The Great War, 1914-18 Biographies of the Fallen
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IRISH CRICKET AND THE GREAT WAR, 1914-18 BIOGRAPHIES OF THE FALLEN BY PAT BRACKEN IN ASSOCIATION WITH 7 NOVEMBER 2018 Irish Cricket and the Great War 1914-1918 Biographies of The Fallen The Great War had a great impact on the cricket community of Ireland. From the early days of the war until almost a year to the day after Armistice Day, there were fatalities, all of whom had some cricket heritage, either in their youth or just prior to the outbreak of the war. Based on a review of the contemporary press, Great War histories, war memorials, cricket books, journals and websites there were 289 men who died during or shortly after the war or as a result of injuries received, and one, Frank Browning who died during the 1916 Easter Rising, though he was heavily involved in organising the Sporting Pals in Dublin. These men came from all walks of life, from communities all over Ireland, England, Scotland, Wales, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, South Africa, India and Sri Lanka. For all but four of the fifty-two months which the war lasted, from August 1914 to November 1918, one or more men died who had a cricket connection in Ireland or abroad. The worst day in terms of losses from a cricketing perspective was the first day of the Battle of the Somme, 1 July 1916, when eighteen men lost their lives. It is no coincidence to find that the next day which suffered the most losses, 9 September 1916, at the start of the Battle of Ginchy when six men died. Three men were killed on the first day of the Battle of Loos, 25 September 1915, while on the first day of the German spring offensive 21 March 1918, codenamed ‘Operation Michael’ five more were killed. Year of death for 280 men who died during the Great War Of the 289 men who died it has been possible to identify the place of origin or birth of 250 of them. Most of those who died were from Co. Antrim, Belfast, Co. Down (70), with 42 from Dublin. Men from all counties of Ireland with the exception of Longford were affected in this casualty list. It further demonstrates the distribution areas of men who enlisted and ultimately paid the ultimate sacrifice. Indeed, men from various ranks and regiments are accounted for also. In terms of the military, the rank of 283 men can be ascertained, based principally on a research of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission records. Of these the rank of Second Lieutenant suffered the most losses at 74, followed by that of Lieutenant at 63; Captain at 58, Private at 22 and Sergeant at 11. In total there were twenty-seven different ranks which experienced loss, indicative of the indiscriminate nature of war. In terms of the ages of those who died it has been possible to identify the age of 245 of the men. The youngest who died were 18 and the oldest was 62. Between the ages of 18 and 30 there were 163 men who died, representing 56.4% of all losses, or 66.83% of those for whom the ages are known. There are records for men who died at all ages between 18 and 52 inclusive, except for 40 and 49. This again is indicative of the wide spread of age cohort of the men who enlisted. Age at time of death of 241 men during the Great War (1 each for 51, 52, 58, 62 not included) Above all, the list of names and brief biographies which follow are but a sample example of the sacrifice which thousands of men and women made during the Great War, a war which impacted on the whole world and by association here, the cricket community of Ireland. While there is no claim here to have included all of the men who died who had some cricket connection with some part of Ireland, the list is as extensive as I have been able to make it. I sincerely thank Dr Murray Power for his time and assistance in researching several of the men included in this paper. His recent award for services to cricket is testament to his all round work to promote and support cricket in Ireland. I am also greatly indebted to many others who have assisted me in my research - Gerard Siggins, John and Ellen Elder, Barry Chambers, Tom Burnell, Michael O’Dwyer, Billy Platt, Deryck Vincent (Clontarf CC), Graham Watt (Cregagh CC), Clarence Hiles, Keith Haines, Jason Burke, John McCormick and David Penney. Special thanks to the Commonwealth Graves Commission for the wonderful service they provide in recording details and certificates to the fallen. Each entry, which follows, concludes with a mention of memorials to the fallen, most of which are taken from the records