4231 Pte John Smyth, 1st Bn, Irish Guards

4231 Private John Smyth of the 1st Battalion, Irish Guards was killed in action on the 6th November 1914. He was born in Straid, County Mayo and enlisted in Manchester around the 11th October 1912. He was 20 years old, the son of Michael Smyth of Straid, Foxford, Co. Mayo. He has no known grave and is commemorated on the Menin Gate at Ypres.

John Smyth was one of 88 Irish Guardsmen to die on this date, a day which saw 370 British Army officers and men laying down their lives for King and Country.

At the going down of the sun, and in the morning, WE WILL REMEMBER THEM.

Sources:

Ancestry (MIC)
Soldiers Died in The Great War
Army Service Numbers
The Commonwealth War Graves Commission

7579 Pte John Barry, 2nd Bn, Irish Guards

On St Patrick's Day, 17th March 1917, 7579 Private John Barry of the 2nd Battalion, Irish Guards, was killed in action. He was born and enlisted at Listowel in County Kerry and, according to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission, was 22 years old when he died. He was the son of Bridget Barry of Knockanune, Newtownsandes, Co. Kerry. He is buried in Sailly-Saillisel Cemetery in France.

At the going down of the sun, and in the morning, WE WILL REMEMBER THEM.

Sources:

Ancestry (MIC)
Soldiers Died in The Great War
Army Service Numbers
The Commonwealth War Graves Commission

1596 Pte John Beirne, 2nd Bn, Irish Guards

1596 Private John Beirne of the 2nd Battalion, Irish Guards died on the 2nd November 1914 in England. The Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC) notes that he was the son of Patrick and Catherine Beirne, of Kilmore, Co. Roscommon and that he "served with Grenadier Guards in the South African War." He was 41 years old when he died.

Soldiers Died in The Great War notes that he was born in Kilmore, County Roscommon and enlisted in Dublin. His number with the Irish Guards dates to between January and April 1903. and so by the time Britain went to war with Germany in 1914, unless he'd extended his terms of service, John Beirne may well have been coming to the end of his period of service on the Reserve. Nevertheless, his medal index card reveals that by the 13th August 1914 he had disembarked in France.

John Beirne is buried in Great Warley (Christ Church) Cemetery in Essex. The CWGC states that "the cemetery was opened in 1860, and belongs to the Christ Church Great Warley Joint Burial Committee (representing three Parish Councils. There is also a cemetery in Woodman Road, opened in 1927.) It contains over 40 scattered War Graves; the graves of men of the Irish Guards recall the time spent by their Reserve Battalion at Warley Barracks. A War Cross is erected at the entrance."

Unusually, John's cause of death, tuberculosis of the lungs, is noted on his medal index card and so presumably he fell sick in France or Belgium, was returned to the 3rd Battalion in Essex and subsequently died.

At the going down of the sun, and in the morning, WE WILL REMEMBER THEM.

Sources:

Ancestry.co.uk (MIC)
Army Ancestry
Army Service Numbers 1881-1918
Commonwealth War Graves Commission

6948 Pte Lawrence Connell, Irish Guards

6948 Private Lawrence Connell of the Irish Guards was killed in action on 27th September 1915 in fighting at Loos. He has no known grave and is commemorated on the Loos memorial.

Lawrence was 29 years old, the son of Patrick Connell of The Rock of Dunamaise, Stradbally, Queen's County and the late Mary Ann Connell (according to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission). Lawrence's army number indicates that he joined the Irish Guards in late February or early March 1915 and his medal index card shows that he arrived in France on 12th August 1915. Written in the remarks' section of the card are the words "ass'd dead 27-9-15".

At the going down of the sun, and in the morning, WE WILL REMEMBER THEM.

Sources:

Ancestry.co.uk (MIC, 1901 census)
Army Ancestry
Army Service Numbers 1881-1918
Commonwealth War Graves Commission