Patrick (aka John) O'Toole / Toole

Patrick (a.k.a. John) was born 1890 in Longford. It is likely that he was born Patrick Joseph Toole on the 15 March 1890 in Longford town, the son of James Toole a baker, and his wife Anne (née Donnelly).

Pte O'Toole enlisted at Mohill, and entered into the war in late 1914. He served in France from 1915, but suffered a gun shot wound at the Battle of the Somme. He died of his wounds at Manchester General Hospital. The register of soldiers effects lists Patrick's mother as a beneficiary, and his brother John, who lived in New York City.

The Longford Leader on the 30 September 1916 described his funeral: A Military Funeral

On Sunday last, Mrs. O'Toole of Water Street, Longford, received word that her son John [sic], who had been in the army and who had been wounded in the course of the recent "big push" in France, and brought to a hospital in England had died. She and some other relatives at once set out for England, and the remains of the dead young hero were brought to Longford where they arrived on Tuesday evening, and were taken to St Mel's Cathedral. The funeral took place at Ballymacormack at 2.30pm on Wednesday, full military honours being accorded. A firing party of the King Edward's Horse with reversed rifles marched with measured tread at the head of the solemn procession followed by the full brass band of the King Edward's Horse playing the "Dead March," whilst the coffin draped in the Union Jack, was conveyed on a gun carriage behind. Then came a large detachment of the military stationed here, and the R.I.C. men of Longford and the neighbouring towns. A very large crowd of the general population of the town also turned out, and the spectacle as the cortege wended its way through the streets was an imposing one. The Rev. J. McKenna officiated at the graveside.- R.I.P.

Link to CWGC entry; likely Civil Record of birth entry; Longford Leader, A Military Funeral;