Noor's Royal Dublin Fusiliers humble collection

[Noor]

James Dowling
Private
1st Battalion, Royal Dublin Fusiliers

Royal Dublin Fusiliers Service Number 8083
Hampshire Regiment Service Number 11425

James Dowling was entitled:

Victory Medal (Roll B1/103 B33 Page 3221)
British War Medal (Roll B1/103 B33 Page 3221)
1914-15 Star (B/6 B Page 94)
Silver War Badge (B/48)

James enlisted to the Royal Dublin Fusiliers around end of 1902 or early 1903 (Service number 7999 joined on 9th October 1902 and 8823 joined on 15th September 1903). He served as a private and his service number was 8083 (1/2). At this time new recruits signed a contract for a period of 7 year’s full time service with the colours and another 5 on the National Reserve (3). He must have been at least 18 years old for a recruit (although he could not be sent overseas until he was aged 19) (3).

Unfortunately there are many James Dowling’s on the 1901 Irish Census whose age would broadly fit, therefore it is at this point impossible to narrow him down without any extra information (4).

Probably during this time he also served abroad if he was posted to the 1st Battalion which was based in Crete and Malta. From 1905 they were posted in Egypt and Sudan.
2nd Battalion was in Buttevant, Cork after the Boer War. They left for Aldershot, England in 1910 and remained there until Great War begun in 1914 (6).

After his full-time service with the colours, he was sent to the reserves around 1910.

When the Great War broke out, reservists were called up for service in August and September 1914. One of them was certainly Private James Dowling.
After retraining he was attached to the 1st Battalion what arrived to England from Fort St. George, Madras in August 1914 (3/5).
Early 1915 they were attached to the 86th Brigade in 29th Division and were located in Nuneaton (3).

On the 16th March they left from Avonmouth and embarked on the ship “Ausonia” to the port Mudros on the Aegean island of Lemnos. They arrived to there on the 9th April 1915 (3/5).

After preparations, 29th Division had orders to land at the Dardanelles peninsula, at Cape Helles. It was very difficult choice because open beaches or cliffs what was relatively easy to defend by Turkish troops. Also naval artillery support wasn’t able to destroy Turkish positions before men moved in (5).
Battalion start moving to their landing sector on the “SS River Clyde” night before 25th April 1915. Before they approached to the beach, their Brigade Commander told to the men; “Fusiliers, our brigade has the honour of the first to land.” (5).

And as a part of very first men of landing, companies from 1st Battalion landed at “V” Beach on 25th April 1915 at 06:25. They suffered instantly heavy casualties, most of not even getting out of their boats (6).

After few days serious fighting, British forces had been secured themselves on the peninsula but far from their objectives, continuously suffering casualties.

Cost to 1st Battalion Royal Dublin Fusiliers was horrific: battalion was 901 men strong on the SS River Clyde and during the period of 25th April – 30th April they lost 163 men killed, 342 wounded and 21 men missing. Because Royal Munster Fusiliers suffered similar casualties, they were decided to amalgamate and called “Dubsters” for next month until replacements arrived (3/5/6).

It is impossible to say when exactly Private James Dowling landed in Cape Helles because mistake on his medal card what gives Date of entry therein 16th April 1915. But surely he was there because his first theatre of war first served in is recorded Balkans (2B) what includes Gallipoli (1).

Also The Irish Times from 7th June 1915 records him as a one of 43 1st Battalion Royal Dublin Fusiliers wounded in action (7).

Probably after his recovery, he was transferred to the Hampshire Regiment as a private and his new Service Number was 11425.

Again, there is no trace did he got wounded for a second time or previous wounds were the reason of that but James was honourably discharged from the Army on the 11th September 1916 and he received one of the first Silver War Badge, what was started to issue from the same month.

