Munster Fusiliers in France

[namatse]

I have just been given details of this site and would be grateful for any information regarding Private Timothy O'Neill - RMF 2nd Bn. Service No: 3073  He died on 05/05/1916 and is buried at St Patricks Cemetry LOOS.

Timothy was my Grand fathers brother.  Unfortunately I have little knowledge of the family other than that they were living in Cork originally but Timothy's place of residence at time of death is recorded as Ynishir, Glamorgan.

I don't know how old Timothy was or how he died any help or "point me in the right direction for info) would be much appreciated.

namatse

[Listry]

Mitch. My grandfather served with the RMF 1st bn.I would love to know where he fought at. My uncle his son does not know much . He said he was wounded twice and was also gassed in the first gas attack by the germans. his name is Patrick Mcgovern. reg no 4688. Enlisted 23/4/1915. Discharged 27/6/1918 due to gassing.

Private Patrick McGovern 4688, confirm he was listed with the 1st battalion. If you have the correct enlistment date, in all probability he was intially at Gallipoli, then France starting 1916.

He was awarded the Military Medal, the award was Gazetted 19/11/1917.

1st battalion movements extract.
December 1915 - Suvla Bay, Gallipoli was evacuated on the 20th, Anzac followed and arrangements made to evacuate the Cape Helles area in January.
1916 - 1st January - The Battalion supplied working parties to evacuate stores. On the 2nd Jan. Battalion was evacuated from the Gallipoli Peninsula, boarded the trawler 'Princess Alberta' for Mudros, the 6th they transferred to the 'Caledonia' for Egypt, arriving Alexandria on the 8th and then entrained for Suez for rest up period.
1916 - January thru' February - The Battalion remained in the Suez area and men were engaged in sporting activities and light duties, a welcome relief from the trenches of Gallipoli.
1916 - 21st February - Orders were received for the 29th Division to proceed to France.
14th March - The the Battalion embarked on the ship 'Alaunia', entered the Suez Canal at 6.30pm for Port Said where it left on the 16th for France.
1916 - 22nd March - Arrived at Marseilles, Battalion entrained for the journey to Pont Remy, arriving at 4.30pm on the 23rd.
1916 - March December 1918 - The Battalion participated in many major engagements during their time in Belgium and France, it would be a lengthy exercise to present in full the various actions. Listed below are a few of the war sectors they fought in.
1916 - 13th April - The Battalion relieved the 1st Inniskillings in the line in front of Auchonvilers, facing Beaumont Hamel, this was to be their first experience of the trenches of France.
24th April - Orders were received that the 1st Battalion RMF was to be withdrawn from the 29th Division and transferred to the lines of communication at Boulogne base for purposes of recruiting and training.
May - Orders were received to join the 48th Brigade of the 16th (Irish) Division, on the 28th the 1st Battalion left Boulogne for Mazingarbe via Bethune, 6 officers and 283 other ranks from the now disbanded 9th Battalion RMF joined the 1st Battalion. The 9th Battalion had suffered heavily in counter attacks at Loos.
September - In action in the Ginchy sector.
22nd November - The Battalion was transferred to the 47th Brigade, 21 officers and 446 other ranks from the now disbanded 8th Battalion joined the 1st Battalion.
1917 - January - February - In trenches in the Spanbrock sector.
June - Wytschaete Ridge battle. November - Cambrai battle, the Tunnel Trench.
 1918 - March - German offensive, Tincourt, Doingt, Morcourt and Proyart battles.
July - September - Drocourt line and Canal du Nord sectors.
November 11th 1918 - at 11.00am. Hostilities ceased. The German High Command signs an Armistice.

I will endeavour to determine from my references why he was awarded M.M. and when likely he was gassed.

[paddy418]

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

[paddy418]

My uncle William Drury was a CSM in 2nd Battalion Royal Munster Fusiliers.  He got married from Ballymullen Barracks in Tralee on 16 Feb 1917.  His twin children were born in Newtownsandes on 8 Nov 1917 and on the birth certificate William Drury was noted as "Prisoner of War in Germany".  In the 9 months between marriage and birth of his children where in France would William Drury have served and been taken prisoner?  His regimental number was 7878.
John Buckley

[o.reilly]

Hi i am looking for info on my Granduncle
william Dineen
Born Ballinclogher
Lixnaw
County kerry
Birth:    Feb. 11, 1889
Death:    Apr. 21, 1916
William joined the Royal Munster Fusiliers in Tralee County kerry Ireland
Rank: Pte.
Regiment: Machine Gun Corps.
Unit; 3rd Company, Infantry.
Service No:19411.
His number was 4519.
He is buried and has a headstone in
Cemetery: Maroc British Cemetery, Grenay in France.
 We have a photo of him in his uniform
I would be very greatful for any info as we know nothing of him.

[corisande]

Re Dineen

Welcome to Rootschat 

Firstly you probably would have been better starting your own thread, it tends to get buried in a long thread like this one

His MIC tells you

1. Landed in France 2 Sep 1914

2. He was almost certainly in 2nd Battalion RMF

3. You need to plough through Ancestry records to see if there is a service or pension record.

4. Go to Great War Forum to make a post and find out where his MGC unit was the day he died.

[shanew147]

Hi i am looking for info on my Granduncle
william Dineen
Born Ballinclogher
Lixnaw
County kerry
Birth:    Feb. 11, 1889
Death:    Apr. 21, 1916
...

maybe you already have this and are looking for later military details -

Baptism of William Dinnen 17 February 1889  (birth 11 Feb) RC Parish of Lixnaw, Co. Kerry

Father   Patrick Dinnen
Mother   Mary White

from www.irishgenealogy.ie


Shane

[corisande]

  Re: William Drury, 7878 RMF

His MIC shows he landed in France 23 Mar 1915  

He went on to the 5th Territorial Bn Lincs Regt as a CSM, 4795288. You could use that to get his service record as the new numbers were stored elsewhere and have survived - mind you cost you £30, a copy of his death cert and currently a 8 month wait.

[o.reilly]

Thank you for the info on William Dineen