Military Casualties in Ireland Feb to July 1921

[mhifle]

Hi,

These are from the Irish Times.

Regards Mark

February 1921

Officers Wounded

Captain S Williams, General List

Lieutenant C C L Dowdall, 2nd Berkshire Regiment

Lieutenant C H W Clarke, 1st Battalion Royal Fusiliers

Temporary Lieutenant R Henderson, 1st Battalion Machine Gun Corps

Other Ranks Killed

Lance Corporal J M Ryan, Field Police

Sergeant P Boxold, 1st Battalion Royal Fusiliers

Private D I Williams, 1st Oxford and Bucks Light Infantry

Private W S Walker,

Private H Morgan,

Lance Corporal H L Stubbs, 1st Essex Regiment

Private J A Knight,

Lance Corporal J E L G Beattie, 2nd Hants Regiment

Private W A Gill,

Signalman G H Bowden, 6th Divisional Signal Company

Private T Wise, Royal Army Service Corps

Corporal L D Hodnett, Royal Army Service Corps

Died of Wounds

Private M F Robins, 1st Battalion Oxford and Bucks Light Infantry

Private J I Holyame, Royal Fusiliers

Bandsman A E Whitcar, 2nd Hants Regiment

Wounded

Corporal S Wilson, 1st Prince of Wales Volunteers

Sergeant S Sutten, 1st Royal Fusiliers

Lance Sergeant G King,

Private A Hodge,

Private E Lloyd,

Sergeant J Maxfield,

Signalman A E Spry, 6th Divisional Signal Company

Signalman W Roscoe,

Signalman P Janson,

Signalman R Shelley,

Private C Lovejoy, 2nd Royal Berkshire Regiment

Bandsman W T Blundell, 1st Kings Regiment,

Private J Lloyd,

Private G Staniper,

Private H Dawkins, 1st Essex Regiment,

Private W H Want,

Private F Field,

Company Sergeant Major E Corney, 2nd Hants Regiment,

Private F S Bettasworth,

Sergeant A E Pitt, 1st Battalion Machine Gun Corps,

Private A E West,

Private T Osbourne,

Private V Price, 2nd South Staffs Regiment,

Private G Rollason,

Private E Hill,

Bandsman F Clewley,

Lance Corporal R A Pike, Military Foot Police

March/April 1921

Officers

Killed

Colonel Cmdt H R D Cumming, Staff Office, Commanding the Kerry Brigade

Captain C H F Lees, General List,

Captain R G Peek, 9th Lancers,

Lieutenant C E Adams DCM, 1st Royal Fusiliers,

Lieutenant H A Maligny, Royal Army Service Corps

Died of Wounds

Lieutenant J H A Tennant, 9th Lancers

Lieutenant E C Wilson, 1st Bedford and Herts Regiment

2nd Lieutenant G T Hotblack, 1st Essex Regiment

Wounded

Major H C Halahan, 1st Essex Regiment

Captain H L Chatfield MC, 2nd Border Regiment

Lieutenant J V Bowring, 1st Prince of Wales Volunteers

Lieutenant A E Thresh MC, 2nd East Lancashire Regiment

2nd Lieutenant A F M Tower, 1st Essex Regiment

Lieutenant S E Gregory, 2nd Worcester Regiment

Lieutenant E C Ridlington, Royal Garrison Artillery (attached 2nd Welch Regiment)

