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207042 Pte. William Cahill British Army 7th Btn. Leinster Regiment from:Delvin (d.31st Jul 1917) My Great Grandfather, William was born in 1881 and enlisted in Mullingar sometime in 1916. He was killed in action on 31st July 1917 on the first day of 3rd Ypres, whilst on a digging party at Potijze crossroads. He is buried with 9 other personell from the 7th Leinsters who were killed in the same incident. According to the family he was only in the trenches for about 6 months before he met his end. He is buried at Potijze Chateau Lawn Cemetery and his stone includes the epitaph 'He died with a smile his country to save - his memory lives with the true and the brave". Additional Information: I bought a Passchendaele 100 for my husband this week. The poppy is part of a special, limited edition collection. Each poppy is dedicated to a lost soldier. The poppy we bought is dedicated to Private W Cahill of Leinster Regiment, 5234. We were interested to know more. Jane Whiteley Reply

Pte William Cahill - 7th Battalion Leinster Regiment – Killed 31/07/1917 Father: Patrick Cahill (Mason) Mother: Margaret Robinson. (born around 1842) Pte 5234 William Cahill who is buried in Potijze Chateau Lawn cemetery was one of many children born to a Margaret Cahill born around 1842 and to a Patrick Cahill (listed as mason). Margaret’s maiden name is listed as Robinson. From Delvin Parish records – the following children are listed as: Patrick Cahill – July 1869 Ellen Cahill – 17 September 1871 Mary Anne Cahill – 8 April 1874 Margaret Bridget Cahill – 9 August 1876 Michael Cahill – 16 March 1879 William Cahill – 9 June 1881 James Cahill – 24 Feb 1886 Elizabeth Cahill – 19 August 1887 Catherine Cahill – 13 December 1889 – emigrated to Australia. William married Anne – born around 1890 and together they had 3 children Margaret, Elizabeth and Kathleen. As far as I am aware Michael Cahill (the older brother) was a regular soldier before the war and recalled on the outbreak of the Great War. William Cahill is listed in the 1911 Irish Census as living in Clonyn, Delvin, Co Westmeath with his widowed mother, wife and children. There is also a link to a Mrs Cahill, Billistown, Delvin, Co Westmeath who contacted the Commonwealth War Graves Commission after the Great War to confirm the epitaph on William’s grave. His wife and children moved to Halifax, Yorkshire after WW2. Pat Donlon Reply

Enlisted in Mullingar in November 1915. Previously a stonemason @ the Castletown Delvin workhouse. He is briefly mentioned in the Drogheda press on 25th August 1917, as killed by an artillery shell whilst assisting attending to a wounded comrade.

Mike Hegarty