1

By Ger Browne

Index

Page 2 : The Great Houses and of Clonlara during WW1

Page 4 : Kiltenanlea Parish Church Clonlara

Page 6: The List of those from Clonlara in the Great War

Page 12: Individual Profiles - Men from Clonlara in the Great War

Clonlara and the Great War

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Clonlara’s Great Houses during WW1

Lt J F R Massy-Westropp: Doonass

House, Clonlara. Royal Irish Fusiliers.

Wounded near Ypres in April 1915.

(Kiltenanlea Parish Church Clonlara)

R Massy-Westropp: Doonass House,

Clonlara. (Freddie Bourke -Kiltenanlea

Parish Church Clonlara)

Col. Massy Westropp: An officer of

great experience took over the Clonlara

Volunteers in Aug 1914.

Doonass House Clonlara Home to the Gough, Gardiner, Massy, Massy-Westropp, Dept of Defence, Buckley, O’Brien,

Sheehy, Leahy, Weismann and O’Sullivan families. Still standing and inhabited. See ‘Houses of Clare’

by Hugh W L Weir page 105.

Lt Lancelot Alexander Montgomery: Grandson of John Lecky Phelps of Waterpark, Clonlara. Elder

son of Major General Robert Arundel Kerr Montgomery C.B. DSO and Annie his wife. He was

torpedoed on HMS Good Hope, Flagship of Rear Admiral Sir Christopher Craddock, which sank with

all hands in the Battle of Coronel, South Pacific, All Saints Day 1914. Born at Meernt April 2nd 1888.

Edgar Phelps: Clonlara. (Freddie Bourke -Kiltenanlea Parish Church Clonlara)

Waterpark House Clonlara Home to the Bindon, Phelps, Massey, Williams, Hartigan, Latham, Houlihan and Conway families. It

was a very large, irregular, Victorianised, eighteenth-century house, facing south-east down the

Shannon river valley. The house is now demolished. The original gateway and gates and gate lodge

are standing. See ‘Houses of Clare’ by Hugh W L Weir page 272.

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Major Berkley Vincent CBE KBE: Summerhill House, Doonass, Clonlara. 1871 -1963. Born in London,

baptised and reared in Clonlara. Royal Iniskilling Dragoons. At the beginning of the 1914-18 War he

left India for France where he took part in the Battle of the Somme and later Ancre. During the

Battle of Arras he was buried by constant shelling, but was dug out alive. Nearly all his command

were killed. In 1919 he was awarded the CBE and six years later he was honoured by George V with

the KBE. (Freddie Bourke -Kiltenanlea Parish Church Clonlara) (Freddie Bourke CC Nov 2018)

Summerhill Clonlara Home to the Massy, Vincent, Macnamara and O’Connell families. It was a large eighteenth century,

three storey, hip-roofed house, over a basement, facing south-east over the River Shannon. The

house is now demolished. The Gate Lodge is standing and inhabited. See ‘Houses of Clare’ by Hugh

W L Weir page 256.

Clonlara’s Great Houses during WW1

Arthur Rose Vincent: Summerhill

House, Doonass, Clonlara. 1876-1956.

He volunteered as an ambulance driver

and served on the Western Front with

the French army in 1915 and 1916.

(Freddie Bourke - Kiltenanlea Parish

Church Clonlara) He died in 1956 and is

buried in Killegy, Muckross,

Killarney.(Freddie Bourke CC Nov 2018)

Erinagh Clonlara Home to the Fitzgerald, Gabbett, Goring, Minchin, Vincent, Hall, O’Grady and Bourke families. It

was a large, eighteenth-century, hip-roofed, rectangular, one-storey house. The house is now

demolished. See ‘Houses of Clare’ by Hugh W L Weir page 120.

