Hi all (posted in error in wrong forum earlier oops)


Looking for information on rdf 1st batt. I know they went to gallipoli in 1915 (my great uncle Stephen Byrne DCM 10774, but also listed as JJ Byrne) first theatre of war was 9/8/1915 to the balkans. Cant find his full service record but I do know he was gazetted on 15th dec 1922 edition as retiring from RDF with seniority 26th March 1919. Also gazetted in 22nd Jan 1916 edition (acting serjeant) for receiving DCM. He was commissioned on 25/11/17 to 2nd Lt and later at some stage to Lt. (wish I could upload documents I am not that proficient yet ) My family always said he fought at the Somme but I have no information about this. I wonder was he attached to a barracks in England after the war as he never really returned full time to Dublin and died in England.Would love to know where he went after the evacution in Gallipoli and any other information re barracks in England or where I could go looking for same. thanks folks...

Ger

A good starting point would be to take a look at "The Long Long Trail" - - link at the top of the page. You should be able to navigate to the pages that give you some core information about the 1st RDF

Also if if you havent already try on

http://www.royaldublinfusiliers.com/

i have a picture of officers of the 1st bn royal dubs before going to the dardanelles the paper reports everyone killed or wounded.

Thanks very much for all that,

I wonder would it be possible to upload the picture of maybe send via email if not too much trouble ?

Ger

u[load tomorrow by the way they were stationed in kenilworth prior to departure photo taken at the abbey hotel

Very much appreciated..

Ger

Hi
just a quick reply for this evening but I have researched the 1st battalion RDF in quite some detail and will get back to you with more info. My grandfather was in this battalion and for this reason we have become 'addicted' to Gallipoli.
Lyn

That would be brilliant Lyn... I understand the addiction bit . Looking forward to hearing from you when you get a chance

Ger

back row capt dunlop killed, unknown, lt de lusignan killed, lieut cubbett killed, liet o hare killed, unknown, lt maffett wounded, major franklin killed, father finn killed, dr de boer wounded, unknown, unknown, liet o keefe, liey carruthers, lt hamstead wounded.

front row, lt floyd, capt anderson killed, capt moloney killed, capt crodier wounded, major molesworth wounded, major grimshaw killed, col butt killed, major featherstone killed, capt higginson killed, unkown, capt moode killed, capt groves wounded, and captain french

That's brilliant. Thanks for that

ger

Is it possible that "liet o hare" is actually Lieutenant Desmond Henry O'Hara DSO who was the surviving officer on 25th April and later died of wounds on 29th August 1915 and is buried in Gibraltar?

Moriaty

Hi, it will almost certainly be Lieut O'Hara. He is mentioned on many occasions in the hisory of the 1st battalion - in "Neill's Blue Caps".

Vol 2 covers the period 1826-1914 and he was in India before the outbreak of war. He would have been known to my grandfather who, although not an officer, was in the Headquarters section of the battalion as a machine gunner.

Vol 3 covers the period 1914-1922. O'Hara assumed command after the landings from the River Clyde - again, my grandfather would have been one of the men who survived and would have been under his direction.

I'm happy to send you more information
Kind regards
Lyn

Hi Ger
as you will see in my reply to Moriaty, "Neill's Blue Caps" Vol 3 would tell you all about the 1st battalion in Gallipoli and then later in the Somme. I bought my copy from the Naval and Military press but you could try to get you local library to borrow one for you - the ISBN is 184574408X

Your great uncle is mentioned in the book and if you would like to send me your email address by personal message then I can contact you with all the pages etc. The barracks would have been at Bordon and Aldershot.

Kind regards
Lyn

article on Lieutenant Desmond Henry O'Hara DSO from newspaper in kenilworth plus photo of grave from gibarlter
kevan

Many thanks to all for this information about Henry Desmond O'Hara. He was my grandmother's first cousin and I have only just "discovered" him, so it is great to learn more about him and, in particular, to see the above picture of his headstone and the press cutting.

Kevin - does Henry also have a CWGC headstone at Gibraltar?

V Beach/Lyn - thanks for telling me that there is a photograph of him in one of the Neill's Blue Caps volumes.

Any more information about Henry would be very welcome.

Moriaty