HMT Alaunia at Devonport at about 7am on Saturday 10th July 1915 and sailed to Gallipoli as part of the new Mediterranean Expeditionary Force. H.M.T. Alaunia Captain was Captain Rostron (Royal Naval Reserve). He had been the Captain of the “Carpathia” when it picked up survivors of the Titanic disaster in 1912 (12).

On the way they moral was high, also they had stops in Gibraltar, Malta and Alexandria. 24th July they arrived in Mudros Bay on island of Lemnos where they saw Red Cross boats from Dardanelles full of wounded – hint of what was to come. Next day soldiers arrived Mitylene (2/9).

6th August battalion was boarded on H.M.T. Fauvette for landing in Suvla Bay, where they arrived 4am following morning, under Colonel Geoffrey Downing command.
Problems started because lack of organization; units were without the maps and orders, drinking water ran short and some moment they ran out of ammunition. But men fought well and in the first day battalion captured Chocolate Hill (called after "Dublin Hill"), what they occupied 8th – 12th August. Following battle for Kizlar Dagh on the 13th – 15th August, until withdrawal 29th September (9).
However, Thomas wasn’t with others on the first day of landing. His Medal Index Card shows that he entered to the theater of war two days later on the 9th August as a reinforcement (1). I located another soldier from 7th Battalion with the same entering date; D Company (Dublin Pals), Pte. Cecil William Murray, 14125 who got killed in action on the 16th August 1915 (13). 7th Battalion D Company paid terrible cost in Gallipoli: of its 239 men who landed, only 79 remained after 8 weeks (9).

All together 569 Royal Dublin Fusiliers (6th and 7th Battalion) lost their lives in Gallipoli, before the Allies withdrew from there (12).

On 30th September battalion left from Gallipoli on SS ‘Abbasieh’ to Mudros and from there on Tuesday the 5th October, battalion embarked on the transport vessel H.M.T. Aeneas to Salonika, where they arrived 11th October 1915 (9/12).
After reorganization and rest in the camp, they sent to the Serbian mountains to try to stop Bulgarian advance. Thomas and his unit relieved the French in the Hasanti-Gojceli-Bala-Causli line (9).
Situation in there was very hard to the men again. Whole 7th Battalion was still dressed in shorts with pith helmets without any winter clothing. Meantime the weather was very cold and lots of men suffered frostbites, dysentery and malaria (9).
In November 10th (Irish) Division hold the front line between Kosturino and Lake Doiran.

On the 2nd October 1916, the strength of the 7th Battalion was 28 officers and 741 other ranks (12).
In 3rd October 1916 the Dublin Fusiliers took part in the capture of the village of Jenikoi where they suffered heavy casualties, because as well friendly fire from their own artillery. 7th Battalion lost there 128 men killed, wounded or missing in action (12).

Following year, in August 1917 the 7th Battalion, along with the rest of the 10th (Irish) Division, were ordered to concentrate in Salonika in preparation for moving from the Balkans. In September they arrived in Egypt and then commenced their participation in the Palestine campaign.
The campaign was better success then the previous campaigns. Battalion took part in the Third Battle of Gaza (27th October – 7th November 1917). Also the capture of Jerusalem and later on defense from Ottoman counter-attack (9/12).
Early 1918 Thomas unit they mainly held their gained positions. In March 10th (Irish) Division attacked enemy position in Jilijilia area what was again success.

Meantime Germans launched their Spring Offencive in Western Front what gained many casualties in Allies side. Because that, ten Battalions from 10th (Irish) Division were moved to France, including 7th Battalion Royal Dublin Fusilisers. They leave from Alexandria on the 23rd May 1918 on board the P&O ship Kaiser-I-Hind and arriving in Marseilles 1st June 1918 .

Battalion got a week next to the sea at Rouxmensnil, near Dieppe to rest and on the 6th June 1918 the Battalion was reduced to a cadre and men absorbed with the 2nd Battalion Royal Dublin Fusiliers. Four days later the cadre returned to England and was absorbed into 11th Royal Irish Fusiliers.
11th Battalion Royal Irish Fusiliers was reorganized and on the 28th June 1918 moved to Akdershot, as a part of 48th Brigade in 16th (Irish) Division. Late in July 1918 they landed again in France and already coming month, on the 29th August, absorbed with the 5th Battalion (2).

