sgt. john byrne 13996 Royal Dublin Fusiliers

[doc7]

HELP. Trying to find any extra info on Sgt John Byrne 4th RDF. Born 1881 in Dublin and signed up in Dublun.Died at home 7/6/1915 buried in Grangegorman Military Cemetry. I can't find anything through Ancestry i.e Medal Cards/Pension etc. His widow went onto to marry my Granda, so if it wasn't for Sgt Byrne I wouldn't be typing this.

doc7

[KGarrad]

Have you tried FindMyPast?
They have British Army Service Records, 1760-1915.

There's a John Byre, born 1881 Dublin, and another born 1882, and 2 more born 1883?!

[doc7]

Thanks for you swift reply I only signed up 10 minutes ago. I have tried Findmypast and I think every other site I can think of including National Archives. I also found info on Casualties of WW1, no cause of death other than died at home. He was born in Dublin in 1881, I also have his marrage cert in Clonmel 1906, his address in Military Barracks and his occupation in listed as a clerk.

thanks again K

[newburychap]

4 RDF was a reserve battalion, never went overseas - explaining the lack of medals.

As he died in the UK he should have a normal death certificate - showing the cause and place of death. With these you might find a local newspaper report on his death.

[doc7]

Morning Newbury, thanks for your help. That may explain the lack of medals but I can find no service info whatsoever, he must have been in service for some time to reach the rank of sgt.

[km1971]

Clerk in 1906 suggests a civilian worker rather than a soldier. You may be able to get confirmation of this by finding birth records for any children.

As already said if he did not serve overseas there will not be a medal card for him. Then your only hope (one chance in four) is that his WW1 service record survives on Ancestry. There cannot be a pension record for a dead man.

You should be able to find when he enlisted by finding the service/pension record of a man with a nearby number. The ‘easiest’ way to do this is to search the NA medal page using single wild cards, ie searching for 1399?, then 1400? and 1398? etc – using Dublin in the corps field. Make a note of any unusual names and look for a service/pension record for them.

You will probably find that 13996 was issued after WW1 started. His rank of Sergeant could be than he was exceptional – being an army clerk would be very useful – or he had previous experience either as a Regular or in the Militia. If he was discharged the first time before the end of 1913 you should find something on FindMyPast.

Have you found him in 1901 and 1911? If so, what was his occupation?

Ken

[shanew147]

based on the dates you mention, these are the likely references for his death on the Irish BMD Index :

  Name:   John BYRNE
  Registration district: Dublin North
  Event type: Death
  Quarter and year: Apr-Jun 1915
  Age: 33 (est. year of birth 1882)
  Volume : 2 / Page : 391

A research cert would give you his occupation, place, and cause of death.

  Ordering Certs from GRO Roscommon
  Details included on a Death Cert



Shane

[doc7]

hello again, I have followed up on the advise I received re Sgt. Byrne. I have his death cert and it states he died from what appears a heart attack at home and is recorded as an army pensioner. I also have his daughters (my aunt) birth cert and he is recorded as an ex soldier, 1908. Trying to figure out how he is recorded as a Casualtie of WW1 and buried in Grangegorman Military Cemetery (CWGC)

I can't locate him in the 1901/1911 Irish Census but there is a Private John Byrne born Dublin in the 1901 UK census, Topsham Artillery Barracks. The connection I make here is that Clonmel Barracks was a base for the Royal Field Artillery and he lived around the corner from it in King St at the time of the birth of his daughter.