MILI |
UK Soldiers Died in the Great War 1914-1919
Name - William Healy
Birth Place - St. Ann's, Cork
Residence - Cork
Death Date - 14 Oct 1915
Death Location - France & Flanders
Enlistment Location - Cork
Rank - Private
Regiment - Royal Munster Fusiliers
Battalion - 2nd Battalion
Number - 6056
Type of Casualty - Killed in Action
Theatre of War - Western European Theatre
CWGC - Casualty Details
Name - Healy
Initials - W
Nationality - United Kingdom
Rank - Private
Regiment/Service - Royal Munster Fusiliers
Unit Text - 4th Bn.
Date of Death - 14.10.1915
Service No - 6056
Additional Information - Husband of Mrs. C Healy of 2 Patricks Arch Cork
Casualty Type - Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference - I.E. 22.
Cemetery - Noeux-Les-Mines Communal Cemetery
WW1 Medal Card
Campaign:- 1914
(A) Where decoration was earned
(B) Present situation
Name Corps Rank Reg. No.
(A) Healy R.Muns Fus Pte 6056
(B) William -"- -"- -"-
Medal Roll Page
Victory A/103 B4 699
British -"- -"-
14 Star A/7 38
Action Taken - B.W. + V. Medals retd. (1743 K.R. 1912) 8153/Adt. K in A
Theatre of War -
Qualifying Date - 9.10.14 8153/Adt.
BIOGRAPHY
William Healy.
Father; Dan (Daniel) Healy, Mother Hannah Sullivan.
Born, Circa 1888, Cork City
Died. 14-10-1915, Place Western Front, WW1.
Buried. Noeux-Les-Mines, Town Cemetery, France.
Married; Christine Creedon, 8-7-1911, at St Mary's Cathedral, Cork City
Williams address at marriage; 3 St Patrick's Arch, Blackpool, Cork City
Christine's address at Marriage, Fitzgibbons Square, Blackpool, Cork City.
William's service record did not survive.
William was a general laborer at the time of enlisting which is believed to be around the end of August 1914.
He enlisted into the famous Royal Munster Fusiliers Regiment along with many of his friends from the Blackpool area of Cork City, his regiment number was 6056. He was first sent to Aldershot for Basic Training and on the 9th of October 1914 the 4th battalion RMF embarked at Southampton and after the short journey across the English Channel he along with his regiment landed at Le Havre.
Their first big action was at Festubert in December 1914 and in the 4 years that followed the Royal Munster Fusiliers fought in many famous battles and while victorious in most they paid a heavy price with the loss of many men.
Sometime in early 1915, William was transferred to the 2nd Bt RMF, Machine Gun Detachment and fought at the battle of Aubers Ridge on the 9th May and at the battle of Loos in September- October 1915.
At 8pm on the morning of the 14th October 1915 the battalion were being transported to the line when it was hit by shell fire, William was seriously injured and died a short time later at the field hospital.
Only one other soldier of the RMF was killed in that attack, he was Sergeant Michael O'Sullivan Regiment Number 6097 of Rope Walk, Wises Hill, Cork City, both he and William had enlisted together.
William is buried in the Noeux-les-Mines Communal Cemetery, grave number I.E. 22, but unfortunately Michael's body could not be recovered and his death is commemorated on the Loos Memorial; Panel 127.
On the 15th of October the day after William's death, his Chaplin Rev Whitfield wrote to Christine informing her of William's death and on the 28th of October the Army officially notified Christine of Williams Death, both of which appear here. Sean Healy, Grandson, 9 Jan 2011.
Letter from Chaplin Whitfield
1st Field Ambulance,
The Expeditionary Force.
Oct 15th 1915
Mrs C Healy
Cork
Dear Madam,
It is with the Deepest
sympathy that I have to give you
the News of the Death of Pte William
Healy No 6056 4th Batt 2nd Royal Munster
Fusiliers. He was mortally wounded
as shell in the Village where the
battalion transport was stationed
and was bought to our advance
dressing station there he was quite
unconscious. but I was able to give
him conditional absolution
and extreme unction and the
assistance of my prayers. It was
thought well to send him to our
hospital but he died shortly
after admission there. I buried
him this morning in the cemetery
at Noeux les Mines.