Source:

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

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

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

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

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

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

(7) The Irish Independent, 7th June 1915

[Noor]

Francis O’Hara
Private
6th Battalion, Royal Dublin Fusiliers

Private O’Hara served with the following units:

Royal Dublin Fusiliers 16561
Royal Munster Fusiliers 1205
Royal Dublin Fusiliers 16561
Labour Corps 396174
Royal Engineers WR/342371

Victory Medal (Roll RE/104 B8 Page. 2273)
British War Medal (Roll RE/104 B8 Page. 2273)

Victory Medal named to “16581.PTE.F.O.HARA.R.D.FUS”

Regarding his service number 16561, Francis enlisted for a service around November 1914 (service number 16339 enlisted 2nd November 1914 and service number 17664 enlisted 4th January 1915) (1).
Medal role confirms that he was posted to the 6th (Service) Battalion, what was formed in Naas as part of K1 from August and was attached to the 30th Brigade in 10th (Irish) Division (5/6).
Following year on the 11th July 1915 they embarked to the ship “Alaunia” and sailed to Gallipoli where they landed on the 7th August (2).

However, Francis must be staid back at this time because his Medal Card confirms his entitlement as Victory Medal and British War Medal only. Others from the 6th Battalion became entitled for 1914-15 Star as well after the Suvla Bay landing.

In the end of 1915 6th Battalion among with the 10th (Irish) Division was moved to the Salonika, where they saw some bitter action and also suffered many casualties because hard winter, hot summer, mosquitoes and disease.

Because there isn’t any trace about Private Francis O’Hara’s service, it is impossible to narrow down what time he joined the battalion on the field but most likely it happened during this time in Balkans.

Next move has to be taken place soon, when he was transferred to the Royal Munster Fusiliers. His new service number was 1205. After short service with “The Dirty Shirt” he was moved back to the Royal Dublin Fusiliers within his old service number.

Next move took place when Francis was sent to the Labour Corps. His new service number was 396174 and he finished his service with the Royal Engineers Waterways and Railways unit (service number WR/342371).

I wasn’t able to trace him via Census or other publications. It is impossible to say when the transfers took place and where he was at this time.

Sources:

(1) Royal Dublin Fusiliers – Ancestry.co.uk
www.ancestry.co.uk

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

(3) Royal Munster Fusiliers –
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Royal_Munster_Fusiliers

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

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

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

[Noor]

Bernard Clarke
Private, 27083
10 Battalion, Royal Dublin Fusiliers

Entitled:

Victory medal (Roll A/101 B2 Page 318)
British War medal (Roll A/101 B2 Page 318)

Served:

Royal Dublin Fusiliers 27083 – 10th
Royal Munster Fusiliers 18244 – 2nd and 1st
Royal Irish Regiment 41065 – Acting Corporal


Bernard enlisted around late spring 1916 and he started his service with the 10th Battalion of Royal Dublin Fusiliers.
At this time 10th Battalion stationed at the Royal Barracks, Dublin (now Collins barracks) (1/4).

Most likely Bernard enlisted straight after Easter Rising in Dublin (24-30 April 1916) and received his initial training in Phoenix Park fields. On the August 1916 whole unit was sent to England for last preparations and already 19th August 1916 they all landed at Le Havre, where they became under command of 190th Brigade in 63rd (Royal Naval) Division (2).

Because Private Bernard Clarke’s service papers don’t exist, it is impossible to find out when exactly he entered to the Theatre of War but most likely he was with the battalion from its first day in service abroad.

After few months of acclimatisation, major event for the 10th Battalion became the Battle of the Ancre (13 – 18 November 1916), where they experienced worst casualties; 314 men died, 81 men alone on the 13th November 1916 (1/5).

Next biggest engagement took place with the enemy on the attack at Gavrelle on the 15th April 1917, when the 10th Battalion lost 14 men killed.

Most likely after some of these big engagements Private Clarke was transferred to the Royal Munster Fusiliers 2nd Battalion and later on to the 1st battalion. His new service number was at this time 18244.

Next he was transferred again and this time to the Royal Irish Regiment. Also he was promoted to the rank Acting Corporal.

Acting Corporal Bernard Clarke was sent to the Class “Z” Army Reserve 2nd October 1919 (6).

