Life story: Martin Morrissey | Lives of the First World War

Timeline

1878

birth Dungarvan, County Waterford Ireland Source:7414413 Source:8942547 1878

1881

sibling John Morrissey Source:8942576 1881

1884

sibling Ellie Morrissey Source:8942576 1884

1886

sibling Patrick Morrissey Source:8942576 1886

1888

sibling Bridget Morrissey Source:8942576 1888

1890

sibling James Morrissey Source:8942576 1890

1901

employment Shoemaker Dungarvan, County Waterford Ireland Source:8942576 31st March 1901

1901

location O'Connell Street, Dungarvan, County Waterford Ireland parents address Source:8942576 31st March 1901

1914

location Raglan South Barracks, Devonport United Kingdom military residence address Source:8942545 11th August 1914

1914

dates Age 36 Source:8942547 20th October 1914

service British Army Private 8191 Royal Irish Rifles Source:3142266

service British Army Private 8191 Royal Irish Regiment 2nd Battalion Source:8942547

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:7414413 Source:8942545 20th October 1914

burial Le Touret Memorial CWGC Cemetery/Memorial Pas de Calais France Panels 11 and 12 Source:8942547

Details

Names

Type	Name
First Names	Martin
Initials	M
Last Name	Morrissey
Source	3142266

Gender

Gender	Source
Male

Locations

Address	Country	Type	Date	Source
O'Connell Street, Dungarvan, County Waterford	Ireland	parents address	known 31st March 1901
Raglan South Barracks, Devonport	United Kingdom	military residence address	known 11th August 1914

Contribution

Military Service

Service	Number	Unit	Section	Rank	Source
British Army	8191	Royal Irish Rifles		Private
British Army	8191	Royal Irish Regiment	2nd Battalion	Private

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
Ellen Morrissey	mother
Nicholas Morrissey	father

Siblings

Name	Relationship	Dates
John Morrissey	brother	1881
Ellie Morrissey	sister	1884
Patrick Morrissey	brother	1886
Bridget Morrissey	sister	1888
James Morrissey	brother	1890

Religion

Date	Religion	Source
1901-03-31	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
Dungarvan, County Waterford, circa 1900

Dungarvan, County Waterford, where Martin Morrissey was born in 1878

Contributed by:
Patrick63223
O'Connell Street, Dungarvan

O'Connell Street, Dungarvan, where Martin Morrissey lived with his parents and siblings at the time of the 1901 census

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
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
Le Riez, Nord

Le Riez - where the 2nd Battalion Royal Irish Regiment entrenched on the night of 18-19th October 1914

Contributed by:
Patrick63223
Le Riez, Nord

Le Riez - where the 2nd Battalion Royal Irish Regiment entrenched on the night of 18-19th October 1914

Contributed by:
Patrick63223
Major Daniell's position at Le Riez

The position from which Major Daniell directed the attack on Le Pilly on the 19th October.

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
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
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
Location of the ditches occupied by RIRgt

The location of one of the ditches which were occupied by B 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
Location of the ditches occupied by RIRgt

The location of one of the ditches which were occupied by B 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
The approximate position of C Company

The approximate position of C Company on Rue du Pilly (looking west towards Herlies).

Contributed by:
Patrick63223
The approximate position of D Company

The approximate position of D Company, dug in on the battalion's right flank (looking north towards 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
Rue du Pilly, Herlies, Nord

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

Contributed by:
Patrick63223
Panel 11 (upper) of the Le Touret Memorial

Panel 11 of the Le Touret Memorial on which are commemorated the officers and men of the 2nd Battalion Royal Irish Regiment who fell in this sector of the Western Front in October 1914 and who have no known grave. The memorial was designed by John Reginald Truelove and unveiled by the British Ambassador to France, Lord Tyrrell on 22nd March 1930.

Contributed by:
Patrick63223
Panel 11 (lower) of the Le Touret Memorial

Panel 11 of the Le Touret Memorial on which are commemorated the officers and men of the 2nd Battalion Royal Irish Regiment who fell in this sector of the Western Front in October 1914 and who have no known grave. The memorial was designed by John Reginald Truelove and unveiled by the British Ambassador to France, Lord Tyrrell on 22nd March 1930.

Contributed by:
Patrick63223
Panel 12 (upper) of the Le Touret Memorial

Panel 12 of the Le Touret Memorial on which are commemorated the officers and men of the 2nd Battalion Royal Irish Regiment who fell in this sector of the Western Front in October 1914 and who have no known grave. The memorial was designed by John Reginald Truelove and unveiled by the British Ambassador to France, Lord Tyrrell on 22nd March 1930.

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
Bailleul Road East Cemetery

The graves of the six soldiers, including Privates Edward Byrne 10896, Daniel Cronin 10888, John Murphy 8804 and Patrick Sweeney 6645, who were originally buried in Le Pilly and then exhumed and reburied in Bailleul Road East Cemetery, St Laurent Blangy in 1927.

Contributed by:
Patrick63223
Unknown Royal Irish Regiment Soldier

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

Contributed by:
Patrick63223
Unknown Royal Irish Regiment Soldiers

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

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

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

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
Audencourt (from the south)

Audencourt, in and around which the companies of the battalion were positioned on 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
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. The memorial to the 2nd Battalion, a Celtic cross, was unveiled in 1923 at the crossroads and is clearly visible in this photo.

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
Ireland: National Roll of Honour 1914-1921 Transcription	Patrick63223
Soldiers died in the Great War 1914-1919 Transcription	Patrick63223
Ireland Census 1901 Transcription	Patrick63223
Prisoners of War 1914-1920 Transcription	Patrick63223
Medal Index Cards 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
Dungarvan, County Waterford, circa 1900	Patrick63223
O'Connell Street, Dungarvan	Patrick63223
The Guardhouse at Raglan Barracks, Devonport	Patrick63223
SS Herschel	Patrick63223
Map of the actions at Le Riez and Le Pilly	Patrick63223
Le Riez, Nord	Patrick63223
Le Riez, Nord	Patrick63223
Major Daniell's position at Le Riez	Patrick63223
The fields between Le Pilly and Le Riez	Patrick63223
Location of the ditches occupied by RIRgt	Patrick63223
Location of the ditches occupied by RIRgt	Patrick63223
Location of the ditches occupied by RIRgt	Patrick63223
Location of the ditches occupied by RIRgt	Patrick63223
The approximate position of C Company	Patrick63223
The approximate position of D Company	Patrick63223
The station where the wounded were treated	Patrick63223
Rue du Pilly, Herlies, Nord	Patrick63223
Panel 11 (upper) of the Le Touret Memorial	Patrick63223
Panel 11 (lower) of the Le Touret Memorial	Patrick63223
Panel 12 (upper) of the Le Touret Memorial	Patrick63223
Le Touret Memorial	Patrick63223
Bailleul Road East Cemetery	Patrick63223
Unknown Royal Irish Regiment Soldier	Patrick63223
Unknown Royal Irish Regiment Soldiers	Patrick63223
Map of the actions at Caudry/Audencourt	Patrick63223
The fields between Caudry and Audencourt	Patrick63223
Audencourt (from the south)	Patrick63223
Map of the Battle of Mons	Patrick63223
La Bascule crossroads, Mons, Belgium	Patrick63223

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We remember Martin Morrissey

Also remembered by 1 person

Patrick63223

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We remember Martin Morrissey

We remember Martin Morrissey

Also remembered by 1 person

Timeline

Timeline

1878

1881

1884

1886

1888

1890

1901

1901

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 Martin Morrissey