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Sgt. James Somers VC.
British Army 1st Btn Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers
from:Cloughjordan, Ireland
(d.7th May 1918)
James Somers served with 1st Bn. Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers during WW1 and the Army Service Corps. He was severely wounded in the Retreat from Mons 1914. Won his VC with the Inniskilling Fusiliers in Gallipoli. He died on 07th May 1918, Age: 24. He is buried West of the Church in the Modreeny Church of Ireland Churchyard, County Tipperary in the Republic of Ireland. He was the son of R. W. Somers, of Cloughjordan.
An extract from the supplement to The London Gazette, dated 31st Aug., 1915, records the following:- For most conspicuous bravery on the night of 1st-2nd July, 1915, in the Southern Zone of the Gallipoli Peninsula, when, owing to hostile bombing, some of our troops had retired from a sap, Serjeant Somers remained alone on the spot until a party brought up bombs. He then climbed over into the Turkish trench, and bombed the Turks with great effect. Later on he advanced into the open under very heavy fire and held back the enemy by throwing bombs into their flank until a barricade had been established. During this period he frequently ran to and from our trenches to obtain fresh supplies of bombs. By his great gallantry and coolness Serjeant Somers was largely instrumental in effecting the recapture of a portion of our trench which had been lost.
Somers remained at Gallipoli until the close of the campaign, later seeing further service in France, taking part in the 1 July 1916 attack on the Somme at Beaumont Hamel. On the 1 April 1917 he joined the Army Service Corps. After being gassed quite badly, he was to die at his home in Cloughjordan, County Tipperary on 7 May 1918. He is buried in the churchyard at Modreemy, County Tipperary.