Source:

(1) Dublin Fusiliers 10th Battalion history
http://www.dublin-fusiliers.com/battali ... alion.html

(2) The Long, Long Trail – The Royal Dublin Fusiliers
http://www.corkrecords.com/WWIMemorial.htm

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

(4) Collins Barracks – Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Collins_Barracks_(Dublin)

(5) Battle of the Ancre - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_the_Ancre

(6) Royal Irish Regiment – Roll of Individuals entitle to the Victory Medal and/or British War Medal

[Noor]

Next my Royal Dublin Fusiliers medal came to me as a disk only. At least I was able to fix it and the research about the owner shows one another sad story from the Great War.

Charles Stevens (1889 – 23.10.1916)
Private, 18250
2nd Battalion, Royal Dublin Fusiliers

Medal entitlement of Charles Stevens:

Victory Medal (Roll B/101 B6, Page 480)
British War Medal (Roll B/101 B6, Page 480)
1914 – 15 Star (Roll B17B, Page 332)

Charles was born in Gateshead, Durham Scotland on the 1889. He was the son of Robert and Elizabeth Stevens. Before the war Charles lived in Dunfermline, Scotland. (5/6/7).

After the war broke out, Charles enlisted as a Private in the town of Hamilton, around January 1915 and was assigned to the unit of the Royal Dublin Fusiliers (5).

After his initial training, Charles was posted to the 2nd Battalion.
This Batallion fought in France during the war and had suffered numerous casualties right up until the end.(1/2/8).
Private Charles Stevens was recorded as first joining the theatre of war when he arrived in France on the 27th May 1915 (2).

It is most likely he saw action from this time onwards and engaged in various battles on French soil. At this time the battalion was part of 10th Brigade, 4th Division and engaged in the last battles of 1915 where 2nd Battalion saw action during the Summer Operations of the - St.Julien-, Frezenberg- and the Bellewaerde battles.

The following year, the main objectives for the unit were the battles of the Somme and the fields of Flanders, The dates of engagement for Pte. Steven’s unit were as follows :Battle of Guillemont (3-6 September 1916), Morval (25 – 28 September) and Transloy (1 October - 5 November) (1/3/4/8).

During this period battalion suffered many casualties. Nearing the end of a long series of fighting, the unit engaged in one major battle commonly know as a Battle of Somme

During this battle the unit planned a small attack on the 23rd October 1916 after dawn. Battalion marched to the assembly point at 4.10 p.m. & awaited further orders. After the mission objectives were identified to the troops & under own artillery forward barrage, they “went over the top” in four waves. No enemy fire was encountered until 10 yards of their own mark, know as the Gun Pits, and only then they came under heavy machine-gun and rifle fire. They managed to crawl forward and eventually broke enemy lines but not with out numerous casualty’s. In the end, the fighting was so close the troops were forced to engage in frantic hand-to-hand combat with one another.

However, on this day the battalion paid the ultimate price & suffered the loss of a total of 3 officers, 14 non-commissioned officers. The unit also records that a further 36 non-commissioned officers and men were confirmed missing or assumed Killed in action.

One of the soldiers missing was 27 year old, Private Charles Stevens. His Medal Index Card states –Confirmation of death 23.10.1916.His name is listed on the 27th November the Irish Times as missing in action and he is commemorated on the Ypres (Mening Gate) memorial.

An interesting fact in relation to this battle is the mention of one of Charles comrades, Sergeant Robert Downie from B Company received a Victoria Cross for gallantry in action on the 23rd October. London Gazette (25th November 1916) states:

“At the critical moment he rushed forward alone, shouting, “Come on, the Dubs!”

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

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

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

(6) Commonwealth War Graves Commission
[url="http://www.cwgc.org"]www.cwgc.org[/url]

(7) 1891 Census
http://search.ancestry.co.uk

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

(9) The Irish Times, 27th November 1916

[Noor]

Research turned out almost nothing. Even I wasn't able to confirm his battalion via medal role.

Frederick G Stratton
Private. Service number 29204
Royal Dublin Fusiliers

Regarding his service number, Frederick was listed with the Royal Dublin Fusiliers around end of 1916/early 1917. Service number 27459 joined 14th August 1916 (Derby) and number 29368 joined to the 11th Battalion 21st February 1917 (1/2).