I feel that it wil be
a small comfort to you to know
he was unconscious of pain and
another greater one tht he received
the sacraments of Holy Church.
I shall not neglect his soul at
Holy Mass and I beg also that you
may obtain the grace of submiss
ion in assignation to Gods Holy
will in the great bereavement
which befalls you
Belive me to be
yours sincerly F L Whitfield
R C Chaplin 1st Brigade.
Army Notification
Infantry Records Office,
Cork Station,
28th October 1915.
It is my painful duty to inform you that a report
has this day been received from the War Office Notifying the death of
(No.) 6056 (Rank) Private
(Name) William Healy (Regiment) 4th Royal Munster
Fusiliers (2 Posted 7/10/14) which occurred at Loos in Hulloch
France on the 14th Day
of October 1915, and I am to express to you the
sympathy and regret of the Army Council at your loss. The cause of death was
Killed in action.
If any articles of private property left by the deceased are found, they will be
forwarded to this Office, but some time will probably elapse before their receipt, and
when received they cannot be disposed of until authority is received from the War
Office.
Application regarding the disposal of any such personal effects, or of any
amount that may eventually be found to be due to the late soldier's estate, should
be addressed "the Secretary, War Office, London, S.W.," and marked outside
"Effects".
Mrs Christina Healy I am,
xx Gerald Griffin Avenue Sir,
Off Gerald Griffin Street. Your obediant Servant
Cork
F X Hayes 2 Lieut
Officer in charge of Records.
No12 Dis't
William Healy in the Ireland, Casualties of World War I, 1914-1922
Name: William Healy
Regiment: Royal Munster Fusiliers
Regimental Number: 6056
Death Date: 14 Oct 1915
Death Place: France
Birth Place: Cork, Ireland
Other Records: Search for 'William Healy' in other WWI collections
William Healy in the UK, Soldiers Died in the Great War, 1914-1919
Name: William Healy
Birth Place: St. Ann's, Cork
Residence: Cork
Death Date: 14 Oct 1915
Death Place: France and Flanders
Enlistment Place: Cork
Rank: Private
Regiment: Royal Munster Fusiliers
Battalion: 2nd Battalion
Regimental Number : 6056
Type of Casualty: Killed in action
Theatre of War: Western European Theatre
Other Records: Search for 'William Healy' in other WWI collections
War Diaries (France, Belgium, Germany): Search for 'Royal Munster Fusiliers' in the WWI War Diaries (France, Belgium, Germany) collection
War Diaries (Gallipoli): Search for 'Royal Munster Fusiliers' in the WWI War Diaries (Gallipoli) collection
William Healy in the UK, Army Registers of Soldiers' Effects, 1901-1929
Name: William Healy
Gender: Male
Death Date: 14 Oct 1915
Rank: Private
Regiment: Royal Munster Fusiliers
Regimental Number: 4/6056
Other Records: Search for 'William Healy' in other WWI collections
UK Army Register of Soldiers' Effects 1901-1929
Record No - 241068
Registry No - E/139661/1
Soldier's Name - Healy William A F W 5070 Sent 26 May 1919
Regiment, Rank, No - @nd Bn R Munster Fus, Pte, 4/6056
Date and Place of Death - 14.10.15, In Action
Place of Birth, Date of Enlistment, Trade on Enlistment - Cork, 28.12.95, Labourer
Next of Kin - Widow
Credits
Account and Date - Cork 12 : 15 - ?11.18s.4d. , ?4. 10s. d. War Graty 19-20 Transfer Entry 4873/2 25/6/19 Regd. Paper 21/1984 Eve23, Serial No, 3554 - ?4. 10s.0d.
Charges
?3. 19s. 6d. Account and Date M.O. 2.16 Date of Authority - 10:2:16
?7. 18s. 10d. Account and Date M.O. 4.16 Date of Authority - 25:4:16/1
Account and Date O S B. Date of Authority - 14.2.16 (crossed through)
17.9.19/3 (in red)
To whom Authorised - Widow Christine ?3. 19s. 6d.