Captain Dudley O’Grady: Clonlara. (Freddie Bourke -

Kiltenanlea Parish Church Clonlara) Army Service Corps

DM2162989, lived with his aunt, Mary Francis O’Grady in

Erinagh. (Freddie Bourke CC Nov 2018)

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Erected in Humble Gratitude to

AlmightyGod

For Answering the Prayers Regularly

Offered in this Church Throughout

The Great War 1914 – 1918

For the Safety of

Berkley Vincent

E Willington

Henry Butler

H J M Howard

R De-Ros Rose

Edgar Phelps

J Massy-Westropp

R Massy Westropp

L B Barrington

R Cryan

F Gillespie

Ivor Gillespie

A B P L Vincent

Dudley O’Grady

B Rose

R Browne

Wyndham Walsh

Kiltenanlea Parish Church WW1 Memorials

5

1922

Kiltenanlea Parish Church WW1 Memorials

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L B Barrington: Clonlara. (Freddie Bourke -Kiltenanlea Parish Church Clonlara) A local soldier

whose name is inscribed on the War Memorial in Kiltenanlea Parish Church Clonlara.(Freddie Bourke CC

Nov 2018)

CSM Patrick Boland: Clonlara. He was a Labourer aged 18 when he enlisted in 1895 into the

Royal Munster Fusiliers 4898. He served with the Kings Royal and later the Rifles Rifle Brigade 60295

during WW1. (British Army WW1 Pension Records fold3.com)

Robert Browne: Clonlara. (Freddie Bourke - Kiltenanlea Parish Church Clonlara) Royal Army

Service Corps DM 155430. He was born in 1898, enlisted in 1914, spent most of his time in Italy as a

transport driver and was discharged after the war. (Freddie Bourke CC Nov 2018)

Michael Burke: Dunas (Doonass) Co Clare. Aged 29 when he enlisted in 1915 in the

Connaught Rangers 4716. (British Army WW1 Pension Records 1914-1920 ancestry.com) East Galway

and Doonass. He was found dead in a local hayshed and was given a Christmas burial at Doonass thanks

to identification from his pension book. (Freddie Bourke CC Nov 2018)

Private Patrick Joseph Burke: Born in Rock Cottage Clonlara, killed in action 15th April 1917

age 25 in the German attack on Lagnicourt (15 April 1917 Battle of Arras). Australian Imperial Force 4th

Bn 1st Aus Div. 1325, G/M in France.

The List of those from Clonlara in the Great War

The 5 who Died from Clonlara that are named on the WW1 Memorial in Ennis

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Son of Patrick and Elizabeth Burke, Rock Cottage, Clonlara. He was a shop assistant, draper and tram

conductor. He went to Australia when he was 19. He won several silver and gold medals at athletic

sports for running events in Ireland, and for weight throwing.(TB) He was a Draper aged 23 when he

enisted in Nov 1914 in Liverpool NSW into the 4th Bn. 1325. He suffered from shell shock in May 1915 in

Gallipoli. The right side of his face and right arm were paralysed. He returned to duty in July 1916. Killed

in action 15/4/1917.(UNSW)

German attack on Lagnicourt (15 April 1917): Observing that the 1st Australian Division was holding a

frontage of 13,000 yd (12,000 m), the local German corps commander (General Otto von Moser,

commanding the German XIV Reserve Corps) planned a spoiling attack to drive back the advanced posts,

destroy supplies and guns and then retire to the Hindenburg defences. Attacking with 23 battalions, the

German forces managed to penetrate the Australian front line at the junction on the 1st Australian

Division and 2nd Australian Division and occupy the village of Lagnicourt. Counter-attacks restored the

front line, and the action ended with the Australians suffering 1,010 casualties, against 2,313 German

casualties.

John Byrnes: Clonlara Co Clare. He was a labourer aged 29 when he enlisted in 1915 in the

8th Royal Munster Fusiliers 3627. His mother was Ellen Byrnes, Erinagh Lough, Clonlara.(British Army

WW1 Pension Records 1914-1920 ancestry.com)He was wounded at the Battle of the Somme. He died

in the late 1950’s and is buried in Doonass. (Freddie Bourke CC Nov 2018)

Patrick Cryan: Clonlara. (Freddie Bourke - Kiltenanlea Parish Church Clonlara) Irish Guards

2679, and his name is inscribed on the War Memorial in Kiltenanlea Parish Church Clonlara.(Freddie

Bourke CC Nov 2018)

Padddy Doyle: Clonlara. Was born in Castleconnell. Royal Munster Fusiliers. (Freddie Bourke

CC Nov 2018)

Captain Frank Sheppard Gillespie: Clonlara. He was born on the 19th October 1889.

