SLDreew Posted 2 September , 2021 Author Share Posted 2 September , 2021 Okay thank you very much! I’ve sent them a message on their website as I don’t have Facebook, perhaps I’ll make an account and contact them if I don’t get a reply. He had an older sister who’s eldest grandson I believe is still living so I could contact them and find out as I’m the descendant of Cassidy’s younger sister. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TullochArd Posted 2 September , 2021 Share Posted 2 September , 2021 Just now, SLDreew said: Okay thank you very much! I’ve sent them a message on their website as I don’t have Facebook, perhaps I’ll make an account and contact them if I don’t get a reply. He had an older sister who’s eldest grandson I believe is still living so I could contact them and find out as I’m the descendant of Cassidy’s younger sister. ...... sounds like a good plan. Let us know how you get on. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SLDreew Posted 2 September , 2021 Author Share Posted 2 September , 2021 Will do! Thanks very much for all of the help! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SLDreew Posted 2 September , 2021 Author Share Posted 2 September , 2021 Okay, in the WD of the 73rd Brigade, 12th April 1917, for the Battle of Vimy Ridge, the 2nd Leinsters officers on the front row were all killed or wounded. Some men reached the enemy trench, finding it almost destroyed and with resistance. Several casualties on both sides. The WD states that ‘Many individual acts of gallantry were performed at this stage’ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ivor Anderson Posted 2 September , 2021 Share Posted 2 September , 2021 (edited) That was the same day/action as 8916 Cpl. John Cunningham's VC. There would undoubtedly have been other gallantry medals issued for 12th April 1917. The MM of Pte. H. Kennedy is advertised as having been for Vimy Ridge on 12th April 1917: https://www.medalsofengland.com/medals.php?id=64&medalid=1856 Kennedy's MM was in the LG of 9 July 1917 - the same gazette as the artillery MMs in the 1st Corps memo re. 22-05-1917. https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/30172/supplement/6832 Edited 2 September , 2021 by Ivor Anderson Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SLDreew Posted 2 September , 2021 Author Share Posted 2 September , 2021 Do you think Cassidy‘a could’ve been awarded for this too? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ivor Anderson Posted 2 September , 2021 Share Posted 2 September , 2021 (edited) It is possible. I am finding other 2nd Leinster MMs in the 9th July 1917 LG - ref. 68/121/218 (no Cassidy 4685) - so far: Pte. William Hanlon 4222 MM schedule no. 87301 Pte. Henry Kennedy 15026 MM schedule no. 87302 3&4? Cpl. Patrick Egan 10012 MM schedule no. 87305 (Bar) L/C Bartholomew Moynihan 8794 MM schedule no. 87306 L/C Michael Lyons 8192 MM schedule no. 87307 L/C P. Leslie 1186 MM schedule no. 87308 EDIT: I don't see any more in that LG? There are some consecutive MM schedule nos. missing (3&4) perhaps Cassidy's was one? Edited 3 September , 2021 by Ivor Anderson Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SLDreew Posted 2 September , 2021 Author Share Posted 2 September , 2021 Ok, please do let me know if you find anything! I’ll look through May now and then I’ll check th 24th division WD. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ivor Anderson Posted 2 September , 2021 Share Posted 2 September , 2021 (edited) I notice in the 2nd Lein. WD that they moved under X Corps, 2nd Army in mid May 1917. That may account for the omission of these MMs in their WD during the period of changeover? Though Cunningham's VC for 12/04/17 was mentioned in the WD on 12th July 1917 along with MiDs that appear in the 25-05-1917 LG. They also absorbed over 300 new personnel on 25-26 May 1917 to fill the ranks of those lost in April. May was a busy month with major changes! Edited 2 September , 2021 by Ivor Anderson Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
doyle3 Posted 2 September , 2021 Share Posted 2 September , 2021 12 hours ago, museumtom said: Records are here. https://search.findmypast.co.uk/record?id=GBM%2FWO363-4%2F007266175%2F00866&parentid=GBM%2FWO363-4%2F7266175%2F61%2F866 A good find on FMP. Odd that the blurb on the record has place of birth listed as Motherwell, Scotland etc. FMP has him in the SDU as James; discharged as Died. https://search.findmypast.co.uk/record?id=IRE%2FNAI-WRKHS%2F007635130%2F00060&parentid=IRE%2FNAI-WRKHS%2F00671782 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SLDreew Posted 2 September , 2021 Author Share Posted 2 September , 2021 I'm not really sure what else we can even look at. Hopefully the Leinster Regiment Association will email me back within the next day or two, and the Ministry of Defence will replace his campaign medals provided I can find the official next of kin. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SLDreew Posted 3 September , 2021 Author Share Posted 3 September , 2021 Using this from his record showing him being discharged, what does it mean that he was awarded an MM in Corps? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SLDreew Posted 3 September , 2021 Author Share Posted 3 September , 2021 Also, would his silver war badge have been destroyed along with the BWM and Victory Medal? If so, will the Medal Office replace it? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ivor Anderson Posted 3 September , 2021 Share Posted 3 September , 2021 (edited) 1 hour ago, SLDreew said: Also, would his silver war badge have been destroyed along with the BWM and Victory Medal? If so, will the Medal Office replace it? His SWB (lapel badge) appears to have been issued to him (Ancestry image) - numbered 303689 on the back (photo of from of one): It is possible that it still survives but finding his exact numbered one would be a long shot. Edited 3 September , 2021 by Ivor Anderson Additional information Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SLDreew Posted 3 September , 2021 Author Share Posted 3 September , 2021 (edited) Oh ok then! I don't know where that'll be: perhaps it was sold with the MM, or maybe he was buried with it. Good to know it wasn't destroyed though. Edited 3 September , 2021 by SLDreew Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SLDreew Posted 3 September , 2021 Author Share Posted 3 September , 2021 (edited) If it was sold, is it possible to find? Edited 3 September , 2021 by SLDreew Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SLDreew Posted 3 September , 2021 Author Share Posted 3 September , 2021 (edited) 21 hours ago, Ivor Anderson said: It is possible. I am finding other 2nd Leinster MMs in the 9th July 1917 LG - ref. 68/121/218 (no Cassidy 4685) - so far: Pte. William Hanlon 4222 MM schedule no. 87301 Pte. Henry Kennedy 15026 MM schedule no. 87302 3&4? Cpl. Patrick Egan 10012 MM schedule no. 87305 (Bar) L/C Bartholomew Moynihan 8794 MM schedule no. 87306 L/C Michael Lyons 8192 MM schedule no. 87307 L/C P. Leslie 1186 MM schedule no. 87308 Where did you find these? Edited 3 September , 2021 by SLDreew Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ivor Anderson Posted 3 September , 2021 Share Posted 3 September , 2021 From the LG of 9th July 1917: https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/30172/supplement/6832 I got the schedule numbers off their MM medal cards on the National Archives site using free preview. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SLDreew Posted 3 September , 2021 Author Share Posted 3 September , 2021 Shame that those two are missing so we'll never really know for sure if Cassidy was on there Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ivor Anderson Posted 3 September , 2021 Share Posted 3 September , 2021 (edited) It adds to the circumstantial evidence that there was an administrative error or query about his award at the time that was only corrected in 1919? Did his mother Margaret outlast him? Could she have got his SWB and MM after Mary Murray married in 1919? A Margaret Cassidy died in Dublin on 18-12-1912 aged 40 (39 on 1911 census). A Margaret Cassidy died in Dublin on 23-09-1937 aged 66. Edited 3 September , 2021 by Ivor Anderson Additional information Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SLDreew Posted 3 September , 2021 Author Share Posted 3 September , 2021 No. She died in 1912, before he even enlisted. He had 3 living siblings in 1919, maybe 4. The MM was last owned by a descendant of Catherine Cassidy, his sister. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ivor Anderson Posted 3 September , 2021 Share Posted 3 September , 2021 (edited) His parents dying in 1910 and 1912 possibly influenced him to join the army pre-WW1 in 1913. New first name and younger age implies he wanted to have a break from the past? If his sister had the MM she may have had the SWB? Edited 3 September , 2021 by Ivor Anderson Additional information Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SLDreew Posted 3 September , 2021 Author Share Posted 3 September , 2021 (edited) I’ve never heard anything about it, but I’ll ask my cousin about it. If they did, I’d guess it was sold with the MM. Finding one may lead to the other! I’m also still awaiting an email back from the Leinster Regimental Association which should hopefully provide some information! Edited 3 September , 2021 by SLDreew Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ivor Anderson Posted 3 September , 2021 Share Posted 3 September , 2021 (edited) While you search for his MM, you could write up his story using the information on this thread and frame it with this photo of an identical group of 3 to his Edited 3 September , 2021 by Ivor Anderson Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SLDreew Posted 3 September , 2021 Author Share Posted 3 September , 2021 Will do! If I can get his medals together, I'll get them framed. In fact, the Department of Defence will replace the BWM and Victory Medal! Do you think it's possible to find a photo of him? Also I know it's uncertain, but is it most likely that he was awarded the MM for the Battle of Vimy Ridge? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now