To whom Authorised - Widow Christine ?7. 18s. 10d. For soldier's son John
To whom Authorised - Son John ?7. 18s. 10d. C 13.7.13
To whom Authorised - Wid. Christine ?4. 10s. 0d. PD (in red) cancelled 1.6.16
Image Military>HealyWilliam downloaded but not assigned a Source No. (HealyWilliam_ArmyRegisterof SoldiersEffects19011929SCFull.jpg)
Record Details for W Healy (Royal Munster Fusiliers)
First Name: W
Surname: Healy
Nationality: British
Date of Death: 14/10/1915
Information: Husband of Mrs. C. Healy, of 2, Patricks Arch, Cork.
Rank: Private
Service Number: 6056
Service: British Army
Regiment: Royal Munster Fusiliers
Battalion: 4th Battalion (Why is this important?)
The Regiment can trace its history back to 1652 when it was first formed as part of a private army for the East India Company. This British Company was formed in December 1600 in an effort to break the Dutch spice trade monopoly. The Company quickly realized that it needed to secure and protect its trading posts at Surat, Madras, Bombay and Calcutta. Therefore within two centuries The Company had bought land from the Indian rulers, built settlements, raised its own army and navy, built its own ships and effectively ruled India, thus raising the curtain for Britain's Indian Empire. The Regiment was initially involved in guarding factories along the Hugli River in Bengal. The Regiments Officers were recruited and trained in Britain and commanded a mainly native force.
The ruling Mughal Empire in India was near collapse by the mid-18th century and The East India Company found itself fighting for supremacy against the French and becoming increasingly involved in local power politics. In December 1756 separate companies and detachments were amalgamated into one battalion; The Bengal European Battalion and was involved in the Battle of Plassey, and also helped to defend Fort William against Prince Suraja Dowlah, where many of the officers and men perished in the infamous Black Hole of Calcutta. In 1758 the Regiment also fought against the French at the Battle of Condore and then in 1759 against the Dutch.
Once The Company had consolidated its position, it focused on the collecting territorial taxes in northeast India and confirmed British military supremacy in the region making The Company the ruling power in Bengal, India's richest province. The British government was happy to let the Company rule as long as wealth continued to flow back to London.
The Bengal European Battalion was renamed The Bengal European Light Infantry in 1838 after its distinguished gallantry in the storming of Ghuznee in the first Afghan War. In 1839 a 2nd Battalion was formed as the 2nd Bengal European Regiment. The title Fusiliers was added to the 1st Battalion in 1846 for its gallant conduct in the Sutlej Campaign. The 2nd Battalion also became a Fusilier Corps after the second Sikh War and the Regimental facings were changed from white to dark blue.
However, the Indian population became increasingly discontented with The Company's interference in local affairs and politics, which eventually lead to the first Indian Rebellion in 1857. The Regiment was involved in various battles and the eventual suppression of the Rebellion. However this spelt the end of The Company's rule in India as the British government felt it had mismanaged the situation. The Company was formally dissolved in Aug 1858 and the Crown took over control of the administration and its armies in India. The two battalions were incorporated into the British Army as the 101st Royal Bengal Fusiliers and 104th Bengal Fusiliers. In 1861 the battalions became the 101st Regiment of Foot (Royal Bengal Fusiliers) and 104th Regiment of Foot (Bengal Fusiliers).
In 1881 the Childers Reforms restructured the British army infantry Regiments into a network of multi-battalion Regiments each having two regular and two militia battalions. The 101st Regiment of Foot (Royal Bengal Fusiliers) and 104th Regiment of Foot (Bengal Fusiliers) were amalgamated with the Militia of Munster and became The Royal Munster Fusiliers, one of only five of the infantry battalions given Irish titles. The Regiment was disbanded in June 1922 following cuts in the British army and the establishment of the new Irish Free State.
