Life story: John James Fitzgerald | Lives of the First World War

Timeline

1882

birth Cork Ireland Source:8749818 Source:8749822 10th October 1882

1896

education The Royal Hibernian Military School was founded in Dublin, Ireland, to educate orphaned children of members of the British armed forces in Ireland. Royal Hibernian Military School Dublin Ireland Source:8749818 5th November 1896

1896

location Royal Hibernian Military School, Dublin Ireland school/college address Source:8749818 5th November 1896

1896

dates Age 14 Source:8749818 10th November 1896

1896

enlistment Dublin Ireland Source:8749818 10th November 1896

1896

service British Army Private (Boy) 5917 Royal Irish Regiment 1st Battalion Source:8749818 10th November 1896 - 18th August 1897

1897

service British Army Drummer 5917 Royal Irish Regiment 1st Battalion Source:8749818 19th August 1897 - 20th October 1904

1899

events Service in South Africa Overseas service Ventersburg Rd, Kroonstad and Madder River South Africa He was awarded the Queen's South Africa medal 1899-02 with clasps and the King's South Africa medal with clasps SA 1901 and SA 1902 (forfeited and then restored) Source:8749818 16th December 1899 - 10th February 1905

1902

events Receiving Stolen Goods Military Discipline Ventersburg Road South Africa His South African campaign medals were forfeited as a result of this crime, but they were restored to him in 1908. Source:8749818 17th March 1902

1902

events Drunk and causing a disturbance Military Discipline Modder River South Africa Source:8749818 9th September 1902

1903

events Using insubordinate languge Military Discipline Kroonstaad South Africa Source:8749818 17th November 1903

1904

events Breaking out of camp Military Discipline Modder River South Africa Source:8749818 14th May 1904

1904

service British Army Lance Corporal 5917 Royal Irish Regiment 1st Battalion Source:8749818 21st October 1904 - 3rd December 1905

1905

events Service in India Overseas service Rawalpindi and Upper Topa India Source:8749818 11th February 1905 - 22nd October 1908

1905

hospitalisation Tracheitis (throat infection) Hospital/Institution Source:8749818 29th September 1905 - 10th October 1905

1905

service British Army Drummer 5917 Royal Irish Regiment 1st Battalion Source:8749818 4th December 1905 - 21st October 1908

1907

hospitalisation V.S. (venereal disease ?) Hospital/Institution Source:8749818 24th February 1907 - 19th March 1907

1908

hospitalisation Ague (malaria) Hospital/Institution Source:8749818 9th July 1908 - 18th July 1908

1908

service British Army Drummer 5917 Royal Irish Regiment 2nd Battalion Source:8749818 22nd October 1908 - 19th October 1914

1910

events Drunk Military Discipline Blackdown, Surrey United Kingdom Source:8749818 9th August 1910

1910

events Drunk Military Discipline Guernsey United Kingdom Source:8749818 3rd October 1910

1912

events Drunk Military Discipline Guernsey United Kingdom Source:8749818 11th April 1912

1913

events Drunk Military Discipline Guernsey United Kingdom Source:8749818 28th June 1913

1914

location Raglan South Barracks, Devonport United Kingdom military residence address Source:8749790 11th August 1914

1914

events Answering an officer back Military Discipline Retal France This event took place at the very end of the battalion's 2 week retreat from Mons, just prior to the advance of the BEF towards the Marne. Tempers were probably frayed. Source:8749818 5th September 1914

1914

death Killed in Action The Battalion received orders to attack Le Pilly. Although they drove the Germans out they were left dangerously exposed and the next day they were surrounded and overwhelmed. Le Pilly, Nord France Source:7389273 Source:8749790 19th October 1914

burial Le Touret Memorial CWGC Cemetery/Memorial Pas de Calais France Panels 11 and 12 Source:8749822

sibling Patrick Fitzgerald Source:8749818

Details

Names

Type	Name
First Names	John James
Initials	JJ
Last Name	Fitzgerald
Source	8749818

Gender

Gender	Source
Male

Locations

Address	Country	Type	Date	Source
Raglan South Barracks, Devonport	United Kingdom	military residence address	known 11th August 1914
Royal Hibernian Military School, Dublin	Ireland	school/college address	known 5th November 1896

Contribution

Military Service

Service	Number	Unit	Section	Rank
British Army	5917	Royal Irish Regiment	1st Battalion	Private (Boy)
British Army	5917	Royal Irish Regiment	1st Battalion	Drummer
British Army	5917	Royal Irish Regiment	1st Battalion	Lance Corporal
British Army	5917	Royal Irish Regiment	1st Battalion	Drummer
British Army	5917	Royal Irish Regiment	2nd Battalion	Drummer