Unfortunately his Medal Index Card don’t show what time he entered to the Theatre of War but still provides his Great War awards entitlement and units where he served with (2).

However, medal role shows that Private Stratton served with the Royal Engineer’s before the move to the Royal Dublin Fusiliers and his service number was at this time (T) 649. Most likely he didn’t serve abroad then.

Then he was listed to the Training Reserve Battalion (service number 8421) after what he was moved to the Royal Dublin Fusiliers. It is impossible to say where, when and with what Battalion he saw action or even did he saw action at all with the Dubs. Although Private Stratton’s Victory Medal and British War medal are both impressed to the Royal Dublin Fusiliers.

Like medal role confirms, he was moved back to the Royal Engineers with the service number 334503 in the end of the War and he served as a Sapper.

I wasn’t able to locate him on the publications or census lists.

Sources:

(1) Royal Dublin Fusiliers – Ancestry.co.uk
www.ancestry.co.uk

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

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

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

[Noor]

Killed few days before the end of the war.

Lawrence O’Neill (1883-1918)
Private, 29036
2nd Battalion, Royal Dublin Fusiliers

Lawrence O’Neill was entitled:

Victory Medal (Roll B/101. B11 Page 912)
British War medal (Roll B/101. B11 Page 912)

Lawrence was born in Islington, --- at 1883. He lived in Islington whole his life and he was married with the Alice O’Neill.

When the Great War broke out, Lawrence enlisted to the Queen’s (West Surrey) Regiment from Whitehall, --- and his service number was 37596 (1).
Probably after short period of time and initial training, he was sent to the Royal Dublin Fusiliers as a reinforcement. His new service number was 29036. Regarding his service number, this move took place most likely around November-December 1916 (2). Book “Crown and Company” mention a new draft of 300 soldiers, who arrived at this time to the 2nd Battalion (4).

During this time 2nd Battalion Royal Dublin Fusiliers was transferred to the 48th Brigade in 16th (Irish) Division on the 16th November 1916 (3). End of the year 2nd Battalion strength was 32 officers and 957 non-commissioned officers and men (4).

Most likely at this time he saw action in Western front, when 2nd Battalion took part battles of Messines and third Ypres, gaining heavy casualties.

Because Royal Dublin Fusiliers lost were high, in 1918 February 200 men from 8th and 9th battalions were absorbed with the 2nd battalion.

Next 2nd Battalion took hard hit during German Spring Offensive (The Kaiserchlacht), what began 21st March 1918. 1st June cadre was transferred to 94th Brigade in 31st Division and middle of June transferred to Lines of Communications. In July attached to the 149th Brigade in 50th (Northumbrian) Division (2).

In the end of the war, 2nd Battalion was near Mormal Forest what XIIIth Corps planned to attack with the three divisions. One of them was as well 50th Division.

During the attack on the 4th November at 6.15 a.m. 2nd Battalion were in brigade reserve and moved forward from Fontaine-au-Bois 730 meters in rear of the attacking battalions, coming almost at once under a heavy barrage fire. During this day the Battalion lost 1 officer and 10 men killed.

One of them was also Private Lawrence O’Neill, when he found his ultimate faith just 7 days before end of the Great War. Also this was the last action in which the 2nd Battalion Royal Dublin Fusiliers took part in its history (4).
Lawrence was 35 years old at this time. His last resting place is in Cross Roads Cemetery, Frontaine-Au-Bois. Grave Reference I. A. 34.

Most likely he was English born Irish because he is printed on the Irish casualties during the Great War list.

Sources:

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

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

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

(4) “Crown and Company” 1911-1922, 2nd Battalion Royal Dublin Fusiliers
Colonel H.C.Wylly, C.B.

[Noor]

Dublin man who was gassed most likely...

