May 24th
1650
John Churchill, 1st Duke of Marlborough, was born.
1798
The 1798 Rebellion began.
1819
The future Queen Victoria was born in London.
1915
The German Army launched an attack along a front running from Mauser Ridge to the north of Ypres down to the village of Hooge. The 2nd Bn Royal Irish Regt, part of 12th Brigade, 4th Division was holding trenches near Shell Trap Farm (later Mouse Trap Farm). This was the start of the final phase of the 2nd Battle of Ypres and became known as the Battle of Bellewaarde. The battalion’s War Diary gives an account of the night’s action.
2.a.m, Trenches: Battalion stood to arms.
2:20.a.m, Trenches: The enemy, preceded by gas, attacked. A mild wind blowing from the north-east brought the full volume of the gas on that part of the line occupied by the battalion. Although every step regarding the use of respirators and sprayers was taken, many of all ranks were overcome by gas. Shell Trap Farm, which had been held by 2 platoons of the 2nd Battalion Royal Dublin Fusiliers, was taken by the enemy, thus enabling them to enfilade our position of the line, which they worked down bombing us with hand grenades. The enemy took our trenches down as far as the right of the "King's Own", only a few men of our battalion now being left. Here the attack was checked, the enemy holding the ground he had taken., two platoons of "A" Company, under the command of Lieut. McKay, 4th Connaught Rangers, who were in support at point 'A' on map, held on until the following morning. Our casualties were 17 Officers and 378 other ranks, Approx.
62 Irish soldiers of the 2nd Battalion Royal Irish Regt were killed in action or died of wounds on this day.
1940
Hitler mysteriously ordered a halt to his forces converging on Dunkirk.
1941
The Bismarck sank HMS Hood in the North Atlantic. 1416 died with only three survivors.
Died
1915
Serving with 1st Bn Royal Irish Regt at Ypres
5808 CQMS Charles Abbott. The husband of Margaret Abbott, of 9, The Terrace, Tramore, Co. Waterford. Age 34.
Serving with 2nd Bn Royal Irish Regt at Ypres
6566 Pte Thomas Carthy. Husband of Mary Carthy, 34, River St, Clonmel.
6322 Pte John Condon. St. Patrick's, Waterford. Reputedly the youngest British soldier to die in WW1, age 14.
4684 Pte Matthew Corcoran. Kilmacthomas, Co. Waterford.
6184 Pte Daniel Cronin. Cashel, Co. Tipperary.
10045 Pte Martin Gaule. Ballybricken, Waterford
4272 Pte Michael Goggin. Ballybricken, Waterford.
10558 Pte James Hally. Clonmel, Co. Tipperary.
7108 Pte Michael Kennedy. Cashel, Co. Tipperary.
7099 Pte Patrick Kiely. Dungarvan. Co. Waterford.
2349 Pte John Lynch. Ballygunnermore, Co. Waterford.
10302 Pte John Moloney. St. Patricks, Waterford.
5070 Pte John Murphy. Trinity Without, Waterford.
6114 Pte James O'Neill. Trinity Without, Waterford.
6413 Pte James Pender. Abbeyside, Dungarvan, Co. Waterford.
10899 Pte Augustine Power. Dungarvan, Co. Waterford.
10953 Pte Christopher Power. Trinity Without, Waterford.
6317 Pte Michael Power. Kill, Bunmahon, Co. Waterford.
6906 Pte Patrick Walsh. Carrigeen, Co. Waterford.
6487 Pte William Walsh. St. Patrick's, Waterford.
4568 Pte John Whelan. Carrick on Suir, Co. Tipperary.
9571 Sgt John Whelan. St. Patrick's, Waterford.
Other Units
5117 Pte Patrick Cahill, 19th Hussars. From Waterford. Died Western Front.
5341 Pte Alfred Carter, 5th Royal Irish Lancers. From Waterford. KIA Western Front.
1918
6956 Pte Timothy Damer from Waterford. Died of wounds on the Western Front serving with 2nd Bn Royal Munster Fusiliers.
1650
John Churchill, 1st Duke of Marlborough, was born.
