The Great War: Death Letter
Jonathan Smyth's latest Times Past column looks back at the First World War which began 110 years ago this year...
110 years ago, this year the Great War erupted across Europe and during a rescue mission at a French farm on 20 October 1914 Private John Horgan from Belturbet witnessed the shooting of Sergeant David Carson Jones of Cloverhill, Co Cavan, 1st Battalion Royal Irish Fusiliers. Injury and death were a common sight for the young men who joined the European armies to go to the frontline. Then, for the families back home there was a never ending anxiety that they might receive the death letter framed by its black border. Incredible numbers died at the hands of machine gunners, mortars, mines, and exploding shells. Caught by a stray bullet, Carson Jones was only one of many thousands that lay on the blood-soaked fields of France and Belgium.
But the feeling of not knowing what was happening to their loved ones by mothers, fathers, brothers, and sisters back at home was often an all too incredible pain to bear. Many soldiers died going over the top, and often in the absence of finding a body or service tag, had to be presumed dead and newspapers like this one carried lists of soldiers believed to be dead.
Sergeant Carson Jones
A research website, History Hub Ulster provided further details about Sergeant David Carson Jones, Distinguished Conduct Medal (DCM). He was born at Cloverhill in 1887; enlisted in the 1st Battalion Royal Irish Fusiliers in 1907; received promotions, firstly to Corporal, and then to Sergeant in 1913.
A selfless ‘act of bravery’ on October 17, 1914, earned Carson Jones a DCM whilst attempting to rescue wounded comrades from an outhouse at Ferme Phillipeaux, a farm on the outskirts of Armentieres where the Germans remained in situ and refused to surrender, shooting at anybody daring enough to approach the site. Carson Jones was hit in the head by a bullet and died from his wounds three days later on October 20, 1914.
Today, his grave can be visited at Cite Bonjean Military Cemetery, Armentieres. History Hub Ulster noted that on November 10, 1914, the London Gazette posthumously published details announcing the awarding of a medal to Jones with the message: ‘For conspicuous gallantry on 17th October near Houplines, in volunteering to rescue wounded men lying close to the door of a burning house held by the enemy under heavy fire. He was successful in rescuing one wounded man.’
Reported deaths
Two brothers from Virginia joined the Cameronians, a Scottish regiment and were both killed. They were Corporal Peter Moir, aged 25 years, and Private Denholm Moir, 19, sons of a Scottish groundskeeper employed on the Headfort Estate. In France, on August 26, 1914, at the Battle of Le Cacteau, amongst the dead were two Cavan men; Private Peter McNally, a son of Francis and Katie McNally, Cootehill, and Joseph Sullivan, son of Michael and Bridget Sullivan, Breffni Terrace, Cavan Town. In February 1917, reports were published of the death of Colour Sergeant Major Hugh Coldwell of the Connaught Rangers who died from his wounds. He had been decorated with both a DCM and the Russian Order of St George. He was the son of John Coldwell, Mountnugent.
In March 1916, Mrs Dunne, Main Street, Randallstown, was in mourning when she received ‘official intimation’ regarding her husband, Private John T. Dunne, 1st Battalion Irish Guards, who went missing from November 1, 1914, and who by now, it was concluded, must be considered to have been killed at the time of his disappearance. Private Dunne was the son of ex-constable J. Dunne, Knockaraven Co Cavan, and like his father had previously served with the RIC and for period of time was stationed at Randallstown Co Antrim where he said to be ‘a great favourite with the general public’. At the moment the war broke out, Dunne was serving in the Glasgow Police whereupon he answered the call to fight and, following enlistment, saw action in ‘several engagements’ including Mons. He left behind a wife and two children who remained residents of Randallstown.
In August of that same year, it was reported that Private Joseph O’Rourke, Royal Irish Fusiliers, a son of Mrs O’Rourke, Barrack Hill, Cavan, had been killed in France, and received a mention in The Anglo-Celt that he was considered ‘a most promising soldier’.
The Death Penny
A memorial plaque with a circumference of 4.72 inches, often referred to as a ‘death penny’ or the ‘dead man’s penny’ was issued to the nearest relatives of deceased soldiers who had served under the then British Empire. Apparently, around 1,355,000 plaques were issued, using 450 tonnes of bronze, and were last issued in the 1930s.
Anyone who has watched the recent big screen adaptations of the Great War epic ‘All Quiet on the Western Front’ (shown from the German perspective), or Sam Mendes excellent but grim story, simply titled ‘1917’ will have an idea of the pervading atmosphere of despair encountered in the muddied trenches, the lifeless corpses indiscriminately strewn about, and the unburied, feasted on by the rats. For survivors there was little glory, as they heard dying comrades, young lads, who shocked by death’s approach often cried out for their mothers. May their souls and the souls of all who are caught up in war be at peace. Sólas na sioriochta dá n-anamacha.
READ MORE TIMES PAST