of the CWGC. Thanks also to compilers of other websites used as part of my research. These sites are listed, where applicable, in the respective biography where used and also at the end in the bibliography section. My intention has been to record the fallen that had some cricket connection to Ireland and during the centenary of the Great War, to remember them. Some may have only played cricket in school, some as recreation, while others were more skilful and had played at international level. The biographies are entered chronologically and alphabetically. Unfortunately for some of the entries, it has not been possible, so far, to find further information for some of the men. The listings which follow are not exhaustive but are as complete as I have been able to make them, as noted. I am also conscious of the men who survived, who were injured or maimed and may not have played cricket again. I would expect that there are omissions, or perhaps errors, in some of the records I would be happy to amend where I can. Any additional information to men named in the following listings, or new entries, who had a cricket connection with any part of Ireland, or were themselves born in Ireland would be greatly appreciated. Please contact me at the following email: cricketresearch(at)gmail.com. 1914 WAKEFIELD, ROGER OWEN BIRKBECK (1892-1914) Lieutenant Roger Owen Birkbeck Wakefield was born on 20 July 1892, the only son of Mr. and Mrs. Edward Wakefield, Farnagh, Moate, County Westmeath. He was educated at Moorland House at Heswall, Merseyside, and Repton School in Derbyshire.1 While at Repton he won awards in shooting and cricket in 1908.2 He went to the R.M.C. Sandhurst, in February 1911, and was gazetted to the Royal Irish Fusiliers in February, 1912, joining his battalion at Shorncliffe. He was promoted Lieutenant in January 1914.3 He left for France with his battalion, which formed part of the 10th Brigade, Fourth Division, on the 21 August, 1914, and was seriously wounded on the 26th of that month at Caudry, dying the next day in the temporary hospital there, aged 22 years. He is remembered with honour at Caudry Old Communal Cemetery, Nord, France. SHINE, JOHN DENIS (c.1895-1914) Second Lieutenant John Denis Shine was a son of Col. J. M. F. Shine, C.B. and Kathleen Shine, Abbeyside, Dungarvan, Co. Waterford. He was born on September 11, 1894, at Corradino House, Malta.4 He was educated at Downside School, which he attended from September 1905 to July 1912.5 While there he was a member of the cricket, hockey and football teams.6 He captained the cricket XI. He was also at Sandhurst College. He was posted to the 1st Battalion, and was attached to the 2nd Battalion, Royal Irish Regiment at Devenport, pending embarkation to India.7 When the war broke out he went to the front with his battalion. The war was still in its infancy when Second Lieutenant Shine was killed on 25 August 1914, aged 19 years. His brother, Second Lieutenant H.P. Shine, also fell in the war. Another brother was also killed in action. Second Lieut. John D. Shine is remembered with honour at Mons (Bergen) Communal Cemetery, Hainaut, Belgium. BROWNING, CHARLES HUNTER (c.1878-1914) Captain Charles Hunter Browning was a native of England. He was a son of Capt. Hugh E. and Mrs. Browning, late of Clapham Park, Bedfordshire. Prior to the War he was posted to Ireland and he played cricket with the military teams when stationed in the Curragh Barracks.8 During the War he served with 124th Battery 28th Brigade, Royal Field Artillery. He was killed in action 1 Clutterbuck, L.A. and Dooner, W.T. The Bond of Sacrifice. A Biographical Record of all British Officers Who Fell in the Great War. Volume 1 Aug – Dec., 1914 (London, 1917), p. 422. 2 Glucksman Library, University of Limerick. Online http://longwaytotipperary.ul.ie/the-military/royal-irish- fusiliers/meet-fusiliers/roger-2/http://longwaytotipperary.ul.ie/the-military/royal-irish-fusiliers/meet-fusiliers/roger- 2/ Accessed 17 June 2015. 3 Clutterbuck and Dooner. Bond of Sacrifice, p. 422. 4 Irish Examiner, 2 December 1914, p. 7. Clutterbuck and Dooner. Bond of Sacrifice, p. 356. 5 The Downside Review No. 109, p. 73. 6 Renshaw, Andrew. Wisden on the Great War (London, 2014), p. 92. 7 Clutterbuck and Dooner. Bond of Sacrifice, p. 357. 8 The Irish Times, 12 September 1914, p. 3. on 26 August 1914, aged 36 years. He fell on the same day as one of his comrades in the Curragh, Second Lieutenant C.H. Coghlan (see below). Captain Charles H. Browning is remembered with honour at Le Cateau Military Cemetery, Nord, France.