Unknown Lettermacaward native was U S army casualty in WW1

[City Hall]

Hi all.

I was reading, on Military Archives Ireland website, the file relating to a Lettermacaward mother who was applying for a military pension in relation to her son, a Captain in the National Army, who was shot and killed during the Irish Civil War in 1923.In one of the letters she sends to the Irish government, she makes reference, by way of comparison, to the generous lump sum and pension received by another Lettermacaward mother whose son died in World War 1 while serving with the U S Army. My question is, does anyone know who this young man(the U S soldier) was?

Thanks.
Paul.

[skirl]

The Donegal Book of Honour lists 5 men from Lettermacward who died in WWI. None had an American connection. Four were in British units and one was with the Canadians.

[City Hall]

Hi skirl, thanks for the reply.Can you tell me the names and townlands of the 5 men listed in the Book of Honour?
Thanks.
Paul.

[rathmore]

You could try writing to one of the local newspapers.

[City Hall]

Hi skirl,
I managed to get a look at the 5 entries in the book of honour! My first thought was that the list was incomplete and the US casualty was not recorded,but thinking about it more,maybe the lady mentioned in my original post was mistaken,and the soldier she was referring to was actually the Canadian soldier.

Hi Rathmore,
Thanks for the reply. I may well do as you suggest.From memory,I think the two main newspapers are/were The Derry Journal and The Donegal Democrat.

Paul.

[rathmore]

is the name of the captain mentioned in the article who died in the civil war?

[City Hall]

Hi rathmore.

Yes, the gentleman in question was Bernard Cannon, a Capt in the newly formed Irish National Army.He was killed 10th March 1923 during an attack on Creeslough Barracks,County Donegal by irregular forces(IRA). The claim for compensation was being made by his mother,Mary Cannon of Lettermacaward Post Office.

Paul.

[rathmore]

Have you been in touch with the post office at Lettermachaward, I have read they tried to close it but in 2014 they decided to keep it open the Cannon family  have run the post office for more then 100 years.

They should be able to help you.

[City Hall]

Hi skirl,
I managed to get a look at the 5 entries in the book of honour! My first thought was that the list was incomplete and the US casualty was not recorded,but thinking about it more,maybe the lady mentioned in my original post was mistaken,and the soldier she was referring to was actually the Canadian soldier.

I have now looked at this Canadian soldier's(Patrick Joseph Flaherty) Army service record,freely available to read here,http://central.bac-lac.gc.ca/.item/?op=pdf&app=CEF&id=B3128-S009
and have to contradict myself.I now believe that he is NOT the soldier Mrs Cannon was referring to,as his mother in Lettermacaward received absolutely no financial compensation whatsoever from the Canadian military or govt authorities.
So I am back to my original question,who was the Lettermacaward native who died while serving with the US forces in World War 1? Any help would be much appreciated.
Rathmore,thanks for your further suggestion.I'm not convinced the current Cannon family would necessarily be able to help me.
Paul.