Private Thomas Murray was sent to Army Reserve “Z” after 1918 December, what means that he returned to civilian life but with an obligation to return if called upon. The “Z” Reserve was abolished on 31 March 1920 (1/3).

There aren’t many notes available about him but because he was sent to Army Reserve “Z”, it is possible to guess that he first at all survived the war and came out of it good enough shape for a future service, if necessary.

Sources:

(1) British Army WWI Medal Rolls Index Cards, 1914-1920

(2) The Long, Long Trail – The British Army of 1914-1918 – for family historians
http://www.1914-1918.net

(3) WO329, RDF, British Army Medal Roles, Infantry Record Office, Dublin

(4) Kitchener's Army - Wikipedia, the free encyclopaedia
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kitchener's_Army

(5) 10th (Irish) Division - Wikipedia, the free encyclopaedia
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/10th_(Irish)_Division

(6) 10th (Irish) Division – The Long, Long Trail, 1914-1918
http://www.1914-1918.net/10div.htm

(7) 7th Battalion Royal Dublin Fusiliers
http://www.dublin-fusiliers.com/battali ... alion.html

(8) Ireland and World War I - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ireland_and_World_War_I

(9) Irish Battalions – RDF Major Battles
http://www.greatwar.ie/ire_batmb.html

(10) Family Tree, Genealogy and Census Records - Ancestry.co.uk
http://www.ancestry.co.uk/

(11) The Pals at Suvla Bay
By Henry Hanna, K.C.

looking suspension to fix it ( )

[Noor]

Wilson Baggaley (1875 – 1942)
Private
9th Battalion, Royal Dublin Fusiliers

Royal Dublin Fusiliers 40785
Labour Corps 409245
Lancashire Fusiliers 60789

Private Wilson Baggaley was entitled:

Victory Medal (Roll H/1/101/B29 Page 5930)
British War Medal (Roll H/1/101/B29 Page 5930)

Wilson was born in Calver parish in Derbyshire on 1874 as a son of Joseph and Fanny Baggaley (2). They lived in Newburgh Terrace, Calver (2).

He entered to the service most likely under Derby scheme and was mobilized around winter/spring 1916 (regimental number 40422 – joined on January 1916). He was listed with the Royal Dublin Fusiliers 9th Battalion as a Private and was sent to France some moment in late 1916 (as reinforcement after Battalion lost 66 men killed in the attack on Ginchy) or early 1917 (3/4/5).

Most likely Wilson saw some action at this time, because 9th Battalion engaged in Battle of Messines and the Flanders Offensive (3rd Battle of Ypres) from 7th June - 10th November 1917 as a part of 48th Brigade, 16th (Irish) Division, where Division suffered over 4,200 casualties (3/4/5).

Maybe because of his age or he got wounded in action, he was transferred to the Labour Corps 882nd or 883rd Company (probably 882) around October 1917. His new service number was 409245. These two companies were for Garrison Guard duties (1). These were armed companies used to guard and escort POWs and storage depots.
In April 1918 882nd Company became part of 4th Provisional Guards Battalion in France. On the 25th May this Battalion was redesigned as the Lancashire Fusiliers 23rd Garrison Battalion (3). Because this move, Wilson received a new service number again, what were 60789 until he was demobilized (1).
Regarding England & Wales, Death Index, Wilson died during Second World War at 1942. He lived at this time in the small market down Bakewell, Derbyshire and he was 68 years of age.

Source:

(1) British Army WWI Medal Rolls Index Cards, 1914-1920

(2) Family Tree, Genealogy and Census Records - Ancestry.co.uk
http://search.ancestry.co.uk/search/

(3) The Long, Long Trail – The British Army of 1914-1918 – for family historians
http://www.1914-1918.net/

(4) 9th Battalion Royal Dublin Fusiliers
http://www.dublin-fusiliers.com/battali ... alion.html

(5) 16th (Irish) Division - Wikipedia, the free encyclopaedia
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/16th_(Irish)_Division

(6) England & Wales, Death Index: 1916-2005
http://search.ancestry.co.uk/search/

(7) Military Labour during the First World War
www.labourcorps.co.uk

[Noor]

William Whitehouse
Private, 24349
7th Battalion, Royal Dublin Fusiliers

William Whitehouse was entitled:

Victory Medal (Roll B/101 B9 Page 712)
British War Medal (Roll B/101 B9 Page 712)
1914-15 Star (Roll B/10B Page 419)

Unfortunately it is impossible to trace William on the Census records but there is a small chance that he was a Cork man.

