Michael (O Mahony) O'Mahony (1893 - 1922)

Born 1893 in Cork, County Cork, Ireland

Ancestors

Husband of Christina (O Connor) O'Mahony — married 1912 in Cork, County Cork, Ireland

Descendants

Died 11 May 1922 at about age 29 in Shanakiel Hospital, Cork City, County Cork, Ireland

Michael O Mahony was born in Cork City in 1893. He attended St. Joseph's Presentation School on the Mardyke in Cork and on leaving there became a grocer's apprentice in Fitzgerald's in Shandon Street, By the time of the 1911 Census he was working as a grocery assistant in Buckley's in Barrack Street on the South side of the city.

He had joined the British army in 1914 at the outbreak of WWI. He was based at Cork and at Crinkle Barracks, Birr, Co. Offaly and the Curragh for most of his training. He later went to Basingstoke and to Adlershot for range practice and manouvers.

Michael had joined the Leinster Regiment to be with his older brother Peter who was already in that regiment. However, Peter was transferrred to the Royal Irish Rifles and saw action in France. Michael was sent to Gallipoli, arriving in July 1915 and was wounded on landing, most likely at Suvla Bay (according to a senior member of the Royal British Legion who knew him). This veteran gave me some of these details in 1958 at the Legion Hall in Oliver Plunkett Street, Cork City.

He spent part of 1916 -17 in Cork on extended leave because of his wounds but returned to the front and was apparently taken prisoner of war in France on his birthday in May 1918 and spent the remainder of WWI as a prisoner.

He was in 6th Battalion of the Prince of Wales (Royal Canadian) Leinster Regiment, although as a Corkonian his natural home should have been the Munsters. While he had joined in 1914, he did not see the early action in France and as a result he earned the 15 Star at Gallipoli on 19th July 1915 (A/1/8B Page 135) and qualified for the Victory Medal (A/104 B/6 Page 825) and the British Medal. (2)

The history of the 6th Battalion which corresponds with Michael's experience, is given as follows:

The 6th (Service) Battalion was formed at Dublin in Aug 1914 as part of Kitchener's First New Army. In Sep 1914 it was moved to Fermoy at 29th Brigade in 10th Division, then later moved to The Curragh and Birr. In May 1915 it sailed to England, and moved to Basingstoke. On 9 Jul 1915 the battalion sailed from Liverpool for the Dardanelles arriving at Mudros, Greece on 26 Jul 1915. The regiment landed at Anzac Beach, attached to the Australian and New Zealand Corps. On 29 Sep 1915, the battalion was withdrawn to Mudros and in early Oct 1915 was redeployed to Salonika. On 14 Sep 1917 it left Salonika for Egypt arriving at Alexandria on 19 Sep 1915. In May 1918 it sailed from France, landing at Marseilles on 1 Jun 1918. After various moves in France in 198th Brigade of 66th Division, it was disbanded on 12 Sep 1918 at Abancourt.

The Battle Honours awarded to The Leinster Regiment for 'The Great War' of 1914-1918 read as follows: 'Armentiers 1914', 'Ypres 1915-1917-1918', 'Somme 1916-1918', 'Guillemont', 'Vimy 1917', 'Messines 1917', 'St. Quentin', 'Macedonia 1915-1917', 'Gallpoli 1915', 'Jerusalem'.

Since the regiment arrived in France after May 1918 and was disbanded on 12th September 1918 it would seem reasonable to assume that Michael rejoined the Service Regiment on his return to France in 1918.

His health was poor following the war and he was nursed at home by his wife, Christina. Apart from the wound that he received he also suffered from what would now be diagnosed as Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.Christina provided for the family of five sons.

Michael died in his 30th year. He died in Shanakiel Hospital Cork in 1922 and was buried in the Welstead plot where his wife and sons Sylvester and Thomas were interred later.