Educated at the College of St Columba and Dublin University. He graduated B.A. in 1912, and M.B.,

B.Ch., B.A.O., in 1914. Captain Gillespie is a Captain in the Royal Army Medical Corps. He is the son of

Rev Chancellor Gillespie D.D., Rector of Kiltenanlea, Diocese of Killaloe and the brother of Ivor. (The

Church of Ireland Gazette 1915) He enlisted in 1914. (Freddie Bourke CC Nov 2018)

Clonlara

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2nd Lt. Ivor Ronald Gillespie: Clonlara. He was educated at the College of St Columba

and Dublin University (Canditate Bachelor, 1915) and entered the Divinity School 1914. He is the son of

Rev Chancellor Gillespie D.D., Rector of Kiltenanlea, Diocese of Killaloe, and the brother of Frank. (The

Church of Ireland Gazette 1915) He enlisted in the Royal Irish Rifles and was wounded on July 4 1917.

(Freddie Bourke CC Nov 2018)

Private Henry Hitchens: Clonlara. A farm labourer.He was aged 19 when he enlisted in 1916. Reserve Battalion Yorkshire Regiment 29886. His father was Adda Hitchens. (British Army WW1 Service Records @ ancestry.com)

J Howard: Clonlara. (Freddie Bourke - Kiltenanlea Parish Church Clonlara) He was the

husband of Muriel Eleanor Gillespie and posted to India in 1919.His name is inscribed on the War

Memorial in Kiltenanlea Parish Church Clonlara. (Freddie Bourke CC Nov 2018)

Michael Joseph Keane: Born 26th May 1889 in Trough Co Clare. Royal Navy K32073 from April 1916 – Feb 1919. The first ship he served on was the Victory. The last ship he served on was the Achilles. (UK Royal Navy Registers of Seamans Services 1853-1928)

John McInerney: Clonlara. Worked at Bob Johnson’s Knockbrack. (Freddie Bourke CC Nov

2018)

Daniel Meehan: Born in Clonlara, died Oct 1918 (possibly of wounds as a POW), Royal Irish

Regiment 7th (South Irish Horse) Bn 25602, 21st Brigade, 30th Division. G/M in Hautmont France. Allied

prisoners who died in the local German hospitals were buried there by the authorities of the town. (TB)

The 7th (South Irish Horse) Battalion, Royal Irish Regiment was formed in France, from the dismounted

1st and 2nd South Irish Horse on the 1st of September 1917. In 1918 they were in action during the Final

Advance in Flanders (17 October – 11 November 1918). The hardest-fought of the final offensive

actions. where the First, Third and Fourth Armies exploited their success in breaking the Hindenburg

Line by pushing on across the Rivers Selle and Sambre, recapturing Valenciennes and finally in liberating

Mons (very close to Hautmont where Daniel Meehan is buried). Brother of Tomas Meehan 25601.

(Freddie Bourke CC Nov 2018)

Clonlara

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Tomas Meehan: Clonlara. South Irish Horse 25601. He was present at the official medal

awarding ceremony in 1923. Brother of Daniel Meehan 25602.(Freddie Bourke CC Nov 2018)

Rifleman Patrick Millard (Mallard): Clonlara Co Clare. Royal Irish Rifles 9304 2nd Bn. He was

killed in action on the the 17th October 1914, during the First Battle of Ypres. G/M on the on the Le

Touret Memorial in France. He is on the Irish Memorial Records as coming from Clonard Co Limerick and

KIA 27th Oct 1914. (Freddie Bourke CC Nov 2018)

John Moloney: Born in Clonlara, killed in action 9th Sept 1916 on the Somme, Royal Dublin

Fusiliers 8th Bn 20351 (16th Div), G/M in Thiepval France. (TB) Battle of Ginchy, 9 September:‘.. The 8th

Battalion (200 strong).... on the 9th September moved towards Ginchy…. The Battalion was in the right

attack which was launched about 4.45pm….the enemy trenches… were strongly held by five machine-

guns. In consequence a frontal attack was impossible… …. Casualties: Killed 1 officer; wounded 4

officers, other ranks 76.’