He enlisted around end of September/early October 1915 as a private (23948 joined in 17th September and 24557 joined in 11th November 1915) (1/8).
After only a month training, Private Whitehouse found himself already in Egypt, where he landed at 20th November 1915. Because that, he was entitled as well 1914-15 Star, what was issued to the soldiers in the British Expeditionary Force who served in any theatre of the War on the 5th August 1914 to 31st December 1915 (1/3/9).

Probably Private William Whitehouse was one of the many raw reinforcements, what was sent in after Gallipoli, where all together 569 Royal Dublin Fusiliers (6th and 7th Battalion) lost their lives (9). What made the situation even harder was the lack of supplies; as an example, 7th Battalion was still dressed in the shorts without any winter clothing. As a result, many men suffered frostbites, dysentery (6/9).

When William entered to the front line in 20th November 1915, 7th Battalion, Royal Dublin Fusiliers was part of 30th Brigade, 10th (Irish) Division and they were on the front line between Kosturino and Lake Doiran.

Following year they have many engagements with the Bulgarian army, however, during the summer their main enemy was mosquitoes and malaria (6).
On the 3rd October, during the “Struma Offensive”, 7th and 6th Battalions Royal Dublin Fusiliers captured village of Jenikoi but it was costly to the unit with the total of 128 men killed, wounded or missing (4/5/6).

Following year, in August 1917 the 7th Battalion, along with the rest of the 10th (Irish) Division, were ordered to concentrate in Salonika in preparation for moving from the Balkans. In September they arrived in Egypt and then commenced their participation in the Palestine campaign.
The campaign was better success then the previous campaigns. Battalion took part in the Third Battle of Gaza (27th October – 7th November 1917). Also the capture of Jerusalem and later on defense from Ottoman counter-attack (4/5/9/12).
Early 1918 Thomas unit they mainly held their gained positions. In March 10th (Irish) Division attacked enemy position in Jilijilia area what was again success.

Because heavy casualties in the Western Front in Spring 1918, ten battalions from 10th (Irish) Division were moved to France, including 7th Battalion Royal Dublin Fusiliers. They leave from Alexandria on the 23rd May 1918 on board the P&O ship Kaiser-I-Hind and arriving in Marseilles 1st June 1918 (2/4/5/6).

Battalion got a week next to the sea at Rouxmensnil, near Dieppe to rest and on the 6th June 1918 the Battalion was reduced to a cadre and men absorbed with the 2nd Battalion Royal Dublin Fusiliers. Four days later the soldiers returned to England and were absorbed into 11th Royal Irish Fusiliers.
11th Battalion Royal Irish Fusiliers was reorganized and on the 28th June 1918 moved to Akdershot, as a part of 48th Brigade in 16th (Irish) Division. Late in July 1918 they landed again in France and already coming month, on the 29th August, absorbed with the 5th Battalion (2).

Private William Whitehouse was sent to Army Reserve “Z” after 1918 December, what means that he returned to civilian life but with an obligation to return if called upon. The “Z” Reserve was abolished on 31st March 1920 (1/2/3).

There aren’t many notes available about him but because he was sent to Army Reserve “Z”, it is possible to guess that he first at all survived the war and came out of it good enough shape for a future service, if necessary.

Sources:

(1) British Army WWI Medal Rolls Index Cards, 1914-1920

(2) The Long, Long Trail – The British Army of 1914-1918 – for family historians
http://www.1914-1918.net

(3) WO329, RDF, British Army Medal Roles, Infantry Record Office, Dublin

(4) 10th (Irish) Division - Wikipedia, the free encyclopaedia
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/10th_(Irish)_Division

(5) 10th (Irish) Division – The Long, Long Trail, 1914-1918
http://www.1914-1918.net/10div.htm

(6) Royal Dublin Fusiliers – a forgotten regiment
http://www.dublin-fusiliers.com/


(7) Irish Battalions – RDF Major Battles
http://www.greatwar.ie/ire_batmb.html

(8) Family Tree, Genealogy and Census Records - Ancestry.co.uk
http://www.ancestry.co.uk/

(9) The Pals at Suvla Bay
By Henry Hanna, K.C.