Patrick Griffin (xxxx – 27.04.1916)
Private, 14521
8th Battalion, Royal Dublin Fusiliers

Patrick was entitled:

Victory Medal (Roll B/101 B5 Page 354)
British War Medal (Roll B/101 B5 Page 354)
1914-15 Star (Roll B6B Page 147)

Like Ireland Casualties list of World War I and The Irish Times confirm, Patrick born and lived in Dublin. Unfortunately it is impossible to narrow him down yet on the Irish Census (5/8).

When the Great War broke out, new service battalions were raised next to the regular two Royal Dublin Fusiliers units and man signed up for three years war service or the duration of the war (whichever was the longer) (3).
One of these new units was 8th (Service) Battalion, (nickname “shining eight”).

Battalion was formed in September 1914 and was attached to the 48th Brigade in 16th (Irish) Division (3). Regarding Patrick’s service number - 14521, he enlisted around 18-26 September 1914 from Dublin recruitment depot or via recruitment officer in Dublin.

Battalion was sent to the Buttevant and later on next year to the Ballyhooley for initial training. In September 1915 they left for a final three months of training at Blackdown near Aldershot in Surrey. (1/3).
Training wasn’t accurate; it mainly consisted of route marching and limited target practice. On the 2nd of December, the whole 16th Division was inspected by Queen Mary.
On the 18th of December 1915, the 16th (Irish) Division was sent to France. As well Private Patrick Griffin landed in there on the 20th December 1915 (2/7).

Beginning of 1916 they spent “Acclimatizing” men for the trauma of trench warfare behind main front line (7).
Their first sector became muddy trenches around Hulluch near the French village of Loos (7).

But the storm was on the way – German launched Battle of Hulluck (27-29 April 1916) hit the whole Irish Division hardly and they suffered massive casualties (7).
Lots of them by German gas attack, when they released 3,800 cylinders of gas along a 3 km front.
Hulluch was one of the most heavily-concentrated gas attacks of the war. 16th (Irish) Division suffered 2,128 Irish causalities; approx. 538 were killed. Many of the survivors suffered chronic lung and breathing conditions for the rest of their lives and many died years later as a result of this attack.

The Chaplain to the Dublin Fusiliers described the scenes after the attack in a letter home to his father:

“Many men died before I could reach them and were gone before I could pass back. There they lay, scores of them (we lost 800, nearly all from gas) in the bottom of the trench, in every conceivable posture of human agony; the cloths torn off their bodies in a vain effort to breathe while from end to end of that valley of death came one long unceasing moan from the lips of brave men fighting and struggling for life.”
One of the soldiers who lost his life during this attack was as well Private Patrick Griffin from 8th Battalion (5/6/8) who was announced Killed in Action on the 27th April 1916. His body never identified and he is commemorated on the Loos memorial, Panel 127 to 129 next to other over 20,000 officers and men who have no known grave and who are commemorated in this memorial. However, book “Ireland's unknown soldiers The 16th (Irish) Division in the Great War” states that 60 men from 8th Battalion were buried in one shell hole. He could be one of them who final resting place is with his brothers in arms.

Regarding his last will, his property and effects went to his aunt Mrs M A Harris, 12 Christchurch Place, Dublin, Ireland

His name was also published on the 22nd May 1916 Irish Times (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) The Long, Long Trail – The British Army of 1914-1918 – for family historians
http://www.1914-1918.net

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

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

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

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

(8) The Irish Times, 22nd May 1916

(9) Royal Dublin Fusiliers Association
http://www.greatwar.ie/

(ROI Roll of Honour is just a decoration there without any connection with the medal)

[FDutil]

Humble collection indeed...

You'd make more than a few collectors and even some museum curators blush with envy!

[Noor]

Eh Frank... these are only VMs and BWMs and to be honest, I haven't seen even a single MID set for RDF on sale. Looks like I picked up hard to find regiment to collect . But to me is the story behind them more important then the award. I have discovered the joy of research British awards fully this year and I really like it!

James Logan (1896 – 27.10.1915)
Private, 19866
1st Battalion, Royal Dublin Fusiliers

Medal entitlement of James Logan:

Victory Medal
British War Medal
1914-15 Star

James was born in Paisley, Renfrewshire on the 1896 as a son of Thomas and Elizabeth Logan. He had 6 brothers and sisters. They lived in 4 Cochran Street, Paisley (5/6/7).