Royal Munster Fusiliers during WW1
Since 1815 the balance of power in Europe had been maintained by a series of treaties. In 1888 Wilhelm II was crowned 'German Emperor and King of Prussia' and moved from a policy of maintaining the status quo to a more aggressive position. He did not renew a treaty with Russia, aligned Germany with the declining Austro-Hungarian Empire and started to build a Navy rivalling that of Britain. These actions greatly concerned Germany's neighbours, who quickly forged new treaties and alliances in the event of war. On 28th June 1914 Franz Ferdinand the heir to the Austro-Hungarian throne was assassinated by the Bosnian-Serb nationalist group Young Bosnia who wanted pan-Serbian independence. Franz Joseph's the Austro-Hungarian Emperor (with the backing of Germany) responded aggressively, presenting Serbia with an intentionally unacceptable ultimatum, to provoke Serbia into war. Serbia agreed to 8 of the 10 terms and on the 28th July 1914 the Austro-Hungarian Empire declared war on Serbia, producing a cascade effect across Europe. Russia bound by treaty to Serbia declared war with Austro-Hungary, Germany declared war with Russia and France declared war with Germany. Germany's army crossed into neutral Belgium in order to reach Paris, forcing Britain to declare war with Germany (due to the Treaty of London (1839) whereby Britain agreed to defend Belgium in the event of invasion). By the 4th August 1914 Britain and much of Europe were pulled into a war which would last 1,566 days, cost 8,528,831 lives and 28,938,073 casualties or missing on both sides.
The Regiment raised 10 Battalions and was awarded 51 Battle Honours and 3 Victoria Crosses during the course of the war. The Regiment was engaged in battle 13 times at full strength and reduced to less than 6 officers and 300 men 10 of those times. 3,070 men of the Regiment died during the 1,566 days of action.
1st Battalion
04.08.1914 Stationed in Rangoon, Burma at the outbreak of war. Embarked for the U.K. in Dec.
10.01.1915 Arrived at Avonmouth, Bristol and then moved to Coventry and joined the 86th Brigade of the 29th Division.
16.031915 Mobilised for war and embarked for Alexandria via Mudros from Avonmouth.
24.04.1915 Landed at Helles and were engaged in actions at the Battles for Krithia and the Achi Baba heights on the Gallipoli Peninsula.
30.04.1915 Due to the extensive Allied casualties the 1st Royal Munster Fusiliers and the 1st Royal Dublin Fusiliers were amalgamated for 20 days to be known as the 'Dubsters' Battalion.
Jan 1916 Evacuated to Egypt due to the severe casualties from combat, disease and harsh weather.
16.03.1916 Embarked at Port Said for Marseilles arriving 22.03.1916
25.04.1916 Initially involved in defending the Lines of Communication.
28.05.1916 Transferred to the 48th Brigade of the 16th Division where they were engaged in actions on the Western Front including, the capture of Ginchy but were reduced to 5 officers and 305 men.
30.05.1916 Absorbed 3 officers and 146 men from the disbanded 9th battalion.
22.11.1916 Absorbed 21 officers and 446 men from the disbanded 8th Battalion and transferred to the 47th Brigade of the 16th Division and continued to engage in action on the Western Front;
During 1917
The Battle of Messines, The first Battle of Cambrai, Third Battles of Ypres.
19.04.1918 Absorbed surplus men of the 2nd Battalion and reduced to cadre.
20.04.1918 Transferred to 172nd Brigade of the 57th Division and continued to engage in various action on the Western Front including;
During 1918
The Battle of the Scarpe, The Battle of the Drocourt-Queant Line, The Battle of the Canal du Nord, The Battle of the Cambrai, the Division assisted in the capture of Cambrai and the occupation of Lille.
11.11.1918 Ended the war in France at Lille.
2nd Battalion
04.08.1914 Stationed at Aldershot at the outbreak of war as part of the 1st (Guards) Brigade of the 1st Division.
14.08.1914 Mobilised for war and landed in Havre as part of the BEF and were engaged in various action on the Western Front notably fighting the rearguard action at Etreux. The battalion was reduced to 5 officers and 196 men in this action.
14.09.1914 Transferred to Army Troops.
09.11.1914 Transferred to the 3rd Brigade of the 1st Division and engaged in the Ypres Salient offensive and the Festubert battle.
During 1915
Winter Operations 1914-15, The Battle of Aubers, The Battle of Loos.
