Category Archives: Memorials and Commemorations

Russell McMorran R.I.P.

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Many members will be surprised and saddened to hear of the death last week of one of our long-standing members, Russell McMorran.

Russell had an in-depth knowledge of the history of Tralee town where he resided and of which he was immensely proud. In 2005, himself and Maurice O’Keeffe produced a beautifully illustrated “Pictorial History of Tralee” reflecting the deep interest in the history of the town by the authors.Russell also had a major interest in the “Royal Munster Fusiliers”, particularly relating to those members of the Regiment from Tralee and Kerry.When it was decided in 2016 to add two panels to the war memorial in Tralee that would contain the names of those from the town who lost their lives in the Great War in Irish, British, Canadian, Australian and United States units, Russell made a major contribution in furnishing the names of soldiers of whom the other researchers were unaware, thereby ensuring that the information on the panels was as accurate as possible.

A quiet, unassuming and self-effacing individual, he will be greatly missed by those that knew him well.

RMF Association Day at Charles Fort

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A wreath laying ceremony will be held at the Royal Munster Fusiliers monument in Charles Fort, Kinsale on Sunday July 28th @ 2pm to commemorate the history of the Regiment. All members of the RMF Association are invited to attend. This will be an opportunity for members to meet others of the association in a social setting in the beautiful Charles Fort.

Lt. George Annaheim

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On Saturday the 10th of November 2018, Mr Roger Wilson will give a theatrical presentation on the life and letters of his Grandfather, Lt. George Annaheim at the River house Barn in Weybridge, Surrey. Roger and his wife Claire, will both present a ‘stage version’ of the many hundreds of letters that were written by Lt George Annaheim during his time at the Front. The letters provide a fascinating sight into the daily life of the 1st Battalion Royal Munster Fusiliers of which Lt. Annaheim was Transport Officer. Roger has also written a book titled ‘Anna Uncensored’ based on the letters, which has been published by Lighthouse publishing, The book which is priced at £12.99 is being made available to members of the RMFA at a discount price of £10 direct from Roger by emailing him at

Love, not War

[email protected]

All proceeds from the performance will go to both the Royal British Legion and The Royal Munster Fusiliers Association. The RMF Association is very much indebted to Roger for this wonderful gesture.

Killorglin’s Great War Servicemen

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Today, the association had the honour of being present at Killorglin Library where one of our committee members Stephen Thompson, presented copies of his book to the Killorglin Library Archives and also to a number of people who had assisted him during his research. The book entitled ‘Killorglin’s Great War Servicemen’ took more than 7 years of work and is testament to Stephen’s hard work over that time. He was kind enough to present a copy of the book to the RMF  Association for the help that he received from various members of the association. It is hoped that the book will assist those researching the first world war in Kerry, for many years to come.

Memorial at Frezenberg

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Some time back, the Royal Dublin Fusiliers Association decided to erect a memorial at Frezenberg to commemorate and remember the roles played by the 16th [Irish] Division and the 36th [Ulster] Division in the 3rd Battle of Ypres, also known as Passchendaele.

Both Divisions suffered major casualties in the assault on Frezenberg Ridge on the 16th/17th August, 1917. It was the last time that both Divisions fought together in the war.

The Royal Dublin Fusiliers Association subsequently invited other Regimental Associations to participate in the project. At this time, commitment to support the project financially has been made by the following Associations:

     -     Royal Irish Regiment [ 18th Foot]

  • Connaught Rangers

  • Leinster Regiment

  • Royal Munster Fusiliers

  • Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers

  • Royal Irish Fusiliers

  • Royal Irish Rifles

The above represent the eight Irish infantry regiments in existence at the outbreak of war in 1914.

The date set for the dedication of the memorial is Friday, 18th August, 2017.

Representatives of our Association will attend the dedication.

Any member who wishes to travel to the event should contact the Chairman, Liam Nolan, prior to the 30th June.

Contact details are: e-mail: [email protected]

                               :Mobile phone: 087 2463638

Memorial at Frezenberg

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MEMORIAL STONE TO THE 16th [IRISH] AND 36th [ULSTER] DIVISIONS

 

The Association, in conjuction with other Regimental Associations, has joined the initiative begun by the Royal Dublin Fusiliers Association to erect a memorial stone to mark the centenary of the tragic involvement of these Divisions in the Third Battle of Ypres (31st July to 10th November, 1917), also known as Passchendaele.

Following the success at Messines two months earlier, both Divisions again fought side-by-side  at Frezenberg. Having been in the front line for a period before the assault, both Divisions had suffered serious losses. Massively under strength and physically weak, both assaulted Frezenberg Ridge on 17th August and suffered losses so high that they had to be relieved.

