| Name |
John Bernard WINSLEY |
| Birth |
17 Jun 1892 |
Lying In Hospital, 28 Nile Street, (Now Known As 28 Sheares Street), Cork City, Co Cork, Ireland  |
| Gender |
Male |
| CAUS |
Execution - Instantaneous Death - Information Received From Col Commdt Byrne G H Q Cork |
| Residence |
17 Jun 1892 |
39 Hanover Street, Cork City, Co Cork, Ireland |
- parents address at time of birth
|
| Census |
31 Mar 1901 |
2 Grafton Alley, Cork City, Co Cork, Ireland |
| Census |
2 Apr 1911 |
2 Grafton Street, Cork City, Co Cork, Ireland |
| DESC |
Tattoo Marks On Both Forearms. Including Heart With JW On Left Forearm, Crossed Hands & Cross With, In Memory Of My Father On Right Forearm |
| EYES |
Brown |
| HAIR |
Grey |
| HEIG |
5' 4 ? " (1912) |
| MILI |
UK, Royal Hospital Chelsea Pensioner Soldier Service Records, 1760-1920
Name: John Winsley [John Bernard Winsley]
Enlistment Age: 18
Birth Date: June 1892 [abt 1893]
Birth Place: St Tenbarro, Cork
Enlistment Year: 1911
Regiment: Leicester Regt. (RC)
Regimental Number: 9588
Attestation Paper: Yes
John Winsley in the UK, British Army World War I Pension Records 1914-1920
Name: John Winsley
Gender: Male
Birth Date: abt 1893
Birth Place: St Fennborro, Cork, Ireland
Marriage Date: 2 May 1914
Marriage Place: Rev T O''Leary CC
Age: 19
Document Year: 1912
Regimental Number: 3306
Regiment Name: Corps R G (R) A
Form Title: Army Reserve (Special Reservists) Attestation
Number of Images: 13
Other Records: Search for 'John Winsley' in other WWI collections
Family Members:
Name Relation to Soldier
John Winsley Self (Head)
Kitty O''Driscoll Spouse
John Winsley Child
Image Military>Winsley dowloaded but not assigned a
Source No. (WinsleyJohn_WW1ArmyPensionRecordsSCFull.jpg) 12of12
John Wensley in the UK, British Army World War I Pension Records 1914-1920
Name: John Wensley
Gender: Male
Birth Date: abt 1893
Birth Place: St Feunbarrs, Cork, Ireland
Marriage Date: 2 May 1914
Marriage Place: St Finbam Cork
Age: 19
Document Year: 1912
Regimental Number: 3306
Regiment Name: Corps R S ( R) A
Form Title: Army Reserve (Special Reservists) Attestation
Number of Images: 5
Other Records: Search for 'John Wensley' in other WWI collections
Family Members:
Name Relation to Soldier
John Wensley Self (Head)
Kitty O''Driscoll Spouse
John Wensley Child
Image Military>Winsley dowloaded but not assigned a
Source No. (WinsleyJohn_WW1ArmyPensionRecordsSCFull.jpg) 4of4
UK, Silver War Badge Records, 1914-1920
Name Bernard Winsley
Rank Spr.
Military Year 1920
Regiment Royal Engineers
Regimental Number W.R.355171
Discharge Unit Royal Engineers
Discharge Regiment Royal Engineers I.W & D.
Badge Number B164136
Piece 3001
List Number RE 3271-3540
Record Group WO
Record Class 329
Household members
ROLL OF INDIVIDUALS entitled to the 'WAR BADGE"
Regimental No - W.R. 355171
Rank - Sapper
Name (in Full) - Winsley Bernard
Unit discharged from - I.W. & D.
No of Badge and Certificate - B164, 136
Date of :- Enlistment 8.8.16 - Discharge 28.3.19
Cause of Discharge (Wounds or Sickness and para of K.R) - Para. 392 (xvi) Sickness
Whether served Overseas - Yes 24 Years.
Image Military>Winsley dowloaded but not assigned a
Source No. (WinsleyBernard_SilverWarBadgeRecordSCFull.jpg)
UK, WWI Service Medal and Award Rolls, 1914-1920
Name Bernard Winsley
Military Year 1914-1920
Rank Sapper
Unit Inland Water Transport
Company WO 329
Regiment or Corps Royal Engineers
Regiment Number WR/355171
Medal Awarded British War Medal and Victory Medal
ROYAL ENGINEERS I.W.D
ROLL OF INDIVIDUALS entitled to the Victory Medal and/or British War Medal granted under Army Orders 301AND266
Regl No - WR/355171
Rank - SPR
Name - WINSLEY, Bernard
In sequence Units and Corps previously served - Royal Engineers 196734 Spr
Theatres of war in which served -
Clasps awarded (to be left blank) -
Record of disposal of decorations:-
(a) Presented - .
