Mayo
People Who Died In The Blitz on England
in
Second World War
By
P. J. Clarke, Ballina
The Blitz, shortened from German Blitzkrieg, “lightning war” refers to
the strategic bombing campaign conducted by Nazi Germany against London and other cities in
England from September of 1940 through May of 1941, targeting populated areas,
factories and dock yards during the Second World War.
The first German attack on
London actually occurred by accident. On the night of August 24, 1940,
Luftwaffe bombers aiming for military targets on the outskirts of London
drifted off course and instead dropped their bombs on the centre of London
destroying several homes and killing civilians.
Beginning on September 7,
1940, and for a total of 57 consecutive nights, London was bombed. The decision
to wage a massive bombing campaign against London and other English cities
would prove to be one of the most fateful of the war. Up to that point, the
Luftwaffe had targeted Royal Air Force airfields and support installations and
had nearly destroyed the entire British air defence system. Switching to an
all-out attack on British cities gave RAF Fighter Command a desperately
needed break and the opportunity to rebuild damaged airfields, train new pilots
and repair aircraft.
During the nightly bombing
raids on London, people took shelter in warehouse basements and underground
(subway) stations where they slept on makeshift beds amid primitive conditions
with no privacy and poor sanitation facilities.
Other British cities
targeted during the Blitz included; Portsmouth, Southampton, Plymouth, Exeter,
Bristol, Bath, Cardiff, Birmingham, Coventry, Nottingham, Norwich, Ipswich,
Sheffield, Manchester, Liverpool, Hull, Middlesbrough, Sunderland, Newcastle
and also Glasgow, Scotland and Belfast, Northern Ireland.
By the end of 1940, German
air raids had killed 15,000 British civilians. The most heavily targeted had occurred on the
night of November 14/15 against Coventry, an industrial city, east of
Birmingham in central England, and Birmingham, due to the fact of the Spitfire
and tank factories based there. In that raid, 449 German bombers dropped 1,400
high explosive bombs and 100,000 incendiaries which destroyed 50,000 buildings,
killing 568 persons, leaving over 1,000 badly injured. The incendiary devices
created fire storms with super-heated gale force winds drawing in torrents of
air to fan enormous walls of flames.
In all, 18,000 tons of
high explosives had been dropped on England during the eight months of the
Blitz. A total of 18,629 men, 16,201 women, and 5,028 children were killed
along with 695 unidentified charred bodies.
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These are the names that I uncovered during
my research of the four Mayo newspapers that were published during the Second
World War – The Western People, The Ballina Herald, The Connaught Telegraph and
the Mayo News, and once again I would like to thank those intrepid reporters
for seeking out the fatalities. The fact that these papers are now online in
the libraries is a credit to Mayo County Library service for without them this
exercise would not be possible. Also heartfelt sympathy to all those families
who suffered the trauma of losing a family member in such a hostile
environment.
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News was received in
Westport on Saturday of the death in an air raid in Manchester of Mr. Paddy Murphy, former resident of Knox Street, and Mayo representative of
Perry’s. Ltd. Deceased leaves a wife and six young children who now reside in
Salthill, Galway. (Mayo News, Sat., 19th Oct., 1940).
• • •
Sister
Lucille, of the Marist Order, Peckham, London, whose death occurred in
London, last week-end, was a daughter of Mrs.
Kennedy, and the late James Kennedy,
Cursallagh, Tubbercurry, and sister of Sister
Jerome, Fiji Islands. A few weeks ago a number of Sisters, including
deceased, had to seek temporary accommodation when part of the convent was
destroyed during an air raid on London. (Western People, 21 Dec., 1940).
• • •
News has been received
by Mr. and Mrs. M. Casey, Loughglynn, on the death of their daughter, Miss Ellen Casey, (26) following an
accident. Deceased was employed as a nurse. Mr. Casey is a blacksmith by trade,
carrying on a business in Ballaghaderreen. (Western People, 7th Dec., 1940).
• • •
A
striking tribute to the courage and bravery of Irish nurses in the bombed areas
of England was paid by Mr. Jarlath
Keane, Crossboyne, Claremorris, on his return to this country. “They are
simply marvellous” he told our representative “and sticking to their post with
great bravery. They are a credit to this country and made one feel proud of
being Irish.” Mr. Keane, who resided in South West of London, described the
German raids as “terrific”. He witnessed several air battles and had many
thrilling experiences. He said: “On one occasion, myself and others of the
staff were blown through a plate-glass window when a bomb exploded nearby.
Nobody was seriously injured, though a few received minor cuts.”