A description of his journey from Basingstoke to the fateful day of his injury at Gallipoli is given as follows:

"I am reading a book about British Regiments in Gallipoli (Ray Westlake) and something dinged in my head, and here is the result. It is in respect of Adam NIXON of the 6th Service Battalion Leinster Regiment:

"JULY 1915: AT Basingstoke, Hampshire part of 29 Brigade of 10th (Irish) Division. Entrained for Liverpool (8th July). Arrived 3 a.m. 9th embarked on MAURETANIA (a Cunard White Star liner used as a troopship), sailed 5.45 p.m. Arrived LEMNOS (Eastern Aegean) (16th). Remained in MUDROS Harbour. Landed on 20th and to bivouacs half a mile from the pier. No tents-suffered from heat.

AUGUST: Sailed for GALLIPOLI (5th). Landed ANZAC COVE 9 p.m - to Reserve dugouts at Bridges Road on south side of Shrapnel Gully. Stencilled large L on side of helmets (pith,not steel then) for unit identification. Moved north to Russell's Top (7th) and attached to 1st Australian Division. B Company to Courtney's Trench, C Company to Quinn's Post. Retired to Shrapnel Gully (8th). Attached to New Zealand Brigade and moved northwards toward Rhododendron Ridge (9th).Came under heavy shellfire-12 killed and 35 wounded. Arrived at foot of Ridge 3 p.m. A and D Companies moved forward and relieved New Zealanders in line at nightfall. Remainder took up position below the crest in support. Eneny attacked at daybreak (10th). A and D Companies held the line then reinforced by B and C Companies. Eye witnesses record that that the support Companies were warned of the attack by a NZ soldier who came running down the hill crying "fix your bayonets boys, they're coming". The Leinsters, led by their CO Lt Colonel J Craske DSO then charged up the hill without waiting to put on their putties and jackets. Turks driven back after hand-to-hand fighting. Lt Col Craske wounded as was Captain JC Parkes an international tennis player. No 9 Platoon under Lt J Barnwell sent out to clear enemy snipers after dark were over-run by large numbers and losing half it's strength killed or wounded. Positions held against repeated attacks during the night. Enemy driven back by close range fire and bayonet charges. Final enemy attack of the night met by counter charge where revenge taken for losses in the battle. Enemy driven back"

I hope to read the War Diary on Thursday to try to find where among these incidents Adam was killed. It is possible that his name is mentioned, though this is not a frequent occurrence among Other Ranks. There MIGHT be a Company list and/or a Platoon list."

1. Sources for the regimental details: Leinsters noticeboard

A flavour of the reaction to the returned soldiers can be gained from reading a letter to the Cork Examiner in 1918:

‘At the outbreak of the war we, as plain men, felt that it was our duty to stand against the threat to civilisation. Were we right? Was it an honourable thing to do? Had we any doubts about our duty to Christianity and to our country? The leaders of our Church agreed that we were right. We found our Nationalist leaders, though opposed in politics, agreed that we were right. We have since been told that our leaders should have made some sort of a political bargain for Ireland first. Our answer to that is that you cannot bargain with a Nation’s honour. We went into the war in the name of Ireland, with clean hands and a pure heart, and we came out with a reputation that did not disgrace the name of Ireland’

J. O’ Flynn Secretary Cork Branch, NFDDSS Cork Examiner Nov 1918"

2. Medal Records, National Archives, Kew, London.

Description Medal card of O'Mahony, Michael Corps Regiment No Rank Leinster Regiment 1883 Private

Date 1914-1920

Catalogue reference WO 372/15

Dept Records created or inherited by the War Office, Armed Forces, Judge Advocate General, and related bodies Series War Office: Service Medal and Award Rolls Index, First World War Piece Nolan P - Pickering S M Image contains 1 medal card of many for this collection (see Michael O Mahony's medal card #1883)

Number of image files: 1 Image Reference Format and Version Part Number Size (KB) Number of Pages Price (£) 33614 / 5496 PDF 1.2 1 289 1 2.00

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