February is a busy month for me personally. I was born in February, and my late father Patrick Valentine Holland was born on Valentine's Day.
But I have chosen my maternal Grandfather, William Corri. William Corri was married twice and both times in February. Firstly, to Mary Elizabeth Hale on 2nd Feb 1922. They had two children together but tragically Mary died just two years later from Addison’s disease which caused heart failure.
On 3rd of February 1929 William Corri married Margaret Newman, my grandmother. Both weddings were reported on in Irelands National newspapers including photos.
William wore his Irish military uniform for his first wedding having just enlisted a week before his wedding. William and Mary had two children and they were bridesmaid and pageboy at the 2nd wedding.
William Corri fought in WWI with Royal Dublin Fusiliers 1914- 1919. His older brother died,killed in action, at the Battle of Mons 23 Aug 1914. William was awarded the British War Medal and the Victory Medal
Comdt William Corri also fought in the War of Independence and the Irish Civil War and was intelligence in the ASU Active Service Unit. He was Governor of Kilmainham Gaol, Dublin from May 1923 - 13th November 1923. At the outbreak of WWII William re-enlisted and again became a Captain but as Ireland were neutral he didn't see active duty.
William died in Manchester Sept 1966 at the home of his daughter from his first marriage just four months after my grandmother had died at our home in Dublin. I was lucky to have five years with him as we lived together as a family.
https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Corri-54