A
short time before he left for home he witnessed the terrible sight of 300 dead
bodies—men, women and children—being take from the flooded basement of a store
where they sought shelter during the air raid. “During the battle”, he said,
one bomb hit the water main, and in a few minutes the basement was flooded and
those inside were trapped. Many of them were sleeping at the time and escape
was impossible. Debris had blocked up all exits.”
In
spite of the relentless bombing, the morale of the people was excellent, and
while in the air-raid shelters they passed the time singing, etc., while German
and British machines roar overhead.” He agreed that parts of London suffered
heavily, but the damage done was not to the extent claimed by the German. Mr.
Keane intends to return to London after a short holiday here. (Western People,
7th Dec., 1940).
• • •
Ballyhaunis was shocked
last mid-week by the tragic tidings of the death in an air raid on London of
the Rev. P. A. Gough, O.S.A., St.
Monica’s, Hoxton, London. It appears that Father Gough was in an air raid
shelter attached to the Augustinian Prior, Hoxton, when killed. He was son of Mr. and Mrs. Gough, Mitchell Street, Dungarvan, who, on Thursday, were notified
of his death in the previous night’s raid on London. Aged 28 years, he was
ordained three years ago at St. Patrick’s, Rome. (Connaught
Telegraph, 26th April, 1941).
• • •
Charlestown native, Patrick Frain, was awarded the George
Cross for bravery during an air raid in Tilbury, Essex, England. He is a
brother of Miss B. Frain,
Charlestown, and uncle of Mr. P. Daly,
Ballaghaderreen. (Western People, 12 July, 1941).
• • •
News has been received
by Mrs. M. Feeney, Edmondstown,
Ballaghaderreen, that her daughter, Miss
Josie Feeney, aged 27, has been fatally injured during an air raid in
London. She had travelled from Scotland to London to spend a holiday with her
brother. (Western
People, 21st Sept., 1940).
• • •
Miss
Julia Derrig, Tourmakeady, was killed during an air
raid in England in August, 1941. She was niece of Miss Rose Derrig, High Street, Ballinrobe, and was the popular
lodge keeper in the Mercy Convent, Ballinrobe, for many years.
(Mayo News, August, 1941).
• • •
News reached Ballinrobe
this week of the death of Martin Walsh,
New Street, who it is said, was killed in an air raid, in England. Deceased was
about 60 years of age and went to England some 34 years ago.
(Western People, Nov. 16th, 1940).
• • •
It is reported from
England that Michael Lonihan and his
wife, formerly Eileen Naughton of Mayo parents, but born in England, were
killed in a recent air raid on a north eastern city. (Connaught
Telegraph, 9th Aug., 1941).
• • •
Ballinrobe community
felt the effects of World War II in May, 1941, when two sisters of
Donegal-native, Mrs. J. Walsh, New
Street—Sara and Annie McHugh – were killed during a German air raid on Belfast. (Mayo
News, May, 1941).
• • •
The painful tidings
have reached here of the death in England, following an air raid, of Mr. Thomas Mullarkey, a native of Tullaghane, Ballyhaunis. The deceased, who
had been in England for a number of years, was a member of a widely and
deservedly esteemed family. Aged about 40 years, his friends throughout his
native and adjoining parishes were legion, while in the town of Ballyhaunis,
where he was a one-time popular figure, he was respected by all who had the
pleasure of coming in contact with him, and who were shocked by the news of his
tragic end. His bereaved ones have the deepest sympathy of the public in their
sad bereavement. (Connaught Telegraph, Sat., 1st Feb.,
1941).
• • •
Mrs.
Margaret Mary Moore, Bellaghy, Charlestown, has received a
telegram notifying her of the death of her husband, Mr. Patrick Moore of 231
Lodge Avenue, Barking Municipal Borough, as a result of an accident during an
air raid on London. (Western People, 4th Jan., 1941).
• • •
An elderly widow, Mrs. Norah Muldoon, (maiden name,
Middleton), who came from near Castlebar, was killed in a recent raid on an
English North-Eastern town. (Connaught Telegraph, Sat., 22nd
July, 1944).
• • •
We regret to announce
the death of Mrs. Bridget Mary Baker
(nee Ellicott) which took place in a London hospital on the 18th June last,
following an accident, the result of an air raid, in which one of her children,
aged 5 years, was killed. She, herself, was brought to hospital, where she
received the Last Rites of the Catholic Church, and where she succumbed on the
date mentioned. The last Mrs. Baker was daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Patrick W.