[Noor]

Thomas McKenna (1889 – 28.02.1917)
Private
1st/8th Battalion, Royal Dublin Fusiliers

British War Medal - 23148 Pte T McKenna, Royal Dublin Fusiliers

Thomas was entitled:

Victory Medal (Roll B/101.B.9 Page 651)
British War Medal (Roll B/101.B.9 Page 651)

Thomas was born as a son of John and Catherine McKenna in 1889 on Kingscourt, Co. Cavan. His family were Agricultural Labourers and they were Roman Catholics. Thomas had as well three younger brothers; Patrick, John and Michael (11).

When the Great War started, New Army battalions (often referred to as Kitchener’s Army) were formed, where man can sign up for three years or the duration of the war (whichever was the longer) (4).
Thomas enlisted from Hamilton and was posted as a private to the Royal Dublin Fusiliers 8th Battalion, what was formed in September 1914 and was part of 48th Brigade in 16th (Irish) Division (6/9/10).
Regarding his service number 23148, he enlisted around winter/spring 1915 (3).

They received basic training mainly in Buttevant and Ballyhooley, after what battalion was moved to England in September 1915 to Blackdown near Aldershot in Surrey for 16th (Irish) Division final training (1/4).

8th Battalion landed to the port of Le Havre on the 20th December 1915. However, looks like Thomas entered to France later on in 1916, because he wasn’t entitled for 1914-1915 Star what was issued to the soldiers in the British Expeditionary Force who served in any theatre of the War on the 5th August 1914 to 31st December 1915 (2/12).

Most likely he got his first battle experience still with the 8th Battalion, who engaged in the horrific Battle of Hulluch 27th – 29th April 1916 (1/5/9).

Some moment after March 1916, Private Thomas McKenna was transferred to the 1st Battalion of Royal Dublin Fusiliers who arrived to the France from Egypt and was part of 86th Brigade, 29th Division, what was concentrated in the area east of Pont Remy between 15th and 29th March (4).

But because both battalions took part of the Battle of Somme (1st July–18th November 1916), most likely Thomas eye witnessed some of the moments in the Royal Dublin Fusiliers hardest history (4/5):

First Day of the Somme on the 1st July 1st Battalion
Capture of Ginchy on the 9th September 8th Battalion

Unfortunately his service records haven’t survived and also there aren’t notes about his wounds in the Irish publications at this period, so it is hard to find out extra details about Thomas’ service.

End of the February 1917 1st Battalion had rest in the Bronfay and Hardecourt camp.
War Diary states that on the 28th February 1917, Battalion attacked east of Sailly-Sailisel at 5:25 a “Potsdam trench” what they took after own artillery fire. Next objective was “Weimar” and “Palz trench” where they start reaching but their own artillery barrage and enemy machine gun fire caused many casualties. Also they found “Weimar trench” full of water. Lead of Captain Bagley men reached front of the wires of “Palz trench” but Germans machine gun fire caused more casualties. Also fusiliers run out of grenades at this time and they was forced to pull back to the “Potsdam trench”.

At this day Private Thomas McKenna met his ultimate faith and got killed in action. Hid body never found (6/7/8).

Thomas is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial, memorial reference Pier and Face 16 C.

There is all together 377 Royal Dublin Fusiliers buried/commemorated in this memorial (1). Also he is commemorated in the War Memorial in the Bridge Street, Banbridge, Co. Down (8).


Source:

(1) Royal Dublin Fusiliers – a forgotten regiment
http://www.dublin-fusiliers.com/

(2) British Army WWI Medal Rolls Index Cards, 1914-1920
http://search.ancestry.co.uk

(3) Army Service Numbers 1881-1918
http://armyservicenumbers.blogspot.com/

(4) The Long, Long Trail – The British Army of 1914-1918 – for family historians
http://www.1914-1918.net

(5) Royal Dublin Fusiliers – Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Royal_Dublin_Fusiliers

