Irish Great Uncle & Grandfather Signed Up For Ww1 In Army And Navy.

[Jennykenny]

Finding it very hard to find out anything about how or why they signed up - presumably financial, but were there campaigns in Ireland to sign up local men?
I appreciate that Ireland was part of Great Britain at the time, but would love some pointers to find out why????

[DJHawkes]

this article seems to touch on possible reasons jenny
http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/british/britain_wwone/ireland_wwone_01.shtml

[Jennykenny]

Many thanks, great help.

[DJHawkes]

have you been able to locate their war records? Might be able to spot them in the database if you want me to look.

[Jennykenny]

I managed to find the great uncle's details as he died in the sinking of the Queen Mary at the battle of Jutland, paid £8.00 something, but can't find out anything about my grandfather Alexander Fitzpatrick who survived the war. Any help greatly appreciated.

[DJHawkes]

do you have a date of birth for him jenny?

[tonyav]

Sorry to but in here Jenny.
dot, have you any idea how I can find out how my great uncle won the military Medal, I have tried but can't find out anything I've even been to the barracks. He died on the first day of the Somme and I believe won that medal during that action.

[DJHawkes]

email me the details you have tony [email protected]

[tonyav]

Ok dot, thanks.

[Peter Pedant]

It is one of the great secrets of both wars. The servicemen themselves seemed to get written out .

I mentioned to a Colleen that de Oirish had queued up to enlist for world war 2 (at the time everyone accepted they liked a fight) and she said,
'well about four of them' and I said er 186 000 I think

and she just said no.
No irishman would fight for the Queen of England - she didnt do English History at skool see ? - and, you know, that was the Irish Question answered.


The Irish regiments still recruit both sides of the border dont they ? or have I got it wrong - sorry that should be take recruits from both sides of the border.

[Jennykenny]

Dj hawkes many apologies for not getting back to you before now, - two family funerals.
If you don't mind persisting in tracking my grandfather, his dob is 30/09/1881 (I think??).
Many thanks for any help.

[dundurn]

I seem to remember that Pat Clancy (eldest of the singing Clancy Brothers) was at one time in the IRA and subsequently served in the RAF during WWII. On the other hand a staunch Protetant great uncle of mine not only stayed on in Dublin after 1922 but continued to work for the Free State civil service until his death in 1935.

[Peter Pedant]

There is a Boer War song - about Mick and Pat and it comes obvious that one is fighting for the Brits and the other is on the Boer side

(Book on that if anyone is interested - Irish brigade - Nov 1899 - June 1900 when it was disbanded having split into two (of course) - even the Dutch couldnt stand their drinking and indiscipline)

Durndurn - remember that the first prez of the Irish Free State was a protestant.