Awards

Award	Type	Source
1914 Star with Clasp	First World War Campaign/Service Medal
British War Medal	First World War Campaign/Service Medal
Victory Medal	First World War Campaign/Service Medal

Family

Parents

Name	Relationship	Dates	Source
Anne Fitzgerald	mother

Siblings

Name	Relationship	Dates	Source
Patrick Fitzgerald	brother

Physical

Complexion	Eyes	Hair	Source
Fresh	Grey	Fair

Date	Height	Source
1896-11-10	4'8"

Religion

Date	Religion	Source
1896-11-10	Roman Catholic

Media

Royal Irish Regiment Cap Badge

WW1 Royal Irish Regiment cap badge

Contributed by:
Patrick63223
Royal Irish Regiment Cap Badge

WW1 Royal Irish Regiment cap badge

Contributed by:
Patrick63223
Cork in 1883

Cork in 1883. John James Fitzgerald was born in Cork in 1882.

Contributed by:
Patrick63223
Front of Royal Hibernian School Chapel

Front of Royal Hibernian School Chapel. John James Fitzgerald was a pupil of the school in 1893

Contributed by:
Patrick63223
2nd Battalion R.I.Rgt. Memorial, Mons.

The Memorial to the Royal Irish Regiment at Mons overlooks the ground on which the 2nd Battalion fought on the 23rd August 1914. It was unveiled by Lord Ypres on 11th November 1923.

Contributed by:
Patrick63223
2nd Battalion R.I.Rgt. Memorial, Mons.

The plaque at the base of the Mons memorial to the 2nd Battalion Royal Irish Regiment. The memorial was unveiled on 11th November 1923 at La Bascule crossroads.

Contributed by:
Patrick63223
Rue Leon Save, Mons, Belgium.

The road south on the western edge of Bois La Haut, Mons. The Royal Irish Regiment were hotly pursued down this road by the Germans on the afternoon of the 23rd August 1914.

Contributed by:
Patrick63223
The fields between Caudry and Audencourt

The fields between Caudry and Audencourt where the fighting between the Royal Irish Regiment and the advancing Germans took place on 26th August 1914.

Contributed by:
Patrick63223
La Bascule crossroads, Mons, Belgium

La Bascule crossroads, Mons, Belgium, where a small detachment of the Royal Irish Regiment held out for hours against a superior enemy force.

Contributed by:
Patrick63223
Restaurant Leon on Chausee de Binche

Restaurant Leon on Chausee de Binche on the site of the former Chateau Gendebien which was used as a Red Cross hospital at the time of the Battle of Mons

Contributed by:
Patrick63223
The area to the east of Mons

The area to the east of Mons where the Royal Irish Regiment first came in contact with the enemy

Contributed by:
Patrick63223
The road cutting south west of Audencourt

The road cutting south west of Audencourt where Lieutenant Colonel Cox, Commanding Officer of the 2nd Battalion Royal Irish Regiment was severely wounded at around 10 am on the morning of 26th August 1914.

Contributed by:
Patrick63223
Map of the Battle of Mons

Map of the Battle of Mons from The Campaigns and History of the Royal Irish Regiment, Vol. II (drawn by Major St.Leger)

Contributed by:
Patrick63223
Map of the battle at Caudry/Audencourt

Map of the battle at Caudry/Audencourt from The Campaigns and History of the Royal Irish Regiment, Vol. II (drawn by Major St.Leger)

Contributed by:
Patrick63223
Map of the actions at Le Riez and Le Pilly

Map of the actions at Le Riez and Le Pilly from The Campaigns and History of the Royal Irish Regiment, Vol. II (drawn by Major St.Leger)

Contributed by:
Patrick63223
Courcelles

Courcelles where the 2nd Battalion Royal Irish Regiment rested and refitted after the Battle of the Aisne

Contributed by:
Patrick63223
The Guardhouse at Raglan Barracks, Devonport

Raglan Barracks, Devonport, where the 2nd Battalion Royal Irish Regiment was based prior to their embarkation for France in August 1914.

Contributed by:
Patrick63223
SS Herschel

SS Herschel, the ship which transported the Royal Irish Regiment across the channel to France. They disembarked in Boulogne on 14th August 1914.

Contributed by:
Patrick63223
The fields between Le Pilly and Le Riez

The view across the fields from Le Pilly to Le Riez

Contributed by:
Patrick63223
The station where the wounded were treated

The station building in Le Pilly where Lieutenant Jackson of the RAMC tended to the wounded after the battalion had been overwhelmed.

