2nd Lt Ernest Richard Despard, Tank Corps

[mhifle]

Hi,

I came across this in the Irish Times 20 Oct 1917 concerning 2nd Lieutenant Ernest Richard Despard, Tank Corps, who was with the Trinity College, Dublin, OTC

during the Easter Uprising. It mentions he received a 'cup' for the defence of the College.

Does anyone know anything about this 'Cup'?

Regards Mark

[BrendanLee]

The link below is to a page on my website showing a picture of the cup received by the defenders of Trinity college. 120 cups were presented to those who took part. I have listed the other ranks so far. Despard entered Trinity college in 1907, he became a 2^nd Lieutenant in the Machine Gun Corps in September 1916 transferred to the Tank Corps in October 1916 and was promoted to Lieutenant in 1917.

http://www.irishmeda...rg/gpage57.html

[mhifle]

Hi,

Thanks for that link

Regards Mark

[jdoyle]

he has a service record on Ancestry. Enlisted in the RDF, 7th Officer Cadet Battn 8th April 1916 age 27. DoB 5th July 1888. A note to indicate that he "took an active part in the suppression of the Sinn Fein Rebellion. Would make a good officer."

Another member of E Battalion Tank Corps killed on the same day was mentioned in another thread on GWF

http://1914-1918.inv...showtopic=68789

Some info re the organisation of the unit, objectives etc and a very small bit of follow up re the recovery of his tank

https://sites.google...26september1917

His brother in law died 2 years previous

http://www.cwgc.org/...asualty=1765340

From Irish Times April 2011 :

A rare silver cup presented to Cadet Corpl J.A. French for the “Defence of Trinity College, Dublin 1916” sold for €3,000. It is believed that 120 of these cups were made by jewellers West and Son and presented to members of the university’s Officer Training Corps for “saving” Trinity from the Sinn Féin rebels.

A cup from one of the South African soldiers in Trinity during the rebellion

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1916-Easter-Rebellion-Dublin-Trinity-College-Silver-Cup-/300595606363

[rflory]

The Register of the Royal School, Armagh indicates the following:

Ernest Richard Despard

Only son of William Worthington Despard,CE of Donore, Mouhtrath, Queen's County

Entered the school in December 1901; to Portora, September 1904 to July, 1907; Commissioned to Machine Gun Corps and Tank Corps in the Great War.

Died of Wounds, 26th September 1917.

[mhifle]

Hi,

Thanks for this extra information.

Regards Mark

[jdoyle]

2 Trinity Defender cups are up for auction shortly. Awarded to 2nd Lt J M Mitchell and to Lt H L Mooney. Mooney is listed as a Cadet in the 1916 Rebellion Handbook while Mitchell is a 2nd Lt on the staff.

http://www.adams.ie/documents/800_Web_Catalogue.pdf

[Murrough]

Thanks for the link,but some estimates would make your eyes water.

[depaor01]

Thanks for the link,but some estimates would make your eyes water.

... and others suspiciously low to bring in the punters