Peter Dempsey

Peter Dempsey was born in Aghafin, Edgeworthstown in c.1897. He married Katie Burns* of Edgeworthstown on the 22 June 1914. 

Pte Dempsey originally served with the Leinster Regiment before joining the Cyclist Corps., but sadly died of wounds when he was just aged 19 years. Pte Dempsey's death was announced in the Edgeworthstown Notes of the Longford Leader on the 3 June 1916, which wrote:

"We very much regret to announce the death of Private Peter Dempsey, Cyclist Corps, late of this town, who was killed in action last week near Bethune, France. His father is an old soldier with over 20 years service, and he has three other brothers also with the colours, one of whom won the much-coveted D.C.M. [Distinguished Conduct Medal] last summer for conspicuous bravery under fire. His brother James was with him when he died, and he lived long enough to obtain the consolations of religion at the hands of the Regimental Chaplain of the 3rd Leinsters. To Private Dempsey's wife and his father and mother, who have already lost another boy in South Africa, we tender an expression of our most sincere sympathy in their very great trouble - R.I.P."

Peter's elder brother, Sgt Patrick Dempsey D.C.M., was killed in action a few months later in the Battle of the Somme at Thiepval. Their brother James also served in the Great War. Their father was a British Army soldier of 20 years standing in his youth. They had an elder brother who also served in the Army, but died in South Africa, likely in the Second Boer War. 

Link to CWGC entry; link to Civil Record of marriage;