Contributed by:
Patrick63223
Location of the ditches occupied by RIRgt

The location of one of the ditches which were occupied by A Company of the Royal Irish Regiment at Le Pilly on 19th/20th October 1914 and where they were surrounded and eventually “wiped out”.

Contributed by:
Patrick63223
Rue du Pilly, Herlies, Nord

Rue du Pilly, Herlies, Nord, where the 2nd Battalion Royal Irish Regiment met its destruction

Contributed by:
Patrick63223
Unknown Royal Irish Regiment Soldiers

Unknown soldiers of the Royal Irish Regiment buried in Cabaret Rouge British Cemetery

Contributed by:
Patrick63223
Le Touret Memorial

The Le Touret Memorial commemorates those who fell in this sector of the Western Front from the beginning of October 1914 to the eve of the Battle of Loos in late September 1915 and who have no known grave. It was designed by John Reginald Truelove and unveiled by the British Ambassador to France, Lord Tyrrell on 22nd March 1930. The soldiers of the 2nd Battalion Royal Irish Regiment are to be found on panels 11 and 12.

Contributed by:
Patrick63223

Communities

2nd Battalion Royal Irish Regiment from August to October 1914

2nd Battalion Royal Irish Regiment from August to October 1914

More about 2nd Battalion Royal Irish Regiment from August to October 1914

Evidence

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Official Records

Title	Connected by	More information
Medal Index Card
Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC) Casualty Records	Imperial1
British Army Service Records 1914-1920 Transcription	Patrick63223
Soldiers died in the Great War 1914-1919 Transcription	Patrick63223
Ireland: National Roll of Honour 1914-1921 Transcription	Patrick63223
Ireland: National Roll of Honour 1914-1921 Transcription	Patrick63223
British Army Service Records 1914-1920 Transcription	Patrick63223
Prisoners of War 1914-1920 Transcription	Patrick63223

External Evidence

Reference	Connected by	More information
The Campaigns and History of the Royal Irish Regiment Vol.II from 1900 to 1922	Patrick63223
"There's a Devil in the Drum" by J.F.Lucy	Patrick63223
“The Mons Star: The British Expeditionary Force 1914”	Patrick63223
“Within Four Walls” by Major M.C.C. Harrison and Captain H. Cartwright	Patrick63223
The Battle of Le Pilly	Patrick63223
Ireland and the First World War - the Battle of Le Pilly	Patrick63223
Le Pilly honours 177 Irish men killed in first World War battle.	Patrick63223
Wherever the Firing Line Extends	Patrick63223

Multimedia

Title	Connected by	More information
Royal Irish Regiment Cap Badge	Patrick63223
Royal Irish Regiment Cap Badge	Patrick63223
Cork in 1883	Patrick63223
Front of Royal Hibernian School Chapel	Patrick63223
2nd Battalion R.I.Rgt. Memorial, Mons.	Patrick63223
2nd Battalion R.I.Rgt. Memorial, Mons.	Patrick63223
Rue Leon Save, Mons, Belgium.	Patrick63223
The fields between Caudry and Audencourt	Patrick63223
La Bascule crossroads, Mons, Belgium	Patrick63223
Restaurant Leon on Chausee de Binche	Patrick63223
The area to the east of Mons	Patrick63223
The road cutting south west of Audencourt	Patrick63223
Map of the Battle of Mons	Patrick63223
Map of the battle at Caudry/Audencourt	Patrick63223
Map of the actions at Le Riez and Le Pilly	Patrick63223
Courcelles	Patrick63223
The Guardhouse at Raglan Barracks, Devonport	Patrick63223
SS Herschel	Patrick63223
The fields between Le Pilly and Le Riez	Patrick63223
The station where the wounded were treated	Patrick63223
Location of the ditches occupied by RIRgt	Patrick63223
Rue du Pilly, Herlies, Nord	Patrick63223
Unknown Royal Irish Regiment Soldiers	Patrick63223
Le Touret Memorial	Patrick63223

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We remember John James Fitzgerald

Also remembered by 1 person

Patrick63223

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We remember John James Fitzgerald

We remember John James Fitzgerald

Also remembered by 1 person

Timeline

Timeline

1882

1896

1896

1896

1896

1896

1897

1899

1902

1902

1903

1904

1904

1905

1905

1905

1907

1908

1908

1910

1910

1912

1913

1914

1914

1914

Details

Details

Parents

Siblings

Media

Media

Communities

Communities

2nd Battalion Royal Irish Regiment from August to October 1914

Evidence

Evidence

Official Records

External Evidence

Multimedia

Stories

Stories

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We remember John James Fitzgerald