When the Great War broke out, James enlisted on the April 1915 from Paisley to the Royal Dublin Fusiliers. His service number was 19866 and he served as a Private (2).

When the initial training was completed, he was posted immediately to the unit, what suffered high casualties during the ongoing operations in Dardanelles – 1st Battalion of Royal Dublin Fusiliers, known as well “The Blue Caps” what was part of 86th Brigade in 29th Division (1/2/3/4).

Private Logan arrived to the Cape Helles at the 2nd August 1915. It was one of the bloodiest battle zones in earth at this time. To support Suvla bay landing, 86th Brigade launched attacks against Turkish positions between 6th - 8th August and the “Blue Caps” alone lost 3 officers, 25 men killed, 150 wounded and 30 missing in action. By the end of evacuation, 1012 men, who went to Dardanelles in April and all the reinforcements what was sent in, 830 Dubliners lost their lives (1/3/4/8).

It is sure James saw some horrific action and hard conditions in the Gallipoli. Unfortunately about 3 months after arriving, he got fatally wounded and died in the 89 (1st Highland) Field Ambulance on the 27th October 1915 age 19 (5/6/10).
Major George Davidson, who was Royal Army Medical Corps officer in the 89th Field Ambulance, mention on his book “The Incomparable 29th and the “River Clyde” that on the 27th October mid day Turkish artillery opened sudden fire against the Anzac trenches from the extreme right to the extreme left. They expected first assault all along their lines but in less than 15 minutes it was all over. But this artillery attack caught many men in the open, sitting smoking on their parapets and such like, and 100 or 200 may have been knocked out (9).

James Logan is buried in Azmak Cemetery, Suvla next to other 28 men from Royal Dublin Fusiliers (6/8).

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

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

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

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

(7) 1891 Census
http://search.ancestry.co.uk

(8) A Brief History of “The Blue Caps”. The 1st Battalion Royal Dublin Fusiliers 1914-1922
Patrick Hogarty

(9) The Incomparable 29th and the “River Clyde”
By George Davidson M.A., M.D., MAJOR, R.A.M.C.

(10) The National Archives of Scotland – SC70/8/176
http://www.nas.gov.uk/

[Noor]

Peter Bradley
Private, 31644
1st Battalion, Royal Dublin Fusiliers

Peter was entitled:

Victory Medal (Roll B/101 312 Page 980)
British War Medal (Roll B/101 312 Page 980)

There is 40 same names in Census of Ireland 1911 and because that, impossible to narrow down him this way (1).

Peter enlisted with the Royal Dublin Fusiliers during the second half of the war. Probably between end of 1916 - early 1917. He served as a Private and his service number was 31644 (2/5).

Most likely he received his initial training with the 4th Reserve Battalion and was posted out to the 1st Battalion, what fought at this time in France and Flanders as a part of 48th Brigade in 16th (Irish) Division (2/3/4).
During 1918 this Royal Dublin Fusiliers unit took part some of the biggest engagements as a German Spring Offensive in March and suffered there heavy casualties. As a result of that, the 2nd Battalion was amalgamated which was reduced to cadre (3/4).
Later on, on the 26th April 1918 1st Battalion was transferred to 86th Brigade in 29th Division (3/4).

There are no notes about him on the materials what I have; also his service papers didn’t survived. Because that it is impossible to narrow down when Peter saw action but surely because his medal entitlements, it is possible to say that he served overseas and because he was listed as a soldier of 1st Battalion, he most likely saw action in France during 1918.

After the war, 1st Battalion stationed in United Kingdom; Ponteland, Northumberalnd on the 1919 and during 1920 in Bordon, Hampshire (4).
Probably he was one of the many soldiers, who were sent to Army Reserve after the war ended and got back in home around 1919.

Sources:

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

(2) British Army 1914-1918 Medal Index Card

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

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

(5) Victory Medal and British War Medal roll, Dublin Infantry Records, B408