Lt Lancelot Alexander Montgomery: Grandson of John Lecky Phelps of Waterpark, Clonlara.

Elder son of Major General Robert Arundel Kerr Montgomery C.B. DSO and Annie his wife. He was

torpedoed on HMS Good Hope, Flagship of Rear Admiral Sir Christopher Craddock, which sank with all

hands in the Battle of Coronel, South Pacific, All Saints Day 1914. Born at Meernt April 2nd 1888.

(Kiltenanlea Parish Church Clonlara) G/M on the Plymouth Naval Memorial in England.The HMS

Monmouth and HMS Good Hope participated in the Battle of Coronel off the coast of Chile on 1

November 1914. Early in the battle, a shell from SMS Gneisenau penetrated the armour of the forward

gun turret of HMS Monmouth. When it was clear that Monmouth was out of action, Gneisenau shifted

fire to HMS Good Hope. A short while later, drifting and on fire, Monmouth was attacked by the newly

arrived light cruiser SMS Nürnberg. Monmouth and Good Hope both sank with a combined loss of 1,570

lives. There were no survivors from either ship.

Private Thomas Myers: Belle-Isle,Doonass Clonlara Co Clare. He was a labourer aged 21

when he enlisted in Dec 1916 with the Irish Guards 3rd Bn 11713. He was discharged in Oct 1917 due to a

hand injury. His parents were Patrick and Johanna Myers Belle-Isle Doonass. (British Army WW1 Pension

Records 1914-1920 ancestry.com)

Captain Dudley O’Grady: Clonlara. (Freddie Bourke - Kiltenanlea Parish Church Clonlara)

Army Service Corps DM2162989, lived with his aunt, Mary Francis O’Grady in Erinagh. (Freddie Bourke

CC Nov 2018)

Clonlara

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Edgar Phelps: Clonlara. (Freddie Bourke - Kiltenanlea Parish Church Clonlara) He enlisted on

May 21 1904 into the South Irish Horse. He suffered greatly from shell shock and was employed as a

farm steward in the Muckross Estate, Killarney. (Freddie Bourke CC Nov 2018)

B Rose: Clonlara. (Freddie Bourke - Kiltenanlea Parish Church Clonlara)

Richard de Ros-Rose MC: Limerick City and Lahinch, Royal Irish Regiment. Awarded Military

Cross with Bar. Died 1939. NCS R De Ros Rose: Clonlara. (Freddie Bourke - Kiltenanlea Parish Church

Clonlara) (6th Service Battalion). Awarded Military Cross with Bar. b. 1879; d.1939. Born in Ardhu House,

Limerick City. Also resided at Dough, Lahinch (1918 Absent Voters List) A/Major Richard de Ros Rose.

First MC as Captain. 30308/26 Sep 1917:30466/9 Jan 1918(C)(MC): 30901/16 Sep 1918(C)(Bar). MC+Bar.

Royal Irish Rifles. (fold3.com) He came from Ardu House, Ennis Road Limerick. He was awarded the

Military Cross with Bar in 1915, suffered greatly from war wounds and died at his holiday hom in Lahinch

in 1939. His name is inscribed on the War Memorial in Kiltenanlea Parish Church Clonlara. (Freddie

Bourke CC Nov 2018)

Driver John Joseph Ryan: Aherinamore. Clonlara Co Clare. He was aged 18 when he enlisted in 1915. Royal Field Artillery 100953. His father was Luke Ryan. (WW1 British Army Service Records @ ancestry.com)

Batt Shea: Born in Trough, Clonlara Co Clare, died 1st Nov 1914 age 36 on the HMS Good

Hope off Chile, Royal Navy 284107, G/M in England. Son of John and Margaret Shea Glenbeigh Co

Kerry.(TB)The HMS Monmouthand HMS Good Hope participated in the Battle of Coronel off the coast of

Chile on 1 November 1914. Early in the battle, a shell from SMS Gneisenau penetrated the armour of the

forward gun turret of HMS Monmouth. When it was clear that Monmouth was out of action, Gneisenau

shifted fire to HMS Good Hope. A short while later, drifting and on fire, Monmouthwas attacked by the

newly arrived light cruiser SMS Nürnberg. Monmouth and Good Hope both sank with a combined loss of

1,570 lives. There were no survivors from either ship.

