Royal Irish Regiment 1916

[cathaldus]

My uncle, Patrick Mason was KIA at Memetz Wood on the Somme on the 14th. July 1916.   I have all reasonable info. from CWGC,  regt. no. etc and I know that his name is on the Thiepval memorial.   He served with the Royal Irish Regiment.   I want to find out if he was a regular soldier, where and when he enlisted etc.   My uncle was the first born, (illegitimate), son of my Granny, Ellen Maher (nee Mason),  from Clogheen,  Co. Tipperary.   His age at his death was given as 25,  dating his birth to circa. 1891.  I cannot find any details of his birth.  How do I check now with the Royal Irish Regiment as to Patrick's service record.   Any help from my Rootschat pals?

[scrimnet]

The Royal Irish Regt was originally disbanded in 1922, but was reformed in 1992. The Regt museum is at 

St Patrick's Barracks
Ballymena, Co Antrim,
Northern Ireland.

028 2566 1383

You may have some luck at Kew with the Regt war diary. Pte soldiers are not individually named as KIA, only officers...eg Capt Bloggs and nine other ranks were killed by enemy shell fire today....

The 2nd Bn were one of the two regular infanty battalions.

You may have some luck with his records at Kew as well...

[OldBraggs]

5926 Private Patrick Mason, 2nd battalion, Royal Irish Regiment
Born Clogheen, Co. Tipperary
Enlisted at Clonmel, Co. Tipperary
Residence Clogheen
Killed 14 July 1916

On that date the 2nd battalion attacked the village of Bazentin-le-Petit. They then held it under heavy shell fire and strong counter-attacks.

As he was killed, his service papers will not have survived.

Steve

ps The Royal Irish Regiment of today is not connected to the Royal Irish Regiment that disbanded in 1922.

[cathaldus]

Thank you first of all to scrimnet for your info.  I will write to Ballymena,  tho' I am not too hopeful there.   I have seen the war diary of the 2nd Bn (Long, long trail).  It would seem that my uncle was a regular soldier.
Thanks also to Old Braggs for info. re.enlisting etc.  Your postscript clearly illustrates my problem.   I just want to give some truth to a long lost and brave young man.

[atom12]

Hi

If you feel certain that he was a regular soldier then there is a good chance that you will get his pre-WW1 service record at Kew.  Without being certain that my relative had served before WW1, I did a search whilst at Kew and found his previous record of service.

[cathaldus]

Dear Atom 12,

Thanks for your suggestion of contacting Kew for Patrick's pre-war service.
That I will do.  I will keep all Rootschat pals fully advised!!

[atom12]

That's good you are continuing your search.

Just thought I'd add that, my relative's pre-WW1 service was with a different regiment entirely to the one he served with in WW1.

Best Wishes

Anne 

[cathaldus]

Dear Anne,

You may well be right,  tho' there is no note of a different regt.no as far as I can see.   Still,  it is all useful gris to the mill.  Many thanks.

Bill

[atom12]

Bill

Likewise, my relative had only one WW1 regimental number.  His service prior to then was with a different regiment with a totally different number.  So you never know until you seek it out fully.

Anne