1798
The 1798 Rebellion began.
1819
The future Queen Victoria was born in London.
1915
The German Army launched an attack along a front running from Mauser Ridge to the north of Ypres down to the village of Hooge. The 2nd Bn Royal Irish Regt, part of 12th Brigade, 4th Division was holding trenches near Shell Trap Farm (later Mouse Trap Farm). This was the start of the final phase of the 2nd Battle of Ypres and became known as the Battle of Bellewaarde. The battalion’s War Diary gives an account of the night’s action.
2.a.m, Trenches: Battalion stood to arms.
2:20.a.m, Trenches: The enemy, preceded by gas, attacked. A mild wind blowing from the north-east brought the full volume of the gas on that part of the line occupied by the battalion. Although every step regarding the use of respirators and sprayers was taken, many of all ranks were overcome by gas. Shell Trap Farm, which had been held by 2 platoons of the 2nd Battalion Royal Dublin Fusiliers, was taken by the enemy, thus enabling them to enfilade our position of the line, which they worked down bombing us with hand grenades. The enemy took our trenches down as far as the right of the "King's Own", only a few men of our battalion now being left. Here the attack was checked, the enemy holding the ground he had taken., two platoons of "A" Company, under the command of Lieut. McKay, 4th Connaught Rangers, who were in support at point 'A' on map, held on until the following morning. Our casualties were 17 Officers and 378 other ranks, Approx.
62 Irish soldiers of the 2nd Battalion Royal Irish Regt were killed in action or died of wounds on this day.
1940
Hitler mysteriously ordered a halt to his forces converging on Dunkirk.
1941
The Bismarck sank HMS Hood in the North Atlantic. 1416 died with only three survivors.
Died
1915
Serving with 1st Bn Royal Irish Regt at Ypres
5808 CQMS Charles Abbott. The husband of Margaret Abbott, of 9, The Terrace, Tramore, Co. Waterford. Age 34.
Serving with 2nd Bn Royal Irish Regt at Ypres
6566 Pte Thomas Carthy. Husband of Mary Carthy, 34, River St, Clonmel.
6322 Pte John Condon. St. Patrick's, Waterford. Reputedly the youngest British soldier to die in WW1, age 14.
4684 Pte Matthew Corcoran. Kilmacthomas, Co. Waterford.
6184 Pte Daniel Cronin. Cashel, Co. Tipperary.
10045 Pte Martin Gaule. Ballybricken, Waterford
4272 Pte Michael Goggin. Ballybricken, Waterford.
10558 Pte James Hally. Clonmel, Co. Tipperary.
7108 Pte Michael Kennedy. Cashel, Co. Tipperary.
7099 Pte Patrick Kiely. Dungarvan. Co. Waterford.
2349 Pte John Lynch. Ballygunnermore, Co. Waterford.
10302 Pte John Moloney. St. Patricks, Waterford.
5070 Pte John Murphy. Trinity Without, Waterford.
6114 Pte James O'Neill. Trinity Without, Waterford.
6413 Pte James Pender. Abbeyside, Dungarvan, Co. Waterford.
10899 Pte Augustine Power. Dungarvan, Co. Waterford.
10953 Pte Christopher Power. Trinity Without, Waterford.
6317 Pte Michael Power. Kill, Bunmahon, Co. Waterford.
6906 Pte Patrick Walsh. Carrigeen, Co. Waterford.
6487 Pte William Walsh. St. Patrick's, Waterford.
4568 Pte John Whelan. Carrick on Suir, Co. Tipperary.
9571 Sgt John Whelan. St. Patrick's, Waterford.
Other Units
5117 Pte Patrick Cahill, 19th Hussars. From Waterford. Died Western Front.
5341 Pte Alfred Carter, 5th Royal Irish Lancers. From Waterford. KIA Western Front.
1918
6956 Pte Timothy Damer from Waterford. Died of wounds on the Western Front serving with 2nd Bn Royal Munster Fusiliers.
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