Robert Sheridan: Clonlara. He enlisted in 1914 into the Royal Munster Fusiliers 6720, and

was involved in active service in Gallipoli and the Somme. Wounded on September 6 1917. He died

around 1960 and was buried in Doonass. (Freddie Bourke CC Nov 2018)

Clonlara

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Arthur Rose Vincent: Summerhill House, Doonass, Clonlara. 1876-1956.

Owing to a permanent disability to his hip suffered as a young boy, he was considered unfit for active

service during the War 1914-1918. Nevertheless he volunteered as an ambulance driver and served on

the Western Front with the French army in 1915 and 1916. (Freddie Bourke - Kiltenanlea Parish Church

Clonlara) He died in 1956 and is buried in Killegy, Muckross, Killarney.(Freddie Bourke CC Nov 2018)

Mr Phelps: Broadford. He was one of the first Claremen into the war. He took his car to France along

with a Limerick companion, and joined the French Red Cross. (P McNamara) Same person?

Major Berkley Vincent CBE KBE: Summerhill House, Doonass, Clonlara. 1871 -1963. Born in

London, baptised and reared in Clonlara. Royal Iniskilling Dragoons. At the beginning of the 1914-18 War

he left India for France where he took part in the Battle of the Somme and later Ancre. During the Battle

of Arras he was buried by constant shelling, but was dug out alive. Nearly all his command were killed. In

1919 he was awarded the CBE and six years later he was honoured by George V with the KBE. (Freddie

Bourke -Kiltenanlea Parish Church Clonlara) (Freddie Bourke CC Nov 2018) The Royal Iniskilling Dragoons

returned from Mhow in India in August 1914 and landed at Marseille as part of the 5th (Mhow) Cavalry

Brigade in the 2nd Indian Cavalry Division in December 1914 for service on the Western Front.

Wyndham Walsh: Clonlara. (Freddie Bourke - Kiltenanlea Parish Church Clonlara) His name

is inscribed on the War Memorial in Kiltenanlea Parish Church Clonlara. (Freddie Bourke CC Nov 2018)

Lt J F R Massy Westropp: Doonass House, Clonlara. Royal Irish Fusiliers. Wounded near

Ypres in April 1915. (CJ) J Massy Westropp: Clonlara. (Freddie Bourke - Kiltenanlea Parish Church

Clonlara) See Clare Newspapers and WW1 page 34. His son was R Massy Westropp. (Freddie Bourke CC

Nov 2018)

R Massy Westropp:Doonass House, Clonlara. (Kiltenanlea Parish Church Clonlara) His father

was J F R Massy Westropp. (Freddie Bourke CC Nov 2018)

E Willington: Clonlara. (Kiltenanlea Parish Church Clonlara) His name is inscribed on the War

Memorial in Kiltenanlea Parish Church Clonlara. (Freddie Bourke CC Nov 2018)

James Young: Born 13th Dec 1875 in Clonlara Co Clare. Royal Navy 279891 from Aug 1907 –

April 1919. The first ship he served on was the Indus. The last ship was the Valiant. (UK Royal Navy

Registers of Seamans Services 1853-1928)

Clonlara

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Private Patrick Joseph Burke

Patrick Joseph Burke: Born in Rock Cottage Clonlara, killed in action 15th April 1917 age 25,

in the German attack on Lagnicourt (15 April 1917 Battle of Arras). Australian Infantry 4th Bn 1325, 1st

Aus Div. G/M in France. Son of Patrick and Elizabeth Burke, Rock Cottage, Clonlara. He was a shop

assistant, draper and tram conductor. He went to Australia when he was 19. He won several silver and

gold medals at athletic sports for running events in Ireland, and for weight throwing. He was

hospitalised from May to August 1915 with the effects of shell-shock in Gallipoli. (TB)

Private Patrick Joseph Burke

Villers-Bretonneux Memorial Villers-

Bretonneux

Departement de la Somme. Picardie, France

There are now 10,738 Australian servicemen

officially commemorated by this memorial.

