Pte
John Henry Irish
Information about birth
|
Date of birth: 24/03/1896 |
|
Place of birth: Widecombe in the Moor, Devon, England, United Kingdom |
General information
|
Last known residence: Lower Cator, Devon, England, United Kingdom |
|
Profession: Cowman |
|
Religion: Church of England |
Army information
|
Country: England, United Kingdom |
|
Force: British Expeditionary Force |
|
Rank: Private |
|
Service number: CH/1987(S) |
|
Enlistment date: 11/12/1915 |
|
Enlistment place: Newton Abbot, Devon, England, United Kingdom |
|
Units: — Royal Marines, 1st Bn. (Last known unit) |
Information about death
|
Date of death: 26/10/1917 |
|
Place of death: Banff House, Poelcapelle, Belgium |
|
Cause of death: Killed in action (K.I.A.) |
|
Age: 21 |
Memorial
|
Tyne Cot Memorial Panel: 1 |
Distinctions and medals 2
|
British War Medal Medal |
|
Victory Medal Medal |
Points of interest 4
| #1 | Place of birth | ||
| #2 | Last known residence | ||
| #3 | Enlistment place | ||
| #4 | Place of death (approximate) |
My story
John Henry Irish was born on 24 March 1896 in Widecomde in the Moor, Devon. He was the third child of Edmund and Bessie, (née Counter) Irish. John had six sisters and a brother. He worked as a cowman on his father's farm. In December 1915, John enlisted at Newton Abbot and was transferred to the Royal Marine Light Infantry in January 1917.
After training in England and France, he joined the 1st Battalion of the Royal Marines, part of the 63rd Royal Naval Division, on 15 September 1917. In October 1917, the division arrived at Ypres and was ordered to support the Canadian Corps between Passchendaele and Poelcapelle.
On 26 October, the battalion was to attack Banff House, between Wallemolen and Paddebeek. They reached their objective, but had to retreat by nightfall. The battalion suffered many casualties, including John.
John has no known grave and is commemorated at the Tyne Cot Memorial, Passchendaele, and at his birthplace Widecombe in the Moor.
After training in England and France, he joined the 1st Battalion of the Royal Marines, part of the 63rd Royal Naval Division, on 15 September 1917. In October 1917, the division arrived at Ypres and was ordered to support the Canadian Corps between Passchendaele and Poelcapelle.
On 26 October, the battalion was to attack Banff House, between Wallemolen and Paddebeek. They reached their objective, but had to retreat by nightfall. The battalion suffered many casualties, including John.
John has no known grave and is commemorated at the Tyne Cot Memorial, Passchendaele, and at his birthplace Widecombe in the Moor.
Sources 6
|
1 Royal Marine (The National Archives, Kew (TNA), WO 95/3110/1). https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/ Sources used |
|
Blumberg H.E., Britain's Sea Soldiers. a Record of the Royal Marines during the War 1914-1919. (Uckfield, Naval & Military Press, 2015) 323-333. Sources used |
|
Census Returns of England and Wales, 1911 (The National Archives, Kew (TNA), RG14). https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/ Sources used |
|
McCarthy Chris., Passchendaele. The Day-by-Day Account (London, Unicorn Publishing Group, 2018), 147-148. Sources used |
|
Name Irish, John Henry Register Number: 1987 Division: Royal Marine Light Infantry: Chatham Division Short Service (The National Archives, Kew (TNA) ADM 159/146/1987). https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/ Sources used |
|
Widecombe in World War One https://www.widecombe-in-the-moor.com/ww1/index.php Sources used |
More information 3
|
Namenlijst (In Flanders Fields Museum) https://namenlijst.org/publicsearch/#/person/_id=0aaa8835-3831-42f8-97df-d6f25e3b1b79 |
|
Commonwealth War Graves Commission Database https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/casualty-details/1633034/john-henry-irish/ |
|
Lives of the First World War (Imperial War Museum) https://livesofthefirstworldwar.iwm.org.uk/lifestory/7679173 |