MISSING

Major G L Compton Smith, 2nd Royal Welch Fusiliers

OTHER RANKS

KILLED

Private N T Fielding, 2nd East Lancashire Regiment

Private H Turner,

Private W Walker,

Private J T Crafer, 1st Essex Regiment

Private S W Steward,

Sergeant E Watts,

Private W Wilkins,

Lance Corporal H C Jarvis, 1st Prince of Wales Volunteers

Private G Thomas,

Sergeant G Brundish, 1st Royal Fusiliers

Lance Corporal E Chandler,

Private A George,

Private F G West,

Private F E Woods,

Private G E Young,

Rifleman F Hale, 3rd Rifle Brigade

Private H R Baker, Army Service Corps

Private W A Gray,

Private J Kieman,

Private C G Martin,

Private E B Weldon, 1st Leicester Regiment

Sergeant S Rew, 2nd Royal Scots

DIED OF WOUNDS

Corporal C Bell, 2nd Border Regiment

Private S R Cawley, 1st Essex Regiment

Private B J Whiting, 1st Prince of Wales Volunteers

Sapper F De Orfe, Royal Engineers

WOUNDED

Driver J W Price, 7th Battery Royal Field Artillery

Driver E G Dodd, 146th Battery

Lance Sergeant A Inman, 45th Battery

Driver F E Conday, 45th Battery

Lance Bombardier G Bendle, 45th Battery

Corporal J Hogben, 9th Lancers

Private C Groves, 1st Bedfords and Herts Regiment

Lance Corporal W Redmond,

Lance Corporal R B Wells,

Private W Cullen, 2nd East Lancashire Regiment

Sergeant H S Culshaw,

Private C Dean,

Corporal S Corber, 1st Devon Regiment

Private B Gooden

Private W P Offin, 2nd Royal Berkshire Regiment

Private W Southworth, 2nd Border Regiment

Private W Wardle,

Private W Crisp, 2nd Green Howards

Bandsman W Pinder, 1st Leicester Regiment

Lance Corporal S Freakley,

Private A Dovey,

Boy T Wylie, 1st East Kent Regiment

Private W O Sayer, 1st Essex Regiment

Lance Corporal H F White,

Private W Coley, 1st Prince of Wales Volunteers

Private B B Davidson,

Private H Pendlebury

Private G Stokes

Lance Corporal H Spencer

Private G Brandigan, 1st Royal Fusiliers

Private F Carpenter,

Private V B Coles,

Private M C Coskill

Corporal C Greenwood

Private A Norman,

Private J Price,

Private M Read,

Private W J Thomas,

Private A Tuck,

Private J Watts,

Private N E White,

Private J Reynolds, 1st East Yorkshire Regiment

Private I Wardell,

Private A E Smith, 3rd Tank Battalion

Lance Corporal W Cunningham, Military Foot Police

Sergeant B R Loftus, Army Service Corps,

Corporal A Todd, Kings Own Yorkshire Light Infantry

Private C Cairns,

Private J B Brady, 2nd Loyal Regiment

Private Wm Cave,

Private J Devaney,

Lance Corporal G Sixsmith

Private C Woodier

Private C H Wheeler 2nd Welch Regiment

Private R Dippie, 1st Norfolk Regiment

Lance Sergeant W Clapperton, 2nd Royal Scots

Private E Sach,

Private T Henderson, 615 Motor Transport Company, Royal Army Service Corps

Private L C Marden,

Private C Fuller,

Private E Stott,

Private C Bain, 1157 Company, Royal Army Service Corps

Private C Fennell, 3rd Rifle Brigade

May 1921

Officers

Killed

Major G L Compton Smith DSO, 2nd Royal Welch Fusiliers,

Captain F W M Cornwallis MC, 17th Lancers,

Lieutenant R B McCreery, 17th Lancers

Wounded

Captain W Scott Watson MC, 1st Brigade Royal Field Artillery,

Lieutenant G Ibberson, 2nd Border Regiment

Other Ranks

Killed

Bandsman F Burke, 2nd Hampshire Regiment,

Boy F Evans,

Lance Corporal A W Hill,

Lance Corporal R McCall,

Boy G Simmons,

Private P Washington,

Private F Whichelow,

Lance Corporal R Madell, 1st Essex Regiment,

Private F W Shepherd,

Private D Chalmers, 2nd Kings Own Scottish Borderer’s

Private J Hunter,

Private R McMillan,

Sergeant J Herrod, 1st SWB,

Gunner B Francis, Royal Marine Artillery,

Gunner W Parker,

Corporal E Williams,

Died of Wounds

Private P Percival, 1st Kings Own,

Sergeant S Goldsmith, 1st Royal Fusiliers,

Private A G D Saggers, Supply Company, Royal Army Service Corps,

Boy F Hetterman, 2nd Hampshire Regiment

Wounded

Private H A Papworth, 15th Hussars

Private H J Spalding,

Private R J Crooks, 1st Essex Regiment (attached Tank Corps)