(b) Despatched by Post - .
(c) Taken into Stock - .
REMARKS -
Ref - K.R. 992. CRV/278B. d/17.5.24 8426/Adt
Image Military>Winsley dowloaded but not assigned a
Source No. (WinsleyBernard_1919WW1SericeMedalAwardRollsSCFull.jpg)
UK, WWI Pension Ledgers and Index Cards, 1914-1923
Name Bernard Winsley
Gender Male
Rank Spr
Record Type Disability
Birth Date 1895
Residence Place Cork
Military Service Region Ireland, Ireland
Military Country Ireland
Discharge Date 28 Mar 1919
Service Number 196734
Corps, Regiment or Unit Royal Engineers
Service Branch Military (Army)
Title WWI Pension Record Cards and Ledgers
Description Pension Record Ledger
Reference Number 13/MW/950
Next of Kin 1
UK, WWI Pension Ledgers and Index Cards, 1914-1923
Name Bernard Winsley
Record Type Card
Residence Place Old George Co St Cork
Death Date 1 Sep 1922
Service Number 355171, 196734
Corps, Regiment or Unit Royal Engineers
Title WWI Pension Record Cards and Ledgers
Description Other Ranks Survived
Reference Number 13/Mw/950
Next of Kin 1
Record Details for Bernard Winsley (Royal Engineers)
First Name: Bernard
Surname: Winsley
Regiments served with: Unit Rank Service Number
Royal Engineers Sapper 196734
Royal Engineers Sapper WR/355171
Archive Reference: WO 372/22/24218
(Can be found at The National Archives in Kew, and contains First World War, War Office: Service Medal and Award Rolls Index)
Collection: Nominal index of all service personnel serving in a theatre of war 1914-1919
Record Details for Bernard Winsley (Royal Engineers)
First Name: Bernard
Surname: Winsley
Age: 24
Incident Details: Sickness
Information: Particulars furnished: 19b Tavistock Square, London, WC1, 05/04/1919.
Rank: Sapper
Service Number: W.R.355171
Service From Date: 08/08/1916
Service To Date: 28/03/1919
Silver War Badge Number: B164,136
War Office Ref. Number: RE/3520
Reason for Discharge: Paragraph 392 King's Regulations (xvi) No longer physically fit for war service.
Overseas: Yes
Service: British Army
Primary Unit: Royal Engineers
Secondary Unit: Inland Waterways and Docks (Why is this important?)
Archive Reference: SWB/3001
Collection:
Silver War Badge List 1914-1918
Campaign Medals:
British War Medal
With the information in Bernard Winsley's record, it is likely that they were entitled to the British War Medal for service in World War One. This British Empire campaign medal was issued for services between 5th August 1914 and 11th November 1918.
The medal was automatically awarded in the event of death on active service before the completion of this period.
Silver War Badge
The Silver War Badge was issued in the United Kingdom to service personnel who had been honourably discharged due to wounds or sickness during World War I. The badge, sometimes known as the Discharge Badge, Wound Badge or Services Rendered Badge, was first issued in September 1916, along with an official certificate of entitlement.
The sterling silver lapel badge was intended to be worn in civilian clothes. It had been the practice of some women to present white feathers to apparently able-bodied young men who were not wearing the King's uniform. The badge was to be worn on the right breast while in civilian dress, it was forbidden to wear on a military uniform.
The badge bears the royal cipher of GRI (for Georgius Rex Imperator; George, King and Emperor) and around the rim "For King and Empire; Services Rendered". Each badge was uniquely numbered on the reverse. The War Office made it known that they would not replace Silver War Badges if they went missing, however if one was handed into a police station then it would be returned to the War Office. If the original recipient could be traced at his or her discharge address then the badge would be returned.
Victory Medal
With the information in Bernard Winsley's record, it is likely that they were entitled to the Victory medal, also called the Inter Allied Victory Medal. This medal was awarded to all who received the 1914 Star or 1914-15 Star and, with certain exceptions, to those who received the British War Medal. It was never awarded alone. These three medals were sometimes irreverently referred to as Pip, Squeak and Wilfred.
Eligibility for this award consisted of having been mobilised, fighting, having served in any of the theatres of operations, or at sea, between midnight 4th/5th August, 1914, and midnight, 11th/12th November, 1918. Women who served in any of the various military organisations in a theatre of operations were also eligible.