30.05.1916 Absorbed 7 officers and 140 men of the disbanded 9th Battalion.
During 1916
The Battle of Albert, The Battle of Bazentin, The Battle of Pozieres, The Battle of Flers-Courcelette, The Battle of Morval,
During 1917
The German retreat to the Hindenburg Line, The Second Battle of Passchendaele,
03.02.1918 Transferred to 48th Brigade of the 16th Division the Battalion was shattered in German 'Spring Offensive'.
19.04.1918 Reduced to cadre and surplus personnel to the 1st Battalion.
31.05.1918 Transferred to the 94th Brigade of the 31st Division.
06.06.1918 Reconstituted with drafts from the disbanded 6th Battalion.
16.06.1918 Moved to defend the Lines of Communication.
15.07.1918 Transferred to the 150th Brigade of the 50th Division at Martin Eglise and were once again engaged on the Western Front including;
The Battle of the St Quentin Canal, The Battle of the Beaurevoir Line, The Battle of Cambrai 1918, The pursuit to the Selle, The Battle of the Selle, The Battle of Valenciennes.
11.11.1918 Ended the war in France, Sars Poteries N.E. of Avesnes.
3rd Battalion
04.08.1914 Stationed Tralee, County Kerry Ireland moved to Berehaven, Bantry Bay.
Oct 1914 Moved to Cork.
May 1915 Moved to Aghada, Cork Harbour.
Oct 1917 Moved to Ballingcollig, Cork.
Nov 1917 Moved to Devonport, Plymouth England, then absorbed into the 4th and 5th Battalions in May 1918.
4th (Extra Reserve) Battalion
04.08.14 Stationed at Kinsale, Ireland then moved to Queenstown and on to Aghada, Cork Harbour.
May 1915 Moved to South Shields then on to Fermoy.
Feb 1916 Moved to Bere Island, then onto Curragh and Castlebar, Co. Mayo.
Nov 1917 Moved to Dreghorn, Scotland
April 1918 Moved to Portobello and then onto Plymouth and absorbed by the 3rd Battalion.
5th (Extra Reserve) Battalion
04.08.14 Stationed at Limerick, Ireland then moved to Queenstown.
Oct 1914 Moved to Bere Island, then onto Crosshaven, Cork Harbour.
May 1915 Moved to North Shields and then on to Curragh.
Aug 1917 Moved to Galway and then to Invergordon, Scotland in Nov.
April 1918 Moved to Fort George and then onto Plymouth and absorbed by the 3rd Battalion.
6th and 7th (Service) Battalion
Aug 1914 Formed at Tralee, County Kerry as part of the First New Army (K1), then moved to Curragh and joined the 30th Brigade of the 10th Division.
May 1915 Moved to Basingstoke, England.
09.07.1915 Mobilised for war and embarked for Gallipoli from Liverpool via Mudros.
07.08.1915 Landed at Suvla Bay and were involved in the attack on Chocolate Hill, The Battle of Scimitar Hill and attack on Hill 60
02.10.1915 Evacuated to Mudros and then on to Salonika in order to help the Serbs fight against Bulgarian aggression and were involved in various battles including; action at Kosturino, action at the Karajakois and Yenikoi.
03.11.1916 The 6th absorbed the 7th Battalion
Sept 1917 Moved to Egypt and were involved in the Palestine campaign
30.04.1918 Left the 10th Division and moved to Marseilles, France.
05.06.1918 Absorbed by the 2nd Battalion and disbanded.
8th (Service) Battalion
Sep/Oct 1914 Formed at Fermoy as part of the Second New Army (K2), then moved to Mitchelstown, County Cork and joined the 47th Brigade of the 16th Division.
May 1915 Moved to Templemore then back to Fermoy then to Blackdown, Aldershot.
18.12.1915 Mobilised for war and landed at Havre.
30.05.1916 Absorbed 12 Officers and 200 men of the disbanded 9th Battalion, and engaged in various action on the Western Front including; The Battle of Guillemont and The Battle of Ginchy.