Private G Woodroff, 1st Essex Regiment

Private P Murdock DCM, 2nd Green Howards,

Private B Southcott,

Corporal W Beasis, 2nd Hampshire Regiment,

Boy J Bennett,

Private A Bentram,

Sergeant A Charlton,

Private A Cobb,

Private F Connolly,

Lance Corporal F Cousins,

Boy F H Cousins,

Private A Cripps,

Private A Fuller,

Lance Corporal C Hall,

Private K Hoskins,

Private A Manuel,

Private A Musselwhite,

Private W Coulding,

Private H C F Smith,

Bandsman F B Thurgold,

Boy F H Vidler,

Private E Watts,

Private C Whitear,

Corporal W Jagger, 1st Leicesters,

Private G Marks,

Rifleman W Mines, 2nd K.R.R.C,

Private P Brewster, 2nd Royal Scots,

Private H Nixey,

Sergeant A Stewart, 2nd Cameron Highlanders,

Private S Edwards, 2nd K.O.S.B,

Private J O Bilton, 2nd Loyal Regiment,

Private C Macklin, 1st Royal Fusiliers,

Private H Ovenden,

Private J Wheeler,

Sergeant H J Wiencke, 3rd Tank Battalion,

Driver R S Thompson, Motor Transport Company (attached 1st Kings Own),

Sergeant W Betts, Special Signalling Company, R.C.S.,

Sergeant H Chow,

June 1921

Officers

Killed

Lieutenant R F Beltridge, 1st Brigade Royal Field Artillery

Lieutenant W G G Glossop, 136th Battery,

2nd Lieutenant A D H Breeze, 2nd Worcester Regiment,

2nd Lieutenant A C H Foogood 1st Linc Regiment

Died of Wounds

Colonel Commandant T S CB, CMG, Lambert, Commanding 13th Infantry Brigade,

Lieutenant R C Warren, 1st Oxford and Bucks Light Infantry

Wounded

2nd Lieutenant A D S Steele, 1st Wiltshire Regiment

OTHER RANKS

KILLED

Private H Minion, 2nd Loyal Regiment

Private W Smith, 1st Devonshire Regiment

Sergeant C Dowson, 10th Hussars,

Private C H Harper,

Private F Crowther, 2nd Staffordshire Regiment

DIED OF WOUNDS

Lance Corporal H Goddard, 2nd East Surrey Regiment

Private R Saunders, 2nd Royal West Kent Regiment

Private W H Telford, 10th Hussars

Gunner E Gibbons, 29th Battery, Royal Garrison Artillery

WOUNDED

Private A Bennett, 1st Kings Regiment

Private G W Massey,

Private G Spencer, 2nd Royal Scots

Private H Farnworth, 2nd Loyal Regiment

Private H Redding, 1st Leicester Regiment

Private A York, 2nd Green Howards,

Private F H L Jordan, 1st South Welsh Borderers,

Sergeant G Grest, 2nd Royal West Kents,

Lance Sergeant G Longhurst,

Private A E Bailinger, 1st Wiltshire Regiment,

Private C Bone,

Private S M Deacon

Private V H Lovelock,

Lance Sergeant J Tovey,

Private L Collinridge, 1st Royal Warwicks

Private W D Scadding,

Sergeant T Crowley, 1st East Surreys,

Private W T Conway, 1st Oxford and Bucks Light Infantry,

Private O E Hoare,

Lance Corporal Mantell, 1st Buffs

Rifleman C W Kevit, 2nd Rifle Brigade

Private A Spooner, 2nd South Staffs,

Private J Bodill, 10th Hussars

Lance Corporal J Crosby,

Private J Harkinson,

Private D Lawson,

Sigr A W Griffiths, Royal Corps of Signals,

Sigr M Sexty,

Gunner A E Joyce, 33 Battery, Royal Field Artillery,

Gunner W Maskill,

Private R Partington, Royal Carabiniers,

Private B E Linekar, 615 Motor Transport Company, Royal Army Service Corps,

Private G R Reid,

Driver A Fullbrook, 1155 Motor Transport Company (attached I R Fus)

JULY 1921

OFFICERS

WOUNDED

2nd Lieutenant L C ????, 1st Battalion Lincoln Regiment,

KIDNAPPED

D W Combes, Assistant Lands Officer to Kerry Brigade,

OTHER RANKS

KILLED

Sergeant J L ??????, 2nd Loyal Regiment

Private P Rankin,

Private W Ress,

Sapper ? Camm, 33rd Fortress Company, Royal Engineers,

Sapper A Powell,

Lance Corporal H Dakor, 2nd South Staffs Regiment,

Private H A M????,

DIED OF WOUNDS

Sergeant C ?????, 1st Royal Fusiliers

Acting Sergeant J W Reynolds, 1st Lincoln Regiment,

Private R Larter, 1st Battalion Machine Gun Corps

WOUNDED

Private C ?????, 15th Hussars

W Peasey, 33rd Field Company, Royal Engineers,

Sergeant ? McKay, 2nd Cameron Highlanders

Private J Dow,

Private J Friendly,

Driver W Finch, ??th Battery, Royal Field Artillery

Private A Fenshaw, 2nd ???? Regiment,

Private C,

Usherwood,

Private W Martin, 615 Motor Transport

Sergeant F C ?????, 1st Royal Fusiliers,

Private W S ?????, 1st Queen’s Royal Regiment

Private A ??????, 1st Lincoln Regiment,

Private C H Winter??, 2nd Green Howards,

Private W Jones, 2nd Royal Welsh Fusiliers,

Private W Finch, Royal Fusiliers,

MISSING

Private R W ?????, 2nd Royal Welch

[corisande]

