Francis McCarthy

Rank:	Lance Corporal
Street:	Bog Lane
Townland:
Town/Village:	Longford
Civil Parish:	Templemichael
Catholic Parish:	Templemichael
Country:
Alternative Address:	Nauds Yard Longford
Census 1901:	Resident at Naud's Yard, Longford http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/pages/1901/Longford/Longford_No__1_Urban/Nauds_Yard/1556042/
Census 1911:	Resident at Bog Lane http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/pages/1911/Longford/Longford_No__1_Urban/Bog_Lane/651141/
Regiment/Unit:	Connaught Rangers, 4th Battalion & 2nd Battalion
Regiment Number:	4138
Date of Death:
Cause:	Survived WW1
Memorial:
Information:	Francis (aka Frank) was born in Longford in 24 October 1891. His mother, Mary Anne, was born in India, making it likely that she came from a military family. By 1901, Frank was living with his mother, sister and maternal grandmother at his aunt and uncle's house in Naud's Yard. L/Cpl McCarthy enlisted with the Connaught Rangers in January 1909, and concluded his first term of service in 1916. He entered the war in October 1914, for whcih he earned the 1914 (Mons) Star, and later received the Silver War Badge. Frank was wounded three times in his first engagements: at La Basée, Neuve Chappelle and Hill 60, with the most damage being inflicted at the latter engagement. Here, a portion of his back was torn away by a shell. The Longford Leader published an interview with then Pte McCarthy in June 5th 1915, where he described seeing men being "killed like sheep". Frank married Mary Gaffney in Longford on the 8 July 1915. Mary's father, Thomas, was also a soldier.
Parents Names:	Son of Denis McCarthy and Mary Anne (née Gearthy), Bog Lane, Longford
Notes:	Francis was born at the Longford Workhouse.
Links:	Link to Civil Record of birth; link to Civil Record of marriage; Longford Leader, June 1915;