The attack was a complete failure.

The attack led to the amalgamation or disbandment of many Irish battalions and the departure of the 16th Division from Flanders.

The memorial stone in honour of both Divisions, will complete the story of these two Divisions which began in 1998 with the opening of the Island of Ireland Peace Park at Messines and the placing of two Divisional memorial stones on the road into Wijtschate in 2007.

The Association will make a donation towards the cost of this memorial. If any member wishes to contribute towards the cost of the memorial, this can be done by forwarding the contribution to the Secretary or doing so at our forthcoming A.G.M.

This will probably be the only memorial on the Western Front to carry the names of the participating Regimental Associations which will be a fitting legacy.

Remembering V Beach

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Today, on the 102nd anniversary of the landings at V Beach in Gallipoli we remember those of the 1st Battalion Royal Munster Fusiliers who perished that day during one of the bloodiest days in the Regiment’s history. A small group from the RMF Association gathered at the War Monument on Cork’s South Mall to lay a wreath in memory of the fallen. Our President Ollie Griffin, who laid the wreath, along with Adrian Foley & Francis O’Connor stood with a small group who had come along to pay their respects.

Historical Tour of Flanders 2017

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2017 WWI  & WWII Historical Tour to Flanders

Guided tour of war memorials and battlefields by a professional historian

Dates: September 24th to 28th incl.

Duration: Five days (4 nights)

Accommodation:  Four nights at Messines Peace Village

Food: Breakfast each morning, packed lunch each day and three evening meals

Flights:  Aer Lingus Cork/ Paris (CDG)/Cork

Bus transfers: Paris Airport/Messines/Paris Airport plus daily excursions

Cost: 650.00€pp

Some of the proposed sites for tour

  • ·         Kemmel  Information Centre – Battle of Messines 1917  & Bayernwald German trenches
  • ·         Walking tour of Messines: Peace Park, Messines Historical Museum (Old Town Hall), St. Nicolas Church and New Zealand Memorial and cemetery
  • ·         Museum of the Battle of Fromelles & Australian Memorial Park
  • ·         Visit 1940 Dunkirk Museum
  • ·         Tyne Cot British Military Cemetery
  • ·         Passchendaele Memorial Museum
  • ·         German Cemetery at Vladslo
  • ·         Francis Ledwidge Memorial at Bosinghe
  • ·         Menin Gate, Ypres for Last Post ceremony
  • ·         In Flanders Museum, Ypres

 

If interested a copy of the tour application form can be got from

Mike McLoughlin

Dunmanus, Old Cratloe Road, Limerick

Ph. (M) 087 7594 940

Email: [email protected]

 

RMF Museum - Cork Public Museum

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On Tuesday 27th of September, the Royal Munster Fusiliers Association and Cork Public Museum received a large collection of artefacts from Col Mike Dudding OBE who resides in London. The collection belonged to his uncle, Company Sergeant Major and later Captain John Jordeson who served with the 2nd Battalion from 1900 until his retirement in 1922 at the time of the disestablishment of the Regiment. The collection consists of various items of silverware from the Sergeant’s Mess including some which dates back to the 104th Regiment of Foot. Parts of his uniform including his Sam Brown belt, and bearskin hackle. Various notes and diaries covering the entire war period from 1914 - 1918 describing all of the actions in which he took part including the Great Raid in which he was awarded the MC and Capt Batten Poolle earned his VC. Many photos taken in and around the trenches and various towns in which the RMF were engaged which have remained unseen until now. And also some notes relating to the Old Comrades Association  to which Capt. Jordeson was Hon. Secretary from 1936 until his death in 1941. This collection will form a major part of a permanent museum which will open in Cork Public Museum in 2017. Anyone wishing to donate items relating to the Royal Munster Fusiliers museum can contact either the secretary of the Association or contact Cork Public Museum at Fitzgerald Park.

At the small gathering in the museum Col Dudding was honoured with Honorary Life Membership of the RMF Association. The award was presented to him by Ollie Griffin, President of the RMFA.

Jutland - 100 years on.

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To commemorate the centenary of the Battle of Jutland which took place from 31st May to 1st June 1916 the Cork Branch of the Western Front Association will hold a one day exhibition in memory of all those from Queenstown and the surrounding areas (Cobh, Whitegate, Aghada, Monkstown, Passage West and other coastal towns) who perished.

They would particularly like to meet descendants of those who were lost and who might like to share their stories.

The exhibition will take place at the Cobh Maritime Building on Saturday 28th May

German-line-of-Battleships-at-Jutland-1916-by-Carl-Bergen

2016 from 12 noon to 4pm.

The exhibition is free and all are welcome