That is an interesting list, Mark

Clearly gives what was going on leading up to the truce

[William Webb]

I didnt realise so many

[Arnhem44]

Hi Mark,I was just wondering how accurate are such lists?.Having only recently read Tom Barry's Guerilla Days In Ireland he mentions many times that the British censor's keep the true casualty numbers down in the newspaper reports compared to what was actually happening .Is it possible that there are even more casualties than what was been mentioned or are Barry's accounts some way exaggerated maybe?

Regards

Brendan

[mhifle]

Hi Brendan,

I am not sure. The newspaper just states the following:

"MILITARY CASUALTIES IN IRELAND, OFFICIAL RETURNS FOR JUNE.

Yesterday the War Office issued the following list of officers and other ranks, who were the victims of murder, or attempted murder, in Ireland during the month of June:-"

It does not say it is the final or complete list.

The Rebel side may well have reported more Army deaths in the confusion of action than actually happened, it would be difficult for them to do an actual enemy head count after an action.

Regards Mark

[corisande]

I tend to believe figures like these that have names attached to them. The IRA would, as Mark says, have no idea of the British casualties

I have done more than most to dig into official British "spin" at this period, but with this list they could not really afford to leave people out that had been killed (would not go down with the widows discovering their dead husbands left off)

From memory there was a House of Commons answer(s) in Hansard

The is a good paper here on the war and one of the points made is

The number of army losses throughout the war was small: 260 killed, against 360 RIC, 550 IRA and 200

civilians.

[RedRose]

Hi all,

I thought I'd post this for information, because it has got some relevance to the casualty list.

I don't really read this particular board, but today I was looking for the grave of a man, who is listed on the CWGC. He was called George Rankin, and was a Private in the The Loyal Regiment (North Lancashire), service number 3848460, and he died on the 10 July 1921. I didn't know where he had died and it was a bit of a puzzle, but after finding the headstone today it said he was killed in Ireland. I'm assuming that he is likely to be the Private P Rankin from this list.

I'd like to look into this a bit more, does anyone have any suggestions? The next time I get the chance I'm going to check the local newspapers from the time to see if they have anything in.

[RedRose]

Further to my earlier post and some subsequent research, I thought I'd detail what it said in the local newspapers regarding Private George Rankin who was killed in Ireland on 10/07/1921. I think the articles help to add a human element to the casualty list . The articles were difficult to read, but I've done my best.

WARRINGTON SOLDIER KILLED IN IRELAND

PRIVATE GEORGE RANKIN

Mrs Rankin, 28 Naylor Street, Warrington, received official information on Monday, that her husband, Pte. George Rankin, of the 2^nd Loyal North Lancashire Regiment, was killed at Castle Island, 11 miles from Tralee, on Sunday, during a pitched battle between a military patrol and the republicans.

Pte. Rankin, who was 27 years of age, was a reservist on the outbreak of war and joined his regiment three days after he was married, in August, 1914. He went to France and in October the same year, was wounded on the Aisne. He remained in hospital for about two months and after staying for a time at Felixstowe, he proceeded to the Dardanelles, where he remained until the evacuation. Subsequently he went to Mesopotamia and served there until the Armistice was signed. During the course of the fighting he was again wounded. After a month's leave in India he returned to Mesopotamia and came to England in March, 1919, where he stayed for about three months afterwards being sent to Malta. He was invalided home from that place after nine months. He was subsequently transferred to Fulwood Barracks, Preston, leaving this country for Ireland at the beginning of this year. He was a first class signaller, and held the Mons Star, the British War medal, and the Victory Medal.

He was a smart boxer, and whilst in Malta, was the victor in a regimental tournament. He was also a capable swimmer and footballer.

He leaves a widow and three children. An elder brother Jack and a younger brother Charles were killed in the war, in 1915, the former at the Dardanelles and the latter in France.

The funeral will take place at the Warrington Cemetery today (Saturday).

