Aspects of local military history explored at Historical Society meeting in Offaly

IT WAS with much delight, that Chairman, Finbarr Spain, welcomed Ger O’Meara, Military Historian to Birr Historical Society on Monday November 11th.

Finbarr reflected on the date which is known as Armistice Day, whereby on the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month, that in the First World War (August 1914-November 1918), after horrific fighting and loss of millions of lives, the guns on the Western Front finally fell silent.

Ger began his talk by recommending that people read the book by Michael Byrne, Offaly and The Great War.

In his illustrated presentation, Ger covered a wide variety of subjects. He spoke about a number of local people who served in the military, during the 19^th/20^th century, in places such as New Zealand, the Indian Mutiny, Battle of the Somme, Ypres, Normandy landings, Boer War, Gambia, Crimea, Dunkirk evacuation World War 11, North Africa, Crete, West Indies, the Chinese Civil War.

Sir Lawrence Worthington Parsons (1850-1923), only son of Lawrence Parsons was a Lt Colonel in the Boer War. Lance Corporal Robert Sheppard, Irish Guards (1883-1915) was awarded the Mons Star, Captain Lancelot J.M. Studholme, Ballyeighan was killed in action in 1916. Patrick Kelly, born in Birr in 1834 was in the Royal North British Fusiliers in Dublin and he served in India and Gambia. Richard Henry Johnson joined the British Army in 1938 and he participated in the Dunkirk evacuation. Major Raymond Hoare was one of the original ‘Desert Rats’ who served in the 8^th army in North Africa.

Ger explained different military medals, for example, the Mons Star medal which is a First World War 1 medal for service in France and Belgium between August and November 1914. The Victoria Cross (VC) is awarded for “conspicuous bravery in the presence of the enemy” and it is the highest honour that can be awarded to a member of the British Armed Forces in war.

Private Martin O’Meara from Lorrha was awarded the VC in September 1916 and he fought with the Australian Imperial Forces in France. Dead Man’s Penny, is issued to the next of kin of all British Empire service personnel who were killed as a result of war.

The Thiepval Memorial to the missing of the Somme is a war memorial to 72,337 missing servicemen who died in the Battle of the Somme between 1915 and 1918 with no known grave. Sgt Patrick Craughwell, died aged 22, is listed on this memorial. Ranville War Cemetery in Normandy has German soldiers and Commonwealth war dead from WW11. Birr Military cemetery in Crinkill is connected to the Leinster Regiment depot which was

Ger spoke about the work of animals in war. He told the story of Simon who was a ship’s cat who served on the Royal Navy HMS Amethyst (May 1948 – November 1949) who was awarded the Dickin Medal, known as “the animals’ Victoria Cross'.

The Amethyst was a British war ship which came under fire on the Yangtze River during the final stages of the Chinese Civil War. After the captain and 16 others were killed in shelling, the ship was detained for 101 weeks during negotiations for its release. Commander John Kerans who was an officer in the Royal Navy, born in Parsonstown (Birr) in 1915, led a night-time escape.

This Amethyst incident was also known as the Yangtze incident and this historic event later became the subject of a film (1957). Kerans was portrayed by the British actor Richard Todd. During the time the ship was anchored in the river, it became overrun with rats and Simon caught rats including a very vicious rat known as ‘’Mao Tse-tung’. Simon protected the dwindling food supply during the 10 day siege and boosted the morale of the sailors.

When the Amethyst returned to Plymouth, Simon was subject to quarantine regulations for six months. Sadly, while in quarantine, he contracted a virus from a complication of the viral infection caused by his war wounds. Hundreds, including the entire crew of HMS Amethyst, attended his funeral at the PDSA Animal Cemetery in East London.

Following the ratification of the Anglo-Irish Treaty on January 7^th 1922, Ger mentioned, the burning of Birr Barracks during the Civil War in 1922 and, the taking over of Renmore Barracks, Galway from the British military, by troops from the New Irish Free State in 1922. Military history is part of the story of the Free State and many trained British soldiers joined the Irish regular army.

There was an huge interest in Ger’s talk, and many people with family history connections to the British Army were present on the evening. Birr Historical Society were delighted to welcome Junior O’Callaghan, Chairman, Leinster Regiment Association Ireland and other members of the Association.

Ger had a large collection of military memorabilia on display which people found very interesting.

Chairman, Finbarr Spain, thanked Ger for his excellent talk, on behalf of Birr Historical Society, his committee and everyone in attendance.