* Medal entitlement listed above is worked out using the same methodology the MOD used for issuing them
Unit History: Royal Engineers
The RE's has been involved in every major conflict the British Army has fought and has ever since lived up to its Motto "Ubique" ("Everywhere").
The Corps of Royal Engineers has a long heritage that not many corps can rival. They were the direct descent from William the Conqueror's Military Engineers who were directed in 1066 by Humphrey de Tilleaul.
By the end of the Peninsular War in 1814 there were five companies serving with Wellington's Army.
In 1856, the Corps of Royal Sappers and Miners were amalgamated with the Corps of Royal Engineers. The rank of 'Private' in the newly formed Corps of Royal Engineers was changed to 'Sapper' and still exists today.
The Royal Engineers' interest in aeronautics began in the 1860's when they explored the possibilities of using air balloons for aerial observation purposes. This interest developed into an interest in fixed winged aircraft. In 1911 the Corps formed its Air Battalion, the first flying unit of the British Armed Forces. The Air Battalion was the forerunner of the Royal Flying Corps and Royal Air Force.
WW1, Royal Engineer tunnelling companies, nicknamed "the Moles", were specialist units of the Corps of Royal Engineers within the British Army, formed to dig attacking tunnels under enemy lines during the First World War. They designed and built the frontline fortifications, creating cover for the infantry and positions for the artillery. It was in the hands of the technically skilled RE's to develop responses to chemical and underground warfare.
The RE's maintained the railways, roads, water supply, bridges and transport - allowing supplies to the armies. They operated the railways and inland waterways, maintained wireless, telephones and other signalling equipment, making sure communications existed. The Royal Engineers grew into a large and complex organisation, by the 1 August 1914, the RE consisted of 1056 officers and 10394 men of the regular army and Special Reserve, plus another 513 and 13127 respectively serving with the RE of the Territorial Force. The officers and men manned 26 coastal defence Fortress Companies (of which 15 were overseas), 7 Signal Companies, 2 Cable and Airline (signalling) Companies, 15 Field Companies, 3 Survey Companies, 2 Railway Companies, and miscellaneous other units. There were also 9 Depot companies carrying out training and administrative duties, as well as various Schools.
In 1915, in response to German mining of British trenches under the then static siege conditions of World War One, the corps formed its own tunnelling companies. Manned by experienced coal miners from across the country, they operated with great success until 1917, when after the fixed positions broke, they built deep dugouts such as the Vampire dugout to protect troops from heavy shelling. By 1 August 1917, it had grown to a total of 295668. It was twelve times bigger than the peacetime establishment.
Before the Second World War, Royal Engineers recruits were required to be at least 5 feet 4 inches tall (5 feet 2 inches for the Mounted Branch). They initially enlisted for six years with the colours and a further six years with the reserve or four years and eight years. Unlike most corps and regiments, in which the upper age limit was 25, men could enlist in the Royal Engineers up to 30 years of age. They trained at the Royal Engineers Depot in Chatham or the RE Mounted Depot at Aldershot
WW2, RE's as they did in WW1, maintained the railways, roads, water supply, bridges and transport etc'. From 1940 disposed of bombs. Maybe the most, greatest achievements of the RE's were the construction and operation of the Mulberry Harbour its support for the Battle of Normandy.
Royal Engineers during WW1
Preparation for the Battle of Arras 1917
From October 1916 the Royal Engineers had been working underground, constructing tunnels for the troops in preparation for the Battle of Arras in 1917. Beneath Arras itself there is a vast network of caverns called the boves, consisting of underground quarries and sewage tunnels. The engineers came up with a plan to add new tunnels to this network so that troops could arrive at the battlefield in secrecy and in safety. The size of the excavation was immense. In one sector alone four Tunnel Companies of 500 men each worked around the clock in 18-hour shifts for two months.
