THE IRISH NATIONAL WAR MEMORIAL. Dec 1922

[Pere]

Fron a Northern Ireland newspaper December 1922.

THE IRISH NATIONAL WAR MEMORIAL.

Mr. Serjeant Hanna, K.C., in a letter explaining the exact position of the Irish National War Memorial at the present time, writes—The committee always placed in the forefront an undertaking to record in a permanent form all available names of fallen Irishmen, as well as to erect some building or monument to perpetuate their sacrifice. A Records Sub-committee was appointed to carry through the first part of the scheme, and it is well on towards completion. We have collected and filed with all necessary particularity over 49,000 names of Irishmen who fell in the war, though we have not yet been able to procure complete lists of those in the Navy, Air Force, or Colonial regiments. The following are approximately the numbers in each of the “Ulster” regiments:—

Royal Irish Rifles.................. 7,000

Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers ..... 5,700

Royal Irish Fusiliers ............. 3.400

To illustrate the form of our Records, one, taken at random, reads as follows:— .

Adams, Robert M'Ferran, Regimental number 17119. Rank, rifleman, 12th Royal Irish Rifles, died of wounds, France, June 4, 1916; born, Larne,

County Antrim; age 20.

These, which have been called the “golden records,” are now being printed in the most beautiful and permanent manner, and the volumes, with decoration and binding of the highest standards of art and craftsmanship will stand out as the most wonderful national memorial produced by any country. Each copy will consist of eight volumes, and there shall be one especially beautiful set for preservation in the British Museum Library as a State Record. In addition, there will be printed 100 copies for distribution among the leading libraries of the country and the colonies. These will be exactly the same as the State record set, save as to binding and paper. This has been a work of great magnitude and difficulty. While, this valuable and much appreciated side of our work is progressing so satisfactorily and is expected to be completed in March, [1923] the Committee have still deemed it advisable to allow the erection of a memorial to remain in abeyance.

[museumtom]

The is a Belgian lad on to me looking to locate where the original 100(?) copies of Irelands Memorial Records were sent after they were published. He is writign an article on it and could use a bit of help. With the knowledge of the pals on the forum I am sure we can help him out. Can you help please?

Kind regards.

Tom.

[W.J.Caughey]

Tom, here's a bit of a start.

1 Belfast Central Library (Full set).

2 St Anne's Cathedral (Full set).

There is a set in Australia somewhere i remember reading about. will try and locate.

The City of Ypres holds an original copy of Ireland’s Memorial Records

http://imr.inflandersfields.be/index.html

One book in The Somme Centre, Bangor. forget what volume.

Walter

[museumtom]

Sorry for not coming back to thank you sooner Walter, I was away with the fairies for most of the time.

Thank you most sincerely.

Tom.

[W.J.Caughey]

Another Library Tom.

 

Each copy will consist of eight volumes, and there shall be one especially beautiful set for preservation in the British Museum Library as a State Record. In addition, there will be printed 100 copies for distribution among the leading libraries of the country and the colonies. These will be exactly the same as the State record set, save as to binding and paper.

 

Walter

[clive_hughes]

One set also at the IWM London.

Clive