(6) UK, Soldiers Died in the Great War, 1914-1919
http://search.ancestry.co.uk

(7) Commonwealth War Graves Commission
www.cwgc.org

(8) Irish War Memorials
http://www.irishwarmemorials.ie

(9) Ireland Unknown Soldiers, The 16th (Irish) Division in the Great War
by Terence Denman

(10) 16th (Irish) Division – Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/16th_(Irish)_Division

(11) National Archives: Census of Ireland 1901/1911
http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie

(12) British Campaign Medals, 1914-2005 (Shire Library)
by Peter Duckers

[Noor]

Thiepval memorial



Plate with his name on the left-top courner



Scetch from Thomas last day fighting area from battalion's war diary

[Noor]

Thomas Roberts (1890 - 08.10.1918)
Private
Royal Dublin Fusiliers/ Wiltshire Regiment

British War Medal named to “14357 Pte. T.Roberts R.DUB.FUS”

He was entitled to:
- 1914-15 Star (Roll B/4B Page 209)
- Victory Medal (Roll B/101 B5 Page 350)
- British War Medal (Roll B/101 B5 Page 350)

Thomas Roberts was born in Shepton Mallett, Somerset on the 1890 as son of Charles and Mary Roberts. He had one sister Martha and two brothers Fred and Charles.
Thomas was married to Elsie Roberts, of Trebanog, Rhondda, Wales (1/4).

After the break out of the Great War on the 28th July 1914, many men enlisted to the Army for a war-time service only. Regarding Thomas first regimental number, it is impossible to say when exactly he entered for a service, but surely he was one of the many New Army recruits around end of 1914, early 1915.
Private Roberts attested to the Wiltshire Regiment and his service number was 13022. He enlisted from Porth, Wales recruitment depot or via recruitment officer (3).
After a short service with Wiltshire Regiment, he was transferred to the Royal Dublin Fusiliers, 6th (Service) Battalion what was part of 30th Brigade in 10th (Irish) Division. His new regimental number was 14357 (2/3).

Private Roberts new Battalion set sail for Gallipoli, as part of the new Mediterranean Expeditionary Force under General Sir Ian Hamilton (9).
6th Battalion Royal Dublin Fusiliers were embarked at Devonport on the 7am on Saturday 10th July 1915 (1) and sailed on the H.M.T. Alaunia, a ship commanded by Captain Sir Arthur Henry Rostron (7), who was in charge of the RMS Carpathia when she rescued Titanic survivors.
As a part of the 10th (Irish) Division, Battalion were sent to Gallipoli via Mytilene where they took part Allies new attack against the Turkish troops on Suvla Bay what is 25 miles north of Cape Helles. (2/8/9).
Private Roberts landed on Suvla Bay at 5 am on the 7th August 1915 (1/2). They experienced a very bitter action when the battalion moved forward to positions near Chocolate Hill, also because complications with the supplies as drinking water and ammunition.
All together 569 Royal Dublin Fusiliers (as well 7th Battalion) lost their lives in Gallipoli, before the Allies withdrew from there in January 1916 (9).

On the 29th September 1915 Lieutenant General Sir Bryan Mahon arranged to move the 10th (Irish) Division from Gallipoli. 91 officers and 2,363 other ranks, including the 6th and 7th Dublin Fusiliers, sailed to Salonika.
The difficult weather and diseases caused many casualties. On the 3rd October 1915, the 6th Battalion RDF with other Divisions was at the front line and was ordered to take the village of Jenikoj. After short success, they took heavy casualties caused by their own artillery fire and Bulgarians counterattack. Also Conflicting orders made the situation more difficult and caused extra casualties. In the end 131 men from 6th Battalion were killed, wounded or missing (9).

On the 9th September 1917, the 6th Battalion as a part of 10th Division were sent to Alexandria for service in Palestine (8/9). They arrived via Egypt in Ismalia on the 12th September 1917. Battalion was attached to the XX Army Corps, that was commanded by General Philip Chetwode (10). During this campaign, 6th Battalion engaged in Third Battle of Gaza (27th October – 7th November 1917) where the who 10th Division captured the Hareira Redoubt on the 7th November. Also they took part in the capture of Jerusalem and in defensive battles against Turkish counterattacks (9/10). All together these operations on the Holy Land were more successful then previous ones on 1915 and 1916.

