Another mystery man lads, lots of clues

[museumtom]

This is what we have

2 articles from a newspaper;

Saturday Record, May, 1916

Miltown-Malbay Man Killed at the Front.

The following sympathetic letter has been received from the chaplain of the Irish Guards, by the mother of Pte Pat O’Shea, Miltown Malbay, killed at the front—

Mat 1st, 1916.

Dear Mrs O’Shea,--I am the chaplain to the 2nd Irish Guards, and it is with much sorrow that I write to inform you, that God in His infinite wisdom and love has seen fit to accept the sacrifice which your son made of his life in coming out ere to do his duty to his country and to his God. He was killed when holding the trenches against the enemy on April 29. His death was painless and merciful. Nor need you fear that because his death was sudden he was unprepared. Only a few days before, the men of the Battalion attended the services of Holy Week and received Absolution, Holy Communion and the Holy Father’s Blessing and Plenary Indulgence.

I know that this cannot prevent you feeling very terribly the loss of your dear boy. He was a good soldier, esteemed by officers as well as by his comrades. But it is much that to your sorrow for his loss you nee not add anxiety for his soul, which has gone to God. May that comfort and console you in the hope of meeting your holy boy once again in heaven, and may Our Blessed Lady; the consoler of the afflicted, be with you in your grief.

With all sympathy.

Yours sincerely in Jesus Christ.

S.S.Knapp, Chaplain.

The announcement of Pat O’Shea’s death caused much regret in his native town, Miltown-Malbay. He was a son of the late Head Constable O’Shea, R.I.C., and grandson of Mrs James Comyn. He first served as telegraph messenger, from whence he was sent as rural postman at an early age, to Athenry, being scarcely 16 years of age. In the county Galway, while in the discharge of his duty there we was sent by his officials to take up duty, which was rather unpleasant for a boy of his years, and he received some injuries. The story of his short time there is now well known to the people of that district. He spent some months in the County Hospital of Galway, until, fully recovered from the effects of the injuries he received in the discharge of his duty, his chiefs again recognised the worth of the young official, and transferred him to Drogheda, where he was for some months, and on the Postmaster General’s circular inviting postal carriers to join the ranks, he was one of the first in his centre to join.

There is no Pat O'Shea in CWGC or SDGW but there is a Pat Shea in SDGW who was the only man to die with the Irish Guards on that day. When we look on the CWGC we find that he is now T Shea (same number).

Can anyone make any sense if this please?

How can all three sources be different?

Any lateral thinking on this would be most welcome.

Kind regards.

Tom.

[dfaulder]

Lateral Thinking:

Patricia - often abbreviated to Pat (ditto for Patrick), but also abbreviated to Tricia (is there an equivalent for Patrick)?

David

[Verrico2009]

For that number, the MIC definitely shows P[atrick] Shea. Given that there's no family details on the CWGC site, a simple error? No idea where the O'Shea comes from.

[keithfazzani]

It would appear that the missing O' is a common problem in Irish ancestry research see HERE

[Andrew Hesketh]

Hmm, a good one.

I've tried various tricks on CWGC and can't find anyone either, except a Patrick O'Shea (Pte 3501) who died 14 11 1917. On a MIC search the only other P O'Shea with the Irish Guards is Patrick W. O'Shea, Pte 4559, but he was discharged 29 5 1915. So the O'Shea surname is a red herring.

However, he is Patrick Shea (Pte 7430) on SDGW, and his MIC says the same. Though CWGC does give the initial T.

I can think of two options. Firstly, he had an official first name beginning with T, though he was known by his friends and family as Pat. I can find no suitable service record to confirm this and neither SDGW or the MIC indicate a T either. Secondly, CWGC has simply made a transcription error. I've encountered this before and they will check and confirm or correct if you contact them.

[BrendanLee]

Irish Memorial Records has a Patrick Shea listed as 7430 from Cappamore County Limerick KIA France 29/04/1916.

[IPT]

Well, here he is;

Residents of house number 3 in Flag Road (Miltownmalbay, Clare)

Comyn Mary 74 Female Head of Family Roman Catholic Co Clare - Read and write - Widow - 43 12 6

Comyn James 35 Male Son Roman Catholic Co Clare Carpenter and Joiner Read and write - Single - - - -

OShea William 18 Male Nephew Roman Catholic Co Clare Postman Read and write - Single - - - -

OShea Patrick 16 Male Nephew Roman Catholic Co Clare Telegraph Messanger Read and write - Single - - - -

Moroney Hanna 6 Female Niece Roman Catholic

http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/page...ag_Road/355610/

[museumtom]

Sorry for not getting back to you busy but I hit the sack after a long tedious day trawling through the Clare casualties. It may seem that I was being risrespectful but not replying sooner but tyhere were loads of zzzzz's coming through my chimney. I did not think of the census, so I had a look at the original for which shows Pat as being born in Clare, with a Miltown Malbay connection. The dropping of the letter 'o' is common still here in Ireland so that may account for that. The MIC shows his correct name and SDGW ties it all together shoing he was the only man to die with the irish Guards on that day.

I want to thank each and every one of your for taking the time and effort to help me. I find in situation like this when a bit of lateral thinking is needed that loads of brains are beyter than just one.

Thanks again.

Kind regards.

Tom.

[Chris_Baker]

My guess is that the T is a simple transcription error. You might ask the CWGC (or perhaps Terry Denham on this forum) to check the original paper register.

[museumtom]

Thanks Chris, I will do that.

Regards.

Tom.

[Andrew Hesketh]

Also previously suggested in post 5.