German attack on Lagnicourt (15 April 1917):

Observing that the 1st Australian Division was

holding a frontage of 13,000 yd (12,000 m), the

local German corps commander (General Otto

von Moser, commanding the German XIV Reserve

Corps) planned a spoiling attack to drive back the

advanced posts, destroy supplies and guns and

then retire to the Hindenburg defences. Attacking

with 23 battalions, the German forces managed to

penetrate the Australian front line at the junction

on the 1st Australian Division and 2nd Australian

Division and occupy the village of Lagnicourt.

Counter-attacks restored the front line, and the

action ended with the Australians suffering 1,010

casualties, against 2,313 German casualties.

Photos – Keir McNamara

Patrick Burke was a Draper aged 23 when he

enisted in Nov 1914 in Liverpool NSW into the 4th

Bn. 1325. He suffered from shell shock in May

1915 in Gallipoli. The right side of his face and

right arm were paralysed. He returned to duty in

July 1916. KIA 15/4/1917.(UNSW)

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Captain Frank Sheppard Gillespie: Clonlara. He was born on the 19th October 1889.

Educated at the College of St Columba and Dublin University. He graduated B.A. in 1912, and M.B.,

B.Ch., B.A.O., in 1914. Captain Gillespie is a Captain in the Royal Army Medical Corps. He is the son of

Rev Chancellor Gillespie D.D., Rector of Kiltenanlea, Diocese of Killaloe and brother of Ivor. (The Church

of Ireland Gazette 1915) He enlisted in 1914. (Freddie Bourke CC Nov 2018)

2nd Lt. Ivor Ronald Gillespie: Clonlara. He was educated at the College of St Columba

and Dublin University (Canditate Bachelor, 1915) and entered the Divinity School 1914. He is the son of

Rev Chancellor Gillespie D.D., Rector of Kiltenanlea, Diocese of Killaloe. He is the brother of Frank. (The

Church of Ireland Gazette 1915) He enlisted in the Royal Irish Rifles and was wounded on July 4 1917.

(Freddie Bourke CC Nov 2018)

Captain Frank and 2nd Lt. Ivor Ronald Gillespie

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Private Daniel Meehan

Daniel Meehan: Born in Clonlara, died (possibly of wounds as a POW) 17th Oct 1918 (during

the Final Advance in Flanders), Royal Irish Regiment 7th (South Irish Horse) Bn 25602, 21st Brigade, 30th

Division. G/M in France. (TB) Brother of Tomas Meehan 25601.(Freddie Bourke CC Nov 2018)

IV. D. 18. Hautmont Communal

Cemetery in France.

Hautmont Communal Cemetery contains 246

Commonwealth burials and

commemorations of the WW1. Allied

prisoners who died in the local German

hospitals were buried there by the

authorities of the town.

The 7th (South Irish Horse) Battalion, Royal

Irish Regiment was formed in France, from

the dismounted 1st and 2nd South Irish

Horse on the 1st of September 1917. In 1918

they were in action during the Final Advance

in Flanders (17 October – 11 November

1918). The hardest-fought of the final

offensive actions, where the First, Third and

Fourth Armies exploited their success in

breaking the Hindenburg Line by pushing on

across the Rivers Selle and Sambre,

recapturing Valenciennes and finally in

liberating Mons (very close to Hautmont

where Daniel Meehan is buried).

Photos – Keir McNamara

Private Daniel Meehan

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Rifleman Patrick Millard (Mallard): Clonlara Co Clare. Royal Irish Rifles 9304 2nd Bn. He was

killed in action on the the 17th October 1914, during the First Battle of Ypres. G/M on the on the Le

Touret Memorial in France. He is on the Irish Memorial Records as coming from Clonard Co Limerick and

KIA 27th Oct 1914. (Freddie Bourke)

Le Touret Memorial

Richebourg-l'Avoue

Departement du Pas-de-Calais

Nord-Pas-de-Calais, France.

Panel 42 and 43.

Over 13,000 names are listed on the memorial

of men who fell in this area before 25

September 1915 and who have no known grave.

The Le Touret Memorial commemorates over 13,400 British soldiers who were killed in this sector

of the Western Front.

