NINE KILDAREMEN DIED ON THE FIRST DAY OF THE SOMME BATTLE

Nine Kildaremen died on the first day of the Somme

James Durney

On 1 July 1916, the first day of the Battle of the Somme, nine Kildaremen lost their lives. They are listed below:

Ferdinand Francis ‘Frank’ Alcock. Service No. 14246. Private, Royal Dublin Fusiliers, 3rd Battalion, attached 2nd Battalion. Died of wounds received in action at Beaumont Hamel, France, 4 July 1916. Age 20. Born Athy RC Parish, Co. Kildare, c.1896. Son of Joseph and Dora Kate Alcock, Magheramore, Co. Wicklow. Grave or Memorial Reference: I. D. 7, Couin British Cemetery, Pas de Calais, France. Enlisted, Wicklow.

Thomas Deegan. Service No. 4995. Rifleman, Royal Irish Rifles, 1st Battalion. Killed in action, France, 1 July 1916. Born Loggadowden, Ballymore-Eustace, Co. Kildare. Son of Thomas and Annie Isabel Deegan, Dowdenstown, Ballymore-Eustace. Grave or Memorial Reference: Pier and Face 15A and 15B, Thiepval memorial, Somme, France. Residence Ballymore-Eustace.

Patrick Gibney. Service No. 13033. Private, Royal Dublin Fusiliers, W Company, 1st Battalion. Killed in action, France, 1 July 1916. Age 31. Born Kilcock RC Parish, Co. Kildare; baptised 15 March 1885. Son of William Gibney and Margaret Holmes, Cappagh, Kilcock. Grave or Memorial Reference: II. B. 2, Auchonvillers Military Cemetery, France. Enlisted Hamilton, Scotland; residence Kilcock.

David Goodwin. Service No. 23740. Private, Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers, 9th Battalion. Killed in action, France, 1 July 1916. Born Whitechurch, Kill, July-Sept. 1897. Grave or Memorial Reference: XIII. B. 2, Mill Road Cemetery, Thiepval, Somme. Enlisted Randalstown; residence Ballybrack, Co. Dublin. Two siblings born in Co. Kildare, another sibling born in Wexford.

Robert Hackett. Service No. 12/939. Private, York and Lancaster Regiment, 12th (Sheffield) Battalion, D Company. Killed in action, France, 1 July 1916. Age 25. Born Kelly’s Lane, Athy, Co. Kildare, 9 July 1891. Son of John Hackett and Mary Carroll, Ardree, Athy. Grave or Memorial Reference: Pier and face, 14A and 14B, Thiepval Memorial, Somme, France. Enlisted Sheffield. His next-of-kin recorded as: his mother, Mrs. Mary Hackett, 98 Lansdowne Road, Sharrow, Sheffield.

Joseph Harrington. Service No. 8817. Private, Royal Dublin Fusiliers, 1st Battalion. Killed in action, France, 1 July 1916. Born Naas RC Parish, Co. Kildare, 26 October 1885. Son of John Harrington and Mary A. Keenan, Poplar Square, Naas. Grave or Memorial Reference: Pier and Face, 16C, Thiepval Memorial, Somme, France. Enlisted Naas. Married Agatha Waring, of Waterford, in Naas on 6 April 1915.

Matthew Morrin. Service No. 23500. Private, Royal Dublin Fusiliers, 2nd Battalion. Killed in action, France, 1 July 1916. Born Naas RC Parish, Co. Kildare, 29 January 1888. Son of Patrick Morrin and Mary Moran, Naas. Grave or Memorial Reference: Pier and Face, 16C, Thiepval Memorial, Somme, France. Enlisted Naas.

Denis Thomas O’Neill. Service No. 4541. Rifleman, Royal Irish Rifles, 1st Battalion. Killed in action, France, 1 July 1916. Born Kill RC Parish, Co. Kildare, 21 April 1885. Son Joseph O’Neill and Jane Duggan, Bodenstown, Lady Hill, Sallins, Co. Kildare. Grave or Memorial Reference: Pier and Face, 15 A and 15 B, Thiepval Memorial, Somme, France. Enlisted Curragh; residence Sallins.

James Reilly. Service No. 8267. Corporal, Royal Dublin Fusiliers, 8th Battalion. Died of wounds, France, 1 July 1916. Age 20. Baptised Maynooth RC Parish, Co. Kildare, 30 September 1894. Son of Patrick Reilly and Bridget Henley, 2 Greenfield Cottages, Maynooth. Grave or Memorial Reference: I. N. 6, Noeux-les-Mines Communal Cemetery, France. Enlisted Dublin; residence Maynooth.

Kildare Local Studied Department, Newbridge Library, are compiling a list of Kildare men and women who died during WWI. If you have any relatives or information to supply, please contact Mario Corrigan at: localhistory@kildarecoco.ie