The next move took place on the 27th April 1918, when the Battalion was removed from 10th Irish Division and sent on the 3rd July 1918 to Taranto, Italy. From there battalion was transferred by train to France and on the 21st July 1918 attached to the 197th Brigade, 66th (2nd East Lancashire) Division.

On the 10th September 1918 they transferred to the 198th Brigade in the same Division.

It is impossible to say which battles and engagements Private Roberts took part. Regarding his MIC and 1914-1915 Star medal role, he surely landed on Sulva Bay on the 7th August 1915 as a soldier from 6th Battalion of Royal Dublin Fusiliers. He hasn’t been mentioned on the Irish Times, etc publication, so most likely he was lucky enough to not get wounded seriously during his service in Gallipoli and Balkans.

Unfortunately his luck ran out exactly one month before Armistice with Germany when he got killed in action on the 8th October 1918 during the battle of Cambrai. At this point he held a rank Lance Corporal and he was 28 years old.

He is buried on the Guizancourt Farm Cemetry, Gouy (Aisne), among with 150 comrades, who fell early October 1918.

Sources:

(1) Royal Dublin Fusiliers – a forgotten regiment
http://www.dublin-fusiliers.com/battali ... s-7th.html

(2) British Army WWI Medal Rolls Index Cards, 1914-1920
http://search.ancestry.co.uk

(3) UK, Soldiers Died in the Great War, 1914-1919
http://search.ancestry.co.uk

(4) 1891/1901 England Census
http://search.ancestry.co.uk

(5) Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC)
http://www.cwgc.org/search/casualty_det ... lty=588140

(6) Army Service Numbers 1881-1918; Wilshire Regiment
http://armyservicenumbers.blogspot.com/ ... 20Regiment

(7) Arthur Roston – Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arthur_Rostron

(8) Royal Dublin Fusiliers – A Long, Long Trail, The British Army of 1914-1918
http://www.1914-1918.net/dubs.htm

(9) Irish Battalions – RDF Major Battles
http://www.greatwar.ie/ire_batmb.html

(10) XX Corps (United Kingdom) - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_XX_Corps

[Noor]

Thomas Roberts resting place in Aisne



most likely Thomas fell during this attack what is shown on the scetch below (6th battalion war diary)

[Noor]

Michael Killeen
Private
2nd Battalion, Royal Dublin Fusiliers

Michael Killeen was entitled:

- Victory Medal (Roll B/101 B7 Page 553)
- British War Medal (Roll B/101 B7 Page 553)
- 1914-15 Star (Roll B/7B Page 195)

Michael was born in Longwood, Co. Meath as a son of John and Mary Killeen on the 1877. After his childhood, Michael moved to Dublin and married with the Jane Killeen around 1899. They had four sons and three daughters. Michael worked as a Coal Labourer. And their family lived in 33 Constitution Hill, Arran Quay, Dublin (6/8).

When the Great War broke out, new service battalions were called up next to the old regimental battalions. Also modern warfare gained heavy costs and fresh reinforcements were vital for bloody war in France and East.

Because Royal Dublin Fusiliers continued with the old service number series, it is possible to indicate that Michael enlisted for service around second half of May 1915 (20095 enlisted 1st May 1915, 22290 enlisted 29th July 1915. His service number was 20230 (3/4).
After initial training, he was posted to the France on the 14th December 1915, as reinforcement to the 2nd Battalion (nicknamed ‘The Old Toughs’) Royal Dublin Fusiliers, what was part of 10th Brigade in 4th Division (2/4/6). Because that move end of the year, Michael qualified as well for a 1914-15 Star (9).
At this time Battalion have seen some of the bloodiest battles in France, including suffering 1915 summer serious gas attacks against their position. Because heavy losses, they didn’t took part any major battles in the end of 1915 (1/10).

Coming year, Private Killeen took part the battle of Somme, what begun 1st July 1916. The opening day of the battle, British Army suffered the worst one-day combat losses in its history, with approx. 60,695 (19,240 KIA) (1/5/10).
Private Killeen’s unit attacked in the second wave area near Hawthorne Redoubt what was just detonated using explosives in the tunnel but still 503 men who went into battle, 325 became casualties (10).