Rifleman Patrick Millard (Mallard)

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Private John Moloney

John Moloney: Born in Clonlara, killed in action 9th Sept 1916 on the Somme, in the Battle of

Ginchy, Royal Dublin Fusiliers 8th Bn 20351, (16th Div), G/M in Thiepval France. (TB)

Private John Moloney

Thiepval Memorial Thiepval

Departement de la Somme

Picardie, France

Plot: Pier and Face 16C.

‘.. The 8th Battalion (200 strong).... on the 9th September moved towards Ginchy…. The Battalion was in the right attack which was launched about 4.45pm….the enemy trenches… were strongly held by five machine-guns. In consequence a frontal attack was impossible… a number of the men succeeded in penetrating the enemy trench, the remainder were only able to advance about one hundred yards; there were many casualties…. Casualties: Killed 1 officer; wounded 4 officers, other ranks 76.’

The 8th Battalion was inflicted to heavy casualties and was unable to bury its dead. The other

battalions of the 48th Brigade of the 16th (Irish) Division captured Ginchy (1st Royal Munster

Fusiliers, the 7th Royal Irish Rifles and the 8th and 9th Royal Dublin Fusiliers).

The Thiepval Memorial, the Memorial to the Missing of the Somme, bears the names of more than

72,000 officers and men who died in the Somme and have no known grave. Over 90% of those

commemorated died between July and November 1916.

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Lt Lancelot Alexander Montgomery: Grandson of John Lecky Phelps of Waterpark,

Clonlara. Elder son of Major General Robert Arundel Kerr Montgomery C.B. DSO and Annie his wife. He

was torpedoed on HMS Good Hope, Flagship of Rear Admiral Sir Christopher Craddock, which sank with

all hands in the Battle of Coronel, South Pacific, Nov 1st All Saints Day 1914. Born at Meernt April 2nd

1888.’ (Kiltenanlea Parish Church Clonlara) He is also remembered on a Memorial in St Senan’s Church

Clonlara.

Portsmouth Naval Memorial,

Portsmouth

Portsmouth Unitary Authority

Hampshire, England

Plot: Final resting place unknown.

Name listed on Panel 1.

The HMS Monmouth and HMS Good

Hope participated in the Battle of

Coronel off the coast of Chile on 1

November 1914. Early in the battle, a

shell from SMS Gneisenau penetrated

the armour of the forward gun turret of

HMS Monmouth. When it was clear

that Monmouth was out of action,

Gneisenau shifted fire to HMS Good

Hope. A short while later, drifting and

on fire, Monmouth was attacked by the

newly arrived light cruiser SMS

Nürnberg.

Monmouth and Good Hope both sank

with a combined loss of 1,570 lives.

There were no survivors from either

ship.

Lieutenant Lancelot Alexander Montgomery

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Petty Officer Stoker Batt Shea

Batt Shea: Born in Trough Co Clare, died 1stNov 1914 age 36 on the HMS Good Hope off

Chile, Royal Navy 284107, G/M in England.Son of John and Margaret Shea Glenbeigh Co Kerry.(TB)

Plymouth Naval Memorial

Plymouth

Plymouth Unitary Authority

Devon, England. Plot: 3

After the First World War, an appropriate

way had to be found of commemorating

those members of the Royal Navy who had

no known grave. It was recommended that

the three manning ports in Great Britain -

Chatham, Plymouth and Portsmouth -

should each have an identical memorial of

unmistakable naval form, an obelisk, to

commemorate the seamen of the Royal

Navy who sailed from that port. Plymouth

Naval Memorial commemorates 7,251

sailors of the First World War.

The HMS Monmouthand HMS Good Hopeparticipated in the Battle of Coronel off the coast of Chile

on 1 November 1914. Early in the battle, a shell from SMS Gneisenau penetrated the armour of the

forward gun turret of HMS Monmouth. When it was clear that Monmouthwas out of action,

Gneisenau shifted fire to HMS Good Hope. A short while later, drifting and on fire, Monmouthwas

attacked by the newly arrived light cruiser SMS Nürnberg. Monmouthand Good Hope both sank with

a combined loss of 1,570 lives. There were no survivors from either ship.