Royal Engineers during WW2
Maybe the most, greatest achievements of the RE's were the construction and operation of the Mulberry Harbour its support for the Battle of Normandy 1944. |
| Occupation |
Scholar 1901, Chimney Cleaner 1911, 1914, Town Labourer 1912, Soldier 1912, 1915, 1917, Ex Soldier And Chimney Cleaner 1921, Private National Army 1922, |
| Residence |
2 May 1914 |
2 Grafton Street, Cork City, Co Cork, Ireland |
- at time of marriage to Kitty O'Driscoll
|
| Residence |
22 Jun 1915 |
4 Grafton Street, Cork City, Co Cork, Ireland |
- at time of birth of son John
|
| Residence |
12 Mar 1917 |
4 Grafton Street, Cork City, Co Cork, Ireland |
- at time of birth of daughter Susan
|
| Residence |
1 Sep 1920 |
4 Market Avenue, Cork City, Co Cork, Ireland |
- at time of birth of daughter Mary
|
| Residence |
11 Sep 1921 |
4 Market Avenue, Cork City, Co Cork, Ireland |
- at time of birth of son Michael
|
| Residence |
Aug 1922 |
4 Market Avenue, Cork City, Co Cork, Ireland |
- before incarceration in Cork Male Prison
|
| WEIG |
111 Lbs (1912) |
| _UID |
F5799E18AAF34E9BA71FB54534B045BE51FB |
| Death |
1 Sep 1922 |
Cork Male Prison, Western Rd., Cork City, Co Cork, Ireland |
| Burial |
10 Dec 1924 |
St Finbarr's Cemetery, Glasheen Rd., Glasheen, Cork City, Co Cork, Ireland |
| Notes |
- Image 1BirthCerts>Winsley downloaded but not assigned a
Source No. (B1892WinsleyJohnSCFull.pdf)
1901 Census of Ireland
2 Grafton Alley, Cork City, Co Cork, Ireland
John Winsley, Head, Roman Catholic, Read & Write, Age 31, Chimney Cleaner, Married, born Athlone.
Susan Winsley, Wife, Roman Catholic, Read & Write, Age 32, Housekeeper, Married, born Cork City.
Maria Winsley, Daughter, Roman Catholic, Cannot Read, Age 5, Scholar, Not Married, born Cork City.
Barney Winsley, Son, Roman Catholic, Cannot Read, Age 8, Scholar, Not Married, born Cork City.
Margaret Flynn, Lodger, Roman Catholic, Read & Write, Age 45, Domestic General Servant, Not Married, born Cork City.
Image CensusIreland>Winsley dowloaded but not assigned a
Source No. (WinsleyJohn_1901IreCenSCFull.jpg)
1911 Census of Ireland
2 Grafton Street, Cork City, Co Cork, Ireland
Susan Winsley, Head, Roman Catholic, Cannot Read & Write, Age 44, , Widow, born Cork City.
Mary Winsley, Daughter, Roman Catholic, Can Read & Write, Age 15, , Single, born Cork City.
John Winsley, Son, Roman Catholic, Can Read & Write, Age 19, Chimney Cleaner, Single, born Cork City.
Image CensusIreland>Winsley dowloaded but not assigned a
Source No. (WinsleySusan_1911IreCenSCFull.jpg)
Image 3DeathCerts>Winsley downloaded but not assigned a
Source No. (D1922WinsleyJohnSCFull.pdf)
The Cork Examiner - Cork - Saturday 2 September 1922
WINSLEY-On Sept. 1st, John Bernard, son of (he late John Winsley, Chimney Cleaner. Deeply regretted by his sorrowing wife and sister and a large circle of friends.-(English papers please copy).
Register of Burials in St. Finn Barr's Cemetery, Cork
No - 11846
Christian Name and Surname of Deceased at full length - John Bernard Winsley
Date of Death - 1922, September 1st
Cause of Death - Executed in Cork Jail
Sex - Male
Age - 29
Religion - Roman Catholic
Occupation or Rank in Life - Free State Soldier
Place of Birth - Cork
Last Place of Residence - 4 Market Ave, Cork
Married or Single, Widow or Widower - Married
Date of Internment - 1924, December 10th
Section - D
No of Row - 10
No of Plot - 39
The particulars contained in the foregoing columns were ascertained from the Relatives of Deceased or other Person having the management of the Internment, verified by his or her signature - Daniel Murphy
Signature of Registrar attesting signature of Person in last column - Edward O'Donovan
REMARKS -
http://cairogang.com/soldiers-killed/winsley/winsley.html
The following is from the above website I have tried to contact the author, who I believe goes by the name of "corisande" to obtain authorisation to use it but there is no "Contact" button on the website. If coriander does see this please contact me via me Contact button on the welcome page. - Matt Falvey 3 Jun 2021
John W Winsley
In trying to determine who John W Winsley was, I was eventually able to find out.
He comes from this reference from Irish Bureau of Military History.
A/13056 Bay 16 2411/2412
Exhumation of Late Pte John W Winsley - Executed by Sentence of Court martial
And it turned out that he was a National Army soldier executed as a result of a Court Martial sentence by the National Army itself, for selling arms to Anti Treaty fighters. And his death, apart from him being an ex-soldier, was nothing to do with the British
He was born John Winsley, and served first as John Winsley in the British Army. In 1916 he re-enlisted as Bernard Winsley, having been earlier discharged as physically unfit. He appears to have altered his Christian name to avoid his previous medical history being discovered.