Almost in the end of the battle, 2nd Battalion was located near Ginchy in October 1916.
On the 23rd October men went over the top in four waves. Their objective was a German machine gun position known as Gun Pits with four machine guns. It was located east of village Lesboeufs (1/10).
Under heavy machine gun fire, men managed to crawl into German trenches where horrific hand to hand fighting started. In the end, 2nd Battalion managed to take that ground. Also history for the whole Royal Dublin Fusiliers was made, Sgt. Robert Downie from B Company won in the Great War regiment first Victoria Cross (London Gazette 25th November 1916):
For most conspicuous bravery and devotion to duty in attack. When most of the officers had become casualties, this non-commissioned officer, utterly regardless of personal danger, moved about under heavy fire and reorganised the attack, which had been temporarily checked. At the critical moment he rushed forward alone, shouting, 'Come on the Dubs'. This stirring appeal met with immediate response and the line rushed forward at his call. Sergeant Downie accounted for several of the enemy and in addition, captured a machine gun, killing the team.

But the price was hard as well: 17 men got killed and 124 wounded, 36 men were missing (10).

One of the soldiers, who became a casualty on that day, was Michael Killeen.
Notification about his death was recorded on the Irish Times on the 27th November 1916 (11).
He is buried in the Thiepval memorial (reference Pier and face 16 C) next to other 377 Royal Dublin Fusiliers soldiers, who found their final resting place in there. He was 39 years of age, when he got killed (1/6/7).

Source:

(1) Royal Dublin Fusiliers – a forgotten regiment
http://www.dublin-fusiliers.com/

(2) British Army WWI Medal Rolls Index Cards, 1914-1920
http://search.ancestry.co.uk

(3) Army Service Numbers 1881-1918
http://armyservicenumbers.blogspot.com/

(4) The Long, Long Trail – The British Army of 1914-1918 – for family historians
http://www.1914-1918.net

(5) Royal Dublin Fusiliers – Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Royal_Dublin_Fusiliers

(6) UK, Soldiers Died in the Great War, 1914-1919
http://search.ancestry.co.uk

(7) Commonwealth War Graves Commission
www.cwgc.org

(8) National Archives: Census of Ireland 1901/1911
http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie

(9) British Campaign Medals, 1914-2005 (Shire Library)
by Peter Duckers

(10) Crown and Company, 1911-1912, 2nd Battalion Royal Dublin Fusiliers
By Colonel H.C.Wylly, C.B.

(11) The Irish Times, 27th November 1916

[Noor]

James Fox
Private/Corporal
2nd Battalion, Royal Dublin Fusiliers

James was entitled to:

Victory Medal (Roll 7B/101B Page 4)
British War Medal (Roll 7B/101B Page 4)
1914-15 Star (Roll B/6a Page A36)


Regarding his service number 4780, James enlisted to the Dublin Royal Fusiliers around end of March 1893 (number 4761 joined in 2nd March 1893). He must be born at least 1875 (4).

Unfortunately there isn’t any information about him online or other sources what I have and because his name is very common, it is impossible to find him on Census of Ireland without the extra details.

Because he is not on the Queens South Africa and Kings South Africa medal roles, I presume that he was sent to reserve before Royal Dublin Fusiliers moved to the Boer War on the 10th November 1899.

When the Great War broke out, the 2nd Battalion was in Gravesend, part of 10th Brigade in 4th Division, commanded by Brigadier-General J.A.L. Halden C.B., D.S.O.
On the 4th August 1914, 5.5 p.m. the order to mobilization was published. At this time James was probably called back for service and quick training.
Meantime 2nd Battalion was sent as a part of British Expeditionary Force (BEF) to France, where they embarked on the 22nd August on the “S.S. Caledonia” (2).

Battalion found themselves in heavy battles immediately. They took part in the retreat following the Battle of Mons, taking part in their first engagement on 26th of August 1914 at Le Cateau that helped delay the German advance towards Paris, inflicting such heavy casualties that the Germans thought they faced more machine-guns than they actually did (2).
But Battalion suffered many casualties and lots of them found themselves in the German hands and staid rest of the war in the POW camps mainly in Limburg.

Private James Fox was sent to France as reinforcement and on the 27th November 1914 he entered to the theatre of war (3).

He isn’t mentioned on the wounded lists at the Irish publications, most likely he was one of the lucky ones, who didn’t became a casualty during the war (wounded or killed).Also he haven’t been discharge during the war cause of his wounds, sickness or health problems.

