L/Cpl
Francis Edward Ledwidge

Informatie over geboorte

Geboortedatum:
19/08/1887
Geboorteplaats:
Slane, County Meath, Ierland, Verenigd Koninkrijk

Algemene Informatie

Beroep:
Dichter
Geloof:
Rooms-katholiek

Informatie legerdienst

Land:
Engeland, Verenigd Koninkrijk
Strijdmacht:
British Expeditionary Force
Rang:
Lance Corporal
Service nummer:
16138
Eenheden:
 —  Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers, 1st Bn.  (Laatst gekende eenheid)

Informatie over overlijden

Datum van overlijden:
31/07/1917
Plaats van overlijden:
Carrefour des Roses, België
Doodsoorzaak:
Killed in action (K.I.A.)
Leeftijd:
29

Begraafplaats

Artillery Wood Cemetery
Plot: II
Rij: B
Graf: 5

Onderscheidingen en medailles 3

1914-15 Star
Medaille
British War Medal
Medaille
Victory Medal
Medaille

Points of interest 2

#1 Geboorteplaats
#2 Plaats van overlijden (bij benadering)

Mijn verhaal

Lance Corporal Francis Edward Ledwidge was born on the 19th of August 1887 in Slane, Meath, Ireland to the household of Mr. Patrick Ledwidge and Mrs. Anne Ledwidge (nee Lynch). He attended school until he was 13 years old and it was there that he discovered his passion for poetry. Though working some odd jobs here and there, he is best known – and rightfully so – for his poetry.

Though he was no stranger to the Irish cause he eventually enlisted in the British Army in Navan, Meath, Ireland. He would serve with the 1st Battalion Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers (29th Division, 87th Brigade) until the day of his death.

The day of his death was the opening battle of the Battle of Passchendaele 1917. The 87th Brigade would march towards the Forest Camp Area on the 30th of July and on the 31st they would be put in support of the Guards Division. However, Ledwidge was killed by an exploding shell while tasked with repairing the road to Pilkem near the village of Boezinge, northwest of Ypres. The shell killed one officer and five men, Francis being one of them. The men were buried on the spot, being Rose Crossroads (Carrefour des Roses), but were later reburied at Artillery Wood Cemetery where Ledwidge rests at plot II. row B. grave 5.

Bronnen 8

Ancestry
https://www.ancestry.co.uk/
Gebruikte bronnen
CWGC
https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/casualty-details/101111/francis-edward-ledwidge/
Gebruikte bronnen
Fox, Frank. The Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers in the World War: A record of the War as seen by the Royal Inniskilling Regiment of Fusiliers, thirteen battalions of which served. London: Constable & Company, 1928.
Gebruikte bronnen
Francis Ledwidge Museum
http://www.francisledwidge.com/
Gebruikte bronnen
Poetry Foundation
https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poets/francis-ledwidge
Gebruikte bronnen
The Long, Long Trail
https://www.longlongtrail.co.uk/
Gebruikte bronnen
The National Archives of Ireland
https://www.nationalarchives.ie/
Gebruikte bronnen
War Diary, 1st Bn. Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers, July 1917
http://www.nmarchive.com/war-diary-result/2305-2575/page/0
Gebruikte bronnen