Monmouth

hh

Good Hope

Petty Officer Stoker Batt Shea

19

Arthur Rose Vincent: Summerhill House, Doonass, Clonlara. 1876-1956. Owing to a

permanent disability to his hip suffered as a young boy, he was considered unfit for active service during

the War 1914-1918. Nevertheless he volunteered as an ambulance driver and served on the Western

Front with the French army in 1915 and 1916. (Freddie Bourke - Kiltenanlea Parish Church Clonlara) He

died in 1956 and is buried in Killegy, Muckross, Killarney.(Freddie Bourke CC Nov 2018)

Arthur Rose Vincent: Summerhill House, Doonass, Clonlara. 1876-1956. ‘Baptized at Mhow in

India, educated at Wellington College and at Trinity College Dublin, where he obtained his degree

with first class honours. He was called to the Irish Bar in 1900 and practised as a barrister on the

Munster circuit for three years.

In 1903 he joined the Judicial Service of the Foreign Office and was posted to Kenya. Appointed

Magistrate at Kisumu and later Town Magistrate of Mombasa. In 1905 he moved to Zanzibar Island

as Assistant Judge. He resigned from the Judicial Service in 1909. In March 1910 he married Maud

Chase Bourn daughter of William Bowers Bourn a leading figure in the industrial and financial life of

San Francisco. In the same year he bought Muckross Estate and settled in on his daughter and her

husband as a wedding gift, surely one of the most enviable wedding presents of all time.

Owing to a permanent disability to his hip suffered as a young boy, he was considered unfit for

active service during the War 1914-1918. Nevertheless he volunteered as an ambulance driver and

served on the Western Front with the French army in 1915 and 1916. After the entry of the US into

the war Arthur was sent to Chicago by the Foreign Office to head the Brirish Information Service,

and remained there until November 1918. Later he was awarded the CBE for his services.

When his wife Maud died in 1929 he decided to present Muckross House (see above) and 11,000

acre estate to the Irish Nation as a memorial to her. It became known as the Born-Vincent Memorial

Park. Arthur died in 1956.’ (Freddie Bourke - Kiltenanlea Parish Church Clonlara)

Arthur Rose Vincent

Muckross House

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Major Berkley Vincent CBE KBE: Summerhill House, Doonass, Clonlara. 1871 -1963. Born in

London, baptised and reared in Clonlara. Royal Iniskilling Dragoons. At the beginning of the 1914-18 War

he left India for France where he took part in the Battle of the Somme and later Ancre. During the Battle

of Arras he was buried by constant shelling, but was dug out alive. Nearly all his command were killed. In

1919 he was awarded the CBE and six years later he was honoured by George V with the KBE. (Freddie

Bourke -Kiltenanlea Parish Church Clonlara) (Freddie Bourke CC Nov 2018) The Royal Iniskilling Dragoons

returned from Mhow in India in August 1914 and landed at Marseille as part of the 5th (Mhow) Cavalry

Brigade in the 2nd Indian Cavalry Division in December 1914 for service on the Western Front.

Berkley Vincent CBE KBE: Summerhill House, Doonass, Clonlara. 1871 -1963.

Brother of Arthur Rose Vincent. ‘Born at 91 Victoria Street , London. Baptized at

Clonlara, educated at Wellington College and later at the Royal Academy,

Woolich.

He was second Lieutenant Royal Artillery in 1894 and Captain in 1900. After service with the

Chinese Expeditionary Force he served in the Boer War, later promoted Major in the 6th Iniskilling

Dragoons. During the Russian Japanese War 1904-05 he served as Military Attache with the

Japanese Army and was awarded the Order Sacred Treasure by the Emperor and the Japanese

War Medal.

At the beginning of the 1914-18 War he left India for France where he took part in the Battle of the

Somme and later Ancre. During the Battle of Arras he was buried by constant shelling, but was dug

out alive. Nearly all his command were killed.

In 1919 he was awarded the CBE and six years later he was honoured by George V with the KBE. He

retired with the rank of Brigadier- General having completed 33 years in army life, 13 of which was

spent on active service. He died in Jan 1963 aged 92. (Kiltenanlea Parish Church Clonlara)

Berkley Vincent CBE KBE

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