1892 Jun 17. Born Cork The Lying in Hospital, address on Cert 39 Hanover Street, Cork
He had a sister Susan born Rochfords Lane, Cork 1898 March 15th and she died 1899 October 6th. At 2 Rochfords Lane, Cork
1901 Living with his parents in Cork at 2 Grafton's Alley.
The 1911 census shows that John snr and Susan only ever had two children - so they must be Mary/Maria and John/Barney. And, if you zoom in on the 1911 entry, you can see what appears to be a half-erased "B" under John's name. Barney/Bernie sound very similar with an Irish accent!
And O'Farrell's 'Who's Who' has a section titled 'Civil War Executions' and has the entry:"Winsley, Bernard: Cork County Prison, September 1922"
1911 Living at 2 Grafton St, Cork. John jr appears as "Barney" on the 1901 census.
1911 Jul 6 . 9588 Private John Winsley attests to the Leinster Regt. He signs up for 7 years in Colours and 5 in Reserve. A town labourer with previous service in the 4th Batt.R.M.FUS. (Militia?). Next of Kin Susan (mother) Mary (sister) of 2 Grafton St. Cork. Discharged Free 19/1/1912.
1912 Jan 19 Discharged from Leinster Regt
1912 Aug 9. Enlisted in RGA in Cork as a Territorial (Special Reservist). His record is on Ancestry
1914 May 2. Marries Kitty O'Driscoll in Cork. Address for both as 2 Grafton St.
1915 Jun 22. They had a Son John, Born 1915 Jun 22nd address 4 Grafton St.
1915 Sep 18. Discharged as "no longer physically fit for war service". He was suffering from Blepharitis Marginalis , a chronic inflammation of the margin or edge of the eyelids accompanied by congestion, thickening and ulceration of the parts and the formation of scales and crusts.
1916 Aug 8. Enlisted in RE now using Bernard as a Christian name. The Silver War Badge details exist for 196734/355171 Sapper Bernard Winsley, Royal Engineers (Inland Waterways and Docks) Served between 8/8/1916 to 28/3/1919 and served Overseas. Age recorded as 24. Discharged due to sickness.
1919 Mar 28 Discharged from British Army due to sickness. Possibly his old eye problem.
1922 Sep 1. Pte John/Bernard Winsley executed by sentence of Court Martial in Cork Gaol. Death Cert said he was a Soldier in the National Army and his death notice was published in the Irish Examiner the following day. O'Farrell's 'Who's Who' has a section titled 'Civil War Executions' and has the entry: "Winsley, Bernard: Cork County Prison, September 1922"
And a Pension Card gives Widow - Kathleen living at 4 Market Avenue, Old George, Cork.
Winsley does not appear in the list of 77 Republican (anti-Treaty) fighters executed by the Free State authorities during the Civil War (see 'Seventy-Seven of Mine said Ireland', by Martin O'Dwyer, Cork, Deshaoirse (sic), 2006).
In his book The Irish Civil War, Law Execution and Atrocity" Sean Enright says "By the end of the war 83 prisoners had been executed. The evidence suggests that it was the policy of the National Army to execute the rank and file: most held little or no rank and most were in their early 20s or still teenagers. Anti-treaty TDs captured in arms were never executed and nearly all high-ranking prisoners were spared. .....Curiously, the first execution was entirely unauthorised. National Army Private Barney Winsley was shot by firing squad for selling arms to anti-treaty fighters."
The first authorised execution was on 17th November, 1922.
1922 Oct 4. His mother Susan Winsley died 1922 Oct 4th from Hemiplegia with was certified for 1 month and 3 days. Consistent with the shock of her sons death causing a paralysis and ultimately her death.
1924 Oct 29. The body was some time later exhumed. It was probably one of the bodies referred to below.
The remains of 74 persons who were executed during the recent civil disorders in the Free State were given to their relations today by the military Authorities. They will received publicly funded funeral's on Thursday in Dublin and throughout the country. The body of Erskine Childers, which was removed from Beggars Bush Barracks, will be buried in the Republican plot at Glasnevin Cemetery. Times Wednesday Oct 29, 1924
1929 Feb 12. Kate remarries, David Flynn at SS Peter and Paul's Cork City.
|
| Person ID |
I19114 |
falvey08 |
| Last Modified |
9 Jul 2024 |
1892 - 1922 (30 years)
: Address
: Location
: City/Town
: County/Shire
: State/Province
: Country
: Not Set