Pte
William Cahill

Informatie over geboorte

Geboortejaar:
1881
Geboorteplaats:
Delvin, County Westmeath, Ierland, Verenigd Koninkrijk

Algemene Informatie

Beroep:
Steenhouwer

Informatie legerdienst

Land:
Ierland, Verenigd Koninkrijk
Strijdmacht:
British Expeditionary Force
Rang:
Private
Service nummer:
5234
Dienstneming plaats:
Mullingar, County Westmeath, Ierland, Verenigd Koninkrijk
Eenheden:
 —  The Prince of Wales’s Leinster Regiment (Royal Canadians), 7th Bn.  (Laatst gekende eenheid)

Informatie over overlijden

Datum van overlijden:
31/07/1917
Plaats van overlijden:
Potijze Château, België
Doodsoorzaak:
Killed in action (K.I.A.)
Leeftijd:
36

Begraafplaats

Potijze Chateau Lawn Cemetery
Plot: /
Rij: B
Graf: 19

Onderscheidingen en medailles 2

British War Medal
Medaille — 23/02/1920
Victory Medal
Medaille — 23/02/1920

Points of interest 2

#1 Geboorteplaats
#2 Dienstneming plaats

Mijn verhaal

William Cahill was born in 1881 in Delvin, County Westmeath, in Ireland. According to the 1911 Ireland census William worked as a Stone mason. By the summer of 1917 William had enlisted in the army and served as a private in the Leinster Regiment, 7th Battalion, part of the 47th Brigade, of the 16th (Irish) Division, which participated in the Third Battle of Ypres, also known as The Battle of Passchendaele.

On 31 July 1917, the opening day of the offensive, a large party of the 47th Brigade, including the 7th Leinsters, was detailed to laying telephone cables in the vicinity of Potijze Château. The area was frequently shelled by the German artillery and the Battalion suffered heavy casualties, while working near the Château. One officer was wounded and the Company Sergeant-Major of “A” Company was killed along with several of his men on the Potijze road. A total of ten men were killed and thirty-four men were wounded.

Private William Cahill was one of the men of the 7th Leinsters who were killed in action on 31 July 1917. He was buried at Potijze Chateau Lawn Cemetery; Row B, Grave 19 and can assume, that he fell due to German shelling on the Château. William Cahill left behind a wife and three daughters.

Bestanden 1

Bronnen 2

7 Battalion Leinster Regiment. Also absorbed 2nd Leinster, Feb 1918, (The National Archives, KEW (TNA), WO 95/1970/4).
Verdere verwijzing
Whiton F.E., The History of the Prince of Wales's Leinster Regiment (Royal Canadians). Part II The Great War and the Disbandment of the Regiment, (Aldershot, Gale & Polden Ltd., 1924), p. 422-425.
Gebruikte bronnen

Meer informatie 3