AMBUSH VICTIM

"Ireland Worse Than Anything in France"

Whilst patrolling in company with about 20 other soldiers of the Loyal North Lancashire Regiment, Private George Rankin, of 28 Naylor Street, was killed in an ambush by Sinn Feiners on at Sunday Castle Island, County Kerry. The little party was surrounded by about 250 Sinn Feiners, and fighting gallantly had three killed and nearly all the others wounded.

Mr Rankin, who was 27 years of age, had a varied career, and possessed a fine record. Joining the Loyal North Lancashire Regiment in 1913, he immediately went to France on the outbreak of war, but was wounded severely in the back in the great German offensive on the Aisne in the following October. Invalided to England, he rejoined his regiment in September, and in the following August went to the Dardanelles. He remained there until the evacuation, and was then dispatched to Mesopotamia. He was wounded there in January, and was sent to the base hospital at Kut. At the conclusion of the fighting in Mesopotamia he was sent to India for a month's rest leave, and on his return stayed in Mesopotamia until the Armistice. Returning to England in March he had a three months' leave, and then proceeded to Malta with the first battalion, where he had a severe attack of pneumonia.

A keen and enthusiastic sportsman, he won, whilst there, the championship boxing and swimming tournaments. He also played football for the regiment. Invalided home until February this year, he was then drafted to Ireland with the 2^nd Battalion. He often expressed his dislike of serving there, and said "he would much rather serve in the war in France. Ireland was worse than anything there."

He leaves a widow and two children.

All his three brothers, Charlie, Jack and William, served through the war, and the former two were killed, Charlie was killed in August, 1917, in France, Jack was killed in August, 1915 in the Gallipoli campaign.

The funeral takes place today.

[corisande]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dan_Keating on the IRA commander that day

Dan Keating (2 January 1902 – 2 October 2007) was a life-long Irish republican and patron of Republican Sinn Féin. .... On 1 June, Keating was involved in an ambush between Castlemaine and Milltown which claimed the lives of 5 RIC men. On 10 July, a day before the truce between the IRA and British forces, Keating’s unit was involved in a gun battle with the British Army near Castleisland. This confrontation resulted in the deaths of four British soldiers and five IRA Volunteers.

Because it was the day before the truce the ambush did not get much press coverage. The press concentrating on the truce.

[RedRose]

Thanks for that link, Corisande. After subsequently doing a bit more searching on the net I found a few references to the incident, and the passing away of Dan Keating.

I know only brief details about Ireland at this time, but the figure of 250 Sinn Feiners from the article seemed a bit high. It might seem a silly question, but was that figure grossly exaggerated? I seem to have a bit of difficulty imaging 250 ambushers sneaking about. Sorry if i'm showing my ignorance.

I realise that news reports can be inaccurate, for various reasons.

Kind regards.

[corisande]

I took only a quick look and found virtually nothing. The Times hardly mentions it.

Most of the incidents were exaggerated by both sides, and in this case I did think the figure put out by Dublin castle to the press was somewhat high.

The Piras Beaslai papers in Ireland have "1st Southern Division and Kerry No. 2 Brigade, ‘Castleisland ambush’. but not on web

It is to me odd tat there are no published reports from the IRA side. You usually find that there is a detailed account of these ambushes. I would guess that because this one went wrong, nobody wants to be linked to it.

The local Kerryman paper or the Cork Examiner may have run better reports.

Also, again oddly, the usually reliable T Ryle Dwer, this time in "Tans, Terror and Troubles, Kerry's real fighting story" in a very detailed book, only gives 7 or 8 lines to this ambush - he must have given up getting information, too!

[Peter Mc]

I don't usually take much part in the 'Irish' debates but this one is a little more personal as Castleisland has strong family ties, and a close relation was in Kerry 2/Bde. As has been noted, information on this is hard to come by but for what its worth the senior NCO killed was Sergt John Lauton Davies (spelt Davis in some contemporary accounts). The three IRA killed were Dick Shanahan, Jack Prendiville and John Flynn.

The army patrol was ambushed in Upper Main Street, two severely wounded soldiers being taken into Reidy's pub until the fighting was over. Denis Reidy was to suffer great animosity from the local republicans for his humanity and his business suffered greatly for years after.

The Castleisland Ambush is often referred to as the last action of the Anglo-Irish War (at least as regards the cut-off time of the Truce, as killings and armed activities carried on for a long period subsequently). It has a nice symmetry in that John Flynn, the IRA man killed that day, had taken part in one of the earliest actions of the War, the raid on Gortatlea RIC barracks in early 1918. In the this attack 2 Volunteers were killed, the first casualties suffered by the Kerry IRA.