Welcome

Kenny, Francis
Died: 02.08.1918

Francis was born in Longford town. His mother at least lived on Great Water Street in 1918. 

He enlisted for war service with the Irish Guards in Putney, but was killed in action possibly around the final day of the Second Battle of the Somme 1918. despite the fact that the regimental diary notes it as a particularly quiet day and notes no casualties. 

Masterson, John
Died: 09.08.1918

John was born in Derragh on the 23 June 1893. He was one of a large family of sixteen (one had died before 1911). Prior to emigrating to the US, John was working as a shop assistant. He left Ireland for the US in May 1913, travelling on the Oceanic. By 1915, he was working as a grocery clerk i and living as a boarder in Brooklyn with another Irish family, the Farrells and two other boarders, the Mallons.

John initialy enlisted in the 14th Regiment of NY National Guard in August 1917, and served overseas from May 1918. He was killed in action aged 25 years. His sister Ellen, who lied at 123 Pierrepoint Street, Brooklyn was notified of his death. The Brooklyn Daily Eagle, 10 October 1918 stated:  The last letter received from John was dated July 29, in which he said the Germans were dropping bombs all around his sector. He also mentioned the capture of 18,000 prisoners by the French and British forces on the preceding day. A letter has been received from the Rev. Frank L. Hascom, chaplain of the 106th, in which he wrote; “John died as a result of being hit by a shell, the same shell killing three others who were in the same shelter with him. 

John's brother Bernard is served with the British Army in WW1.

Harold, Thomas James
Died: 12.08.1918

Although born in Kingston-upon-Thames, c.1895, Thomas's family moved to County Longford after 1901. His father, James, was born in Scotland and was a surveyor by trade, working with the Ordnance Survey when living in England; his mother, Emma was from Multon in Suffolk. Thomas's elder sisters were born in Yorkshire, while his younger siblings were born in Lincolnshire and Staffordshire. 

Dvr Harold enlisted in Longford. He was killed in action in France, while serving with the R.A.S.C, likely with Horsed Transport given the letter T in his regimental number. At the time of his death, Thomas was serving in the 35th Division; they were initially based in Britain, being deployed to France in early 1916* He died likely during offensives carried out by his division against the Wotan Stellung and Siegfried Stellung, the latter better known to us as the Hindenburg Line ahead of the full-scale Battles of the Hindenburg Line, which began on the 12 September. 

Thomas was initially buried in Terderchem (French) Military Cemetery, close to the Belgian border, before being reinterred in Cabaret-Rouge c.1922. He is also remembered on the family grave plot in Rathcline Cemetery, Lanesborough.

Cassells, Thomas Francis
Died: 13.08.1918

Thomas was born on 9 February 1892, in Carrickedmond, Longford. His grandparents were James and Ellen Lennon of Torboy. He emigrated to the US in September 1910 with his brother Patrick; Thomas later petitioned to become a naturalised citizen. Prior to the war he worked as a carpenter, and specifically a japanner who applied hard, black lacquer-finishes on wood, a technique originally devised in Japan. He was notably tall for the era, standing at 5' 11" (about 180cm). He also worked as a bartender, and it was this career that was noted on his WW1 draft card.

Pte Cassels enlisted in the US Army on 4 October 1917, and entered into the war about March 1918. He served at Luneville, Baccarat, Champagne, Hill 212 and Ourq, but died of wounds received. 

Thomas's brother Patrick also served with the US Army in WW1, but the brothers died two months apart in France. 

Coen, Edmund Patrick
Died: 22.08.1918

Edmund (Edmond) was born at Cloonagh, Mullanalaghta, on the 19 January 1890. By 1911 he was at school in Waterford in 1911; the family had moved to Ballinteer Road by 1918.

During the Great War, Edmund worked as a Marconi (radio) operator with the Merchantile Marines, on a number of ships including the SS. Amazon and the SS Palmella. 

Edmund was serving on the Palmella on a voyage from London to Lisbon when it was torpedoed by German U-Boat UB-92 near the South Stack off Holyhead, Wales. He was one of 28 crewmen who lost their lives in the attack. Sadly Edmund's body was not recovered and he is commemorated on the Tower Hill Memorial in London.

Lernan / Lernihan, Rowland
Died: 27.08.1918

Rowland/ Roland* was born Rowland Thomas Learnan** (sometimes written Lernihan) on Dublin Street, Longford on the 13 May 1887, when his father, William, was stationed in the county with the R.I.C. By 1894 the family had moved to Co. Galway and Offaly by 1896: they had settled in William's home county of Clare.

In 1911 he was living with his sister Maud and her husband Richard Anderton in Lancashire, where he was working on the railways.

He enlisted in Liverpool and went to the Front in France in February 1915. 

Gunn, Charles
Died: 29.08.1918

Charles was born in Ballymahon on the 22 November 1892. He enlisted in Longford, Warwickshire and arrived on the Front in France on the 28 August 1915, three years before his death. He died of wounds likely caused during the Second Battle of Bapaume, during the Second Battles of the Somme 1918, part of the 100 Days Offensive

Charles's next-of-kin was his sister Mary, who was living in The County Home around the time of his death.