23.11.1916 Disbanded in France and the remaining personnel moved to the 1st Battalion.
9th (Service) Battalion
Sep/Oct 1914 Formed at Kilworth as part of the Second New Army (K2), then moved to Ballyvonare and joined the 48th Brigade of the 16th Division.
May 1915 Moved to Ballyhooly and then to Blackdown, Aldershot.
20.12.1915 Mobilised for war and landed at Havre.
30.05.1916 Disbanded in France and the remaining personnel moved to the 8th Battalion.
1st (Garrison) Battalion
01.04.1917 Formed as a Home Service Garrison Battalion in Cork, Ireland from the 1st (Home Service) Garrison Battalion Durham Light Infantry.
Nov 1917 Moved to Prees Heath, Shropshire.
11.11.1917 Joined three Companies and H.Q. and moved to Italy to defend the Lines of Communication.
2nd (Home Service) Garrison Battalion
Nov 1917 Formed at Prees Heath, Shropshire from one Company of the 1st Garrison Battalion.
April 1918 Moved to Cosham, Portsmouth were it remained.
Collection: The IWGC/CWGC Registers Collection
Campaign Medals:
1914/15 Star
With the information in W Healy's record, it is likely that they were awarded the 1914-15 star campaign medal of the British Empire for his service in World War One.
This Star is identical to the 1914 Star in every respect except that the centre scroll bears the dates "1914- 15" and the two small scrolls bearing "Aug" and "Nov" are omitted.
He would also have received the British War Medal and Victory Medal, as it was not awarded singularly. These three medals were sometimes irreverently referred to as Pip, Squeak and Wilfred. With Pip representing either this medal or the 1914 Star, only one of which could be awarded to a soldier, Squeak represented the British War Medal and Wilfred represented the Victory Medal.
British War Medal
With the information in W Healy'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.
Memorial Death Plaque Of WWI
The next of kin for W Healy would have been sent this death plaque after the war to commemorate all of the war dead. Over 1 million were issued in total.
Victory Medal
With the information in W Healy'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 [2, 3, 4] |
Notes |
- Image 1BirthCerts>Healy downloaded but not assigned a Source No. (B1883HalyWilliamSCFull.pdf)
1901 Census of Ireland
9 Fitzgibbons Square, Blackpool, Cork City. Co Cork, Ireland
Daniel Healy, Head of Family, Roman Catholic, Cannot Read, Age 45, M, Labourer Coal Porter, Married, Cork City.
Hannah Healy, Wife, Roman Catholic, Read & Write, Age 45, F, Housekeeper, Married, born Cork City,
Maggie Healy, Daughter, Roman Catholic, Read & Write, Age 16, F, Scholar, Not Married, born Cork City,
William Healy, Son, Roman Catholic, Read & Write, Age 11, M, Scholar, Not Married, born Cork City,
1911 Marriage solemised at the Roman Catholic Cathedral Cork in the Registrar's District of 4 Urban in the union of Cork in the County of Cork.
No 59,
When married 8 Jul 1911
Name and surname William Healy, Age Full, Condition Bachelor,
Rank or Profession Labourer,
Residence at the Time of Marriage 3 Patricks Arch Cork,
Father's Name and Surname Daniel Healy, Rank or profession of Labourer.
Name and surname Christina Creedon, Age Full, Condition Spinster,
Rank or Profession - Nil,
Residence at Time of Marriage Fitzgibbon Square Cork,
Father's Name and Surname John Creedon, Rank or Profession of Father Labourer.
Married in the Roman Catholic Cathedral of Cork according to the Rites and Ceremonies of the Roman Catholic Church by me M O'Sullivan.
This marriage was solemnised between us William Healy and Christina Creedon, Witnesses Joseph his x mark Kelly and Ellen Dineen.
CWGC - Casualty Details
Name - Healy
Initials - W
Nationality - United Kingdom
Rank - Private
Regiment/Service - Royal Munster Fusiliers
Unit Text - 4th Bn.
Date of Death - 14.10.1915
Service No - 6056
Additional Information - Husband of Mrs. C Healy of 2 Patricks Arch Cork
Casualty Type - Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference - I.E. 22.
Cemetery - Noeux-Les-Mines Communal Cemetery [1, 5]
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