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Those known to have served with 1st Battalion, Royal Irish Fusiliers during the Second World War 1939-1945. - Addis Anthony. Fus. (d.26th October 1943)
- Graham Edward. Fus. (d.13th Aug 1943)
- Graham Edward. Fus. (d.13th Aug 1943)
- Henderson James Joseph. Fusilier
- Hulme MID. Richard. Fus.
- Kelly DCM Frederick. WOII.
- Leathem John. Fus.
- McCamley John. Fus. (d.27th May 1940)
- McKay Robert James. Cpl.
- Merryfield William Booth. Cpl. (d.6th October 1943)
- Milton Sidney. Fus. (d.7th Apr 1943)
- Orr John. (d.27th October 1943)
- Phillips David Maxwell. RSM. (d.2nd Jun 1940)
- Smythe John. Fus. (d.28th Apr 1940)
- Steele William Joseph . Fus. (d.26th May 1940 )
- Teahan Daniel. Pte.
- Thoroughgood Leonard Charles. Fus. (d.29th Decembrr 1942)
- Watt George. Fus. (d.6th Aug 1943)
The names on this list have been submitted by relatives, friends, neighbours and others who wish to remember them, if you have any names to add or any recollections or photos of those listed,
please
Add a Name to this List
Records of 1st Battalion, Royal Irish Fusiliers from other sources.
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The Wartime Memories Project is the original WW1 and WW2 commemoration website.
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Want to know more about 1st Battalion, Royal Irish Fusiliers? There are:1384 items tagged 1st Battalion, Royal Irish Fusiliers available in our Library
These include information on officers, regimental histories, letters, diary entries, personal accounts and information about actions during the Second World War. |
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Fus. William Joseph Steele 1st Btn. Royal Irish Fusiliers (d.26th May 1940 ) My granddad, William Steele was born 1920 in Cork City. He died around the 26th of May 1940 while the Dunkirk evacuation was happening. I remember my great gran telling about him as a child. I researched it and found he was killed in Belgium and buried in France. I used to play with his medals when I was a young child.
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WOII. Frederick Kelly DCM 1st Battalion Royal Irish Fusiliers Frederick Kelly joined the army in 1925. His first posting was to Egypt and then to Agra in India.
He married Miriam Alexander (an Anglo-Indian doctor). Soon after their daughter, Margaret, was born.
It would seem Frederick was returned to England having completed 7 years with the colours. Miriam and baby did not accompany him.
It would appear he was called again to the Royal Irish Fusiliers at the outbreak of World War 2 and rose through the ranks.
His name appeared in the London Gazette on the 15th of June 1944 as having been given the Distinguished Conduct Medal. There are no details given as to the reason or actions for which he received the award. The regiment were serving in Italy in 1944.
It would be of interest to know what became of him after this time.
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Fus. John McCamley 1st Battalion Royal Irish Fusiliers (d.27th May 1940) John McCamley was 21 years old when he lost his life, he is buried in Dunkirk Town Cemetery.
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RSM. David Maxwell Phillips 1st Btn. Royal Irish Fusiliers (d.2nd Jun 1940) David Phillips was fatally wounded during defence of Dunkirk with the Royal Irish Fusiliers, he returned to England and died of his injuries.
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Fus. John Smythe 1st Btn. Royal Irish Fusiliers (d.28th Apr 1940) John Smythe was the Son of Bernard and Annie Smyth of Drumkeen.
He was 22 when he died and is buried in Cullies Cemetery, Co. Cavan, Ireland.
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Fus. Leonard Charles Thoroughgood 1st Battalion Royal Irish Fusiliers (d.29th Decembrr 1942) Len Thoroughgood was one of the many Irish lads who were given hospitality by my parents, Jean and Jimmy Cowan, in Cumnock, Ayrshire, Scotland, before going to North Africa where sadly he was killed.
He is buried in Medjel-el-bab War Cemetery.
His half brother Harry survived and lived in London after the war.
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Fus. George Watt 1st Battalion Royal Irish Fusiliers (d.6th Aug 1943) George Watt served with the 1st Battalion, Royal Irish Fusiliers
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Fus. Anthony Addis 1st Btn. Royal Irish Fusiliers (d.26th October 1943) My wife's uncle was wounded at the river Trigno on 21st October 1943 and died on 26th October 1943. He is buried at Bari. He is mentioned in the book `Clear the Way!
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Cpl. William Booth Merryfield 1st Btn. Royal Irish Fusiliers (d.6th October 1943) My father's cousin Will was killed in action at Termoli, Italy on 6th October 1943. Will served as a corporal with the Royal Irish Fusiliers and was mentoned in the book `Clear the Way!, a history of the 38th (Irish) Brigade 1941-47' by Richard Doherty, which described how he met his end. His remains lie in the Sangro River War Cemetery, Italy, Grave VII.C.33. Does anyone remember Will?
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Fus. John Leathem 1st Battalion Royal Irish Fusiliers  My father John Leathem enlisted on 19th of June 1941 with the Royal Irish Fusiliers at Ballykilner Camp in Co. Down, Northern Ireland. On 15th of November 1943 he was posted to the 1st Battalion Royal Irish Fusiliers joining them at San Salvo in Italy. He fought with his regiment until 18th of June 1944 while advancing with the 56 Recce Group advance heading North of Orvieto towards Lake Trasimene. Withdrawn from the front he would spend the summer recuperating in Southern Italy before rejoining his regiment on 16th September 1944 while they were preparing in Taranto to rejoin the battle front. The unit then saw action starting in Castel Del Rio. My father's company was one of two companies that took part in the ill fated initial attack on Monte Spaduro. After a relatively unopposed advance onto Monte Spaduro the Germans counter attacked strongly on October 20th, 1944 and and completely overran the positions of A and B companies 1st Battalion RIrF after they had ran out of ammunition. My father was one of some 40 men taken prisoner. Many of his unit did not survive the counter attack. He was transported to Stalag VII-A and held POW until liberated by the Americans on 29th of April 1945. He seldom talked about his experiences in the trenches and in the POW camp. He lived a long life after the war although sometimes in pain from his war wounds. He died peacefully of natural causes on St. Patricks Day 1994 at the age of 84.
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