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Hi Tom,

The 2nd Munster Fusiliers left for France as part of the BEF on the 12th of August 1914.  They arrived in France at Le Harve on the 13th of August and from there moved to Boue, east of Etreux and remained there until the 23rd Aug.  They were not involved in the initial retreat from Mons but were deployed in a rear guard action that lasted several days and saw the Battalion surrounded at Etreux and massacered by the advancing German army.  Indeed they did succeed in delaying the German advance and allowed other BEF Battalion's to escape south.  Now to answer your questions, I do not believe that your uncle was in Turkey for the simple reason that the 2nd Munsters fought in France also the fact that he signed up on August 14th 1914 is perhaps inaccurate as he more than likely would not have been involved in the Retreat from Mons thus attaining the Mons star.  It is more likely that he was part of the initial BEF and in the army before the war broke out. 

I cannot see how he could have ended up in Turkey if he was part of the 2nd Munsters.  The 1st Munsters were the Battalion in Turkey and they eventually did come back to France but were absorbed into the 2nd Munsters but this was not until some time in 1917.

However if your aunt is correct in saying that he was in the 7th Reserve Battalion then he would have fought in Gallipoli

7TH SERVICE BATTALION
This Battalion was also formed under Lieut.-Colonel H. Gore, and was a component of the 30th Brigade under Brigadier General L.L. Nicol.
This Brigade with the 29th and 31st Brigade's formed the 10th (Irish) Division under Lieut.-General Sir B.T. Mahon K.C.V.O., C.B., D.S.O. The Battalion was raised by Army Order 324 issued 21st August 1914   
BATTLE  ZONES
August 1915, to Gallipoli
August 1915, Suvla Bay, Scimitar Hill.
October 1915, Salonica, Kosturino, Struma.
September 1917, Egypt & Palestine, Gaza, Jerusalem, Tell Asur.
May 1918, France, absorbed by 6th Battalion RMF 6th November 1916.

The 2nd Munster timeline is as follows-

1914 -
August  - Fought a rearguard action at Etreux.
The action at Etreux became a classic example of the performance of a rearguard. The 2nd Battalion, not even up to full strength, held off a German attack force of superior numbers.
December - Ypres Salient offensive and the Festubert battle.
1915 -
May 9th - Rue du Bois battle. (also known as Aubers Ridge battle). The 2nd Munster's suffered many casualties on this day due to friendly artillery fire. The Battalion's "General Absolution", given by the Chaplain Father Francis Gleeson before battle, was captured in a painting by WW 1 illustrator Fortunino Matania.
June 30th - 1st Division was transferred to IV Corps, the Battalion proceeded to Vermelles
 September 25th - Loos sector battles.
1916 -
June  - The great raids on German lines at Lievin, 3 miles south of Loos.
July  - Commenced the attack on the village of Contalmaison.
September thru' December - Defense of Martinpuich and the Somme offensive.

I am not sure therefore which version of events is true.  If he signed up on August 14th 1914 then he was not at Mons.  But your aunt is correct in saying that the 7th Bn was in  turkey.

Incidently I have the diaries of Fr Francis Gleeson Chaplain to the 2nd Munsters in France 1914-1916.  I know for certain that when I was transcribing these I came accross a Fitzmaurice again I do not know it it is your relation but the reason I know this is that one of my friends is Fitzmaurice and they took a particular interest in this name when I pointed it out to them.  I will have another look and let you know in the coming days (that's if I can find it again)

KInd Regards

Mitch

Hi Steve,

John Guiern's left behind a wife, Bridget of Strand Street, Dungarvan.  You  can find details of this and the location of his grave on the Commonwealth War Graves Commission web site.  I do not have the address for this but you can type in cwgc in a Google search engine.  He is listed as Gueirn not Gueirn's.  Do you know if he joined the army before the First World War, if he did then it is possible that he saw action in Africa (although the Munsters were only there for several months).  Hope this helps.

Regards
Mitch.

Hi,

I'm currently doing some research on the Munsters in France during the Great war and would like to hear from anyone who had a relative that served with the Royal Munster Fusiliers 2nd Bn.  I can also assist you if you need help finding more information on a relative that was killed during the war.  More specifically what I am after is any letters, diaries, medal records etc that you might have.  I am doing a PhD in this area and eventually hope to write a book about the Munsters during the Great War.  I also have access to the diaries of Fr Francis Gleeson, who served with the Munster's for several years.  He mentions how some men died and what they were doing at the time.  He also compiled Muster Rolls of the Munsters and these usually give an address. 

Thank you for taking time to read this posting.


Kind Regards,

Mitch

Hi Brionne,

Okay I am working from memory here so keep with me.  Grabbel could be Grabbal Strand, There is a Grabbal Bay in West Cork.  He was in the Royal Engineer's therefore it is possible that he was stationed at Camdon.  This was a large Naval base just across the way from Cobh (Queenstown) and next to Spike Island.  If your relative was drowned then it is possible that he was washed up onto Grabbal bay.  Geographically this would make sense.  By the way I'm not sure if I am spelling that right but it is pronounced "Grab all".

I know that in Victoria Barracks (now Collins') had a grave yard near by for soldiers and their families but over the years this was damaged and eventually the headstones were removed and placed around the boundary walls.  I do not know were Camden Naval base buried their dead but that is very easily found out.  Contact Collins' Barracks, Cork.  They recently opened a museum and the lads that run it are brilliant and really know their stuff.

I hope this has been useful, I could, however, be way off the point.

Mitch