However, Medal Index Card also shows that during his service, he had been promoted to the rank Corporal.

Sources:

(1) The 2nd Battalion Royal Dublin Fusiliers in the South African War
by Cecil Francis Romer and Arthur Edward Mainwaring

(2) Crown and Company, 2nd Battalion Royal Dublin Fusiliers
By H.C. Colonel Wylly

(3) British Army WWI Medal Rolls Index Cards, 1914-1920
http://search.ancestry.co.uk

(4) Army Service Numbers 1881-1918
http://armyservicenumbers.blogspot.com/

[Noor]

Thomas J Hearne (1899 – xxxx)
Private
7th Battalion, Royal Dublin Fusiliers

Thomas J Hearne is entitled to:

Victory Medal (Roll B/101 B12 Page 955)
British War Medal (Roll B/101 B12 Page 955)
Silver War Badge (B/1217)

Thomas enlisted in the Royal Dublin Fusiliers on the 4th June 1917 and he was posted to the 7th Battalion as a private, his service number was 30199 (1/2/3). He was around 17 years old at this time.

This battalion was formed as a part of K1 at the Curragh Camp and was attached to the 10th (Irish) Division (1/2/3/4/5/6/7). They first saw action in the bitter fighting at Gallipoli. From 1915 7th Battalion was sent with the Division to Salonika.

Thomas’ Silver War Badge entry confirms, Private Hearne first saw action in the Balkans (area code “2A” from 1916), where he must of arrived before August 1917, because at this time 10th (Irish) Division, were ordered to concentrate in Salonika in preparation for moving from the Balkans. In September they arrived in Egypt and then commenced their participation in the Palestine campaign (6/8).
Pte. Hearne most likely took part in the Third Battle of Gaza (27th October – 7th November 1917), and also in the capture of Jerusalem and later on the defense from Ottoman counter-attacks (4/5/6/8).
In early 1918 Thomas’s unit mainly held the positions they had gained. In March 10th (Irish) Division attacked the enemy’s position in Jilijilia area which was a again success.

In 1918 heavy losses taken during the German Spring Offensive in France on the Western Front required extra reinforcements. As a result, ten Battalions from 10th (Irish) Division were transferred to France, including 7th Battalion Royal Dublin Fusiliers. They left from Alexandria on the 23rd May 1918 on board the P&O ship Kaiser-I-Hind and arrived in Marseilles 1st June 1918.

The battalion had a week to rest beside the sea at Rouxmensnil, near Dieppe. On the 6th June 1918 the Battalion was reduced to a cadre and the men were absorbed with the 2nd Battalion Royal Dublin Fusiliers. Four days later the cadre returned to England and was absorbed into 11th Royal Irish Fusiliers.
11th Battalion Royal Irish Fusiliers was reorganized and on the 28th June 1918 and moved to Aldershot, as a part of 48th Brigade in 16th (Irish) Division. In late July 1918 they landed again in France and in the coming month, on the 29th August, where absorbed with the 5th Battalion (2).

These organisational changes probably didn’t affect Thomas Hearne’s service as during his period in the front line he was wounded and was probably sent back to home to recover. He was discharged on the 27th March 1919, based on King’s Regulation 392 (XV1) which meant that he was no longer physically fit for war service. At the time of his discharge, Thomas was 19 years and 10 months old (3).

Unfortunately I am not able to locate him on any census listings. Due to this I do not have any information about his nationality and where he lived before his service or/and after.

Sources:

(1) British Army WWI Medal Rolls Index Cards, 1914-1920

(2) The Long, Long Trail – The British Army of 1914-1918 – for family historians
http://www.1914-1918.net

(3) WO329, RDF, British Army Medal Roles, Infantry Record Office, Dublin

(4) 10th (Irish) Division - Wikipedia, the free encyclopaedia
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/10th_(Irish)_Division

(5) 10th (Irish) Division – The Long, Long Trail, 1914-1918
http://www.1914-1918.net/10div.htm

(6) 7th Battalion Royal Dublin Fusiliers
http://www.dublin-fusiliers.com/battali ... alion.html

(7) Ireland and World War I - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ireland_and_World_War_I

(8) Irish Battalions – RDF Major Battles
http://www.greatwar.ie/ire_batmb.html