Ellicott, of Burris, Manulla, and had spent the last eight years in England,
where she had recently married, her husband having predeceased her on the 8th
April, last, also the victim of an air raid. Requiem Mass was offered for the
eternal repose of her soul in the local church and the interment took place in
a nearby cemetery. To her bereaved parents, brother, and sister and other
relatives, the sincere sympathy of the people of the district is extended. the
funeral arrangements were taken charge of by her brother, at present at home in
Eire, and who had with him another little daughter, aged 2
years, and who is now taken care of by her
grandmother. The chief mourners were her parents; James and Annie Ellicott
(brother and sister); John, tom and Mrs. Ellicott (cousins).
(Connaught Telegraph, 22nd July, 1944).
• • •
It is reported that Mrs. Bill Murtagh, who resided some
years ago at Westport Quay, has been killed in a recent air raid on England. (Connaught
Telegraph, 12th Aug., 1944).
• • •
News has just reached
Swinford of the tragic death in London of Mr.
Paddy McGeever, native of
Cragaballa, Swinford. It is not known exactly how he met his death, The only
information received by his relatives is that he was killed while employed in
air raid demolition work. (The Mayo News, 6th Dec., 1947).
• • •
News reached Shrule
last week that Mrs. Bridie Quirke (27), 26
Onslow Gardens, Kensington, who was married only six weeks ago, and her sister,
Miss Chris. Muldoon (210, had been killed in an air raid in London. The news of
the double tragedy was received with deep regret by the people of the town and
surrounding districts. The young ladies were sisters and daughters of Mr. and
Mrs. M. Muldoon of Shrule, with whom the deepest sympathy is felt. Miss Chris.
Muldoon was a talented singer, having won a prize at the Tuam Feis while a
pupil of the Presentation Convent, Headford. Her services were much in demand
at concerts and she was ever-ready to help a good cause. She had been residing
in London with her sister, who, six weeks ago, was married to Sergeant Michael J.
Quirke of the Irish Guards. The funeral took place from Brompton Oratory to the
Kensington Catholic Cemetery on November 16th. Requiem High Mass was celebrated
and the prayers at the graveside were recited by the Rev. Father Wooduff, S.J.,
who only six weeks ago had officiated at the late Mrs. Quirke’s wedding. The
Shrule branch of the I.S.F., at a specially-convened meeting, passed a vote of
sympathy to the parents, brothers and sisters of the deceased.
(Mayo News, 7th Dec., 1940).
• • •
The death took place on
the 15th November, 1940, in London, as a result
of an air raid, of Mr. Walter
Francis (Frank), son of Mrs. Durcan, and the late John Durcan, Turlough, Castlebar
Requiem Mass was held in the Parish Church, Parke, Turlough, and also at
Westminster Cathedral, London. Burial same day to Streatham Cemetery. (Connaught
Telegraph, Nov., 1940).
• • •
Mr.
Paddy McDermott, elder son of Mrs. and the later Mr. John McDermott, Ballymacragh,
Castlebar, was injured last week in an air raid on London, where he was
employed in a munition works. He is at present detained in hospital, and a
recent report states that he is progressing satisfactorily.
(Connaught Telegraph, 19th Oct., 1940).
• • •
Nurse
Halligan of Castlebar, whose devotion to duty was highly
commended when the hospital in which she worked in London was bombed, is
daughter of Mr. and Mrs. John Halligan, late of New Line,
Castlebar. The hospital was partially destroyed. (Connaught
Telegraph, 19th Oct., 1940).
• • •
Relatives of Mr. Brendan McHale (27), son of the
late Dr. P. J. McHale, Belmullet,
were notified that he is missing with his ship, of which he was second officer.
(Connaught
Telegraph, 19th Oct., 1940).
• • •
Mr.
Edward Kerins, a native of Kilmovee, has been injured
in a recent air raid on Britain. He had only returned to England from his home,
where he spent a short holiday with his wife. (Western People,
16th May, 1942).
• • •
Friends in the West of
Ireland will regret to learn of the death, during an air riad on Southern
England, of Mr. J. R. (Jack) Mills,
eldest son of Mr. Richard Mills, Chester.
A sad feature of the bereavement is that the deceased was only married in July
last to Miss Kathleeen Murray,
Derrygarve, Newport, Co. Mayo, who has been resident in London for some years
past. Deep sympathy will be felt for her by her relatives and many friends in
Co. Mayo. (Western People, 1st March, 1941).
• • •
It has been officially
confirmed that Mr. Patrick Barrett, aged 25, 98 Balsall
Heath Road, Birmingham, was killed in Birmingham, as a result of an air raid.
He was son of Mrs. Anne Barrett, 58 Healy Terrace, Ardnaree, and was uncle of John (Dinny) Forde of the National
Army, former well-known Ballina club footballer. It appears that young Barrett
was on a visit to his brother’s home when the air raid began. The house was
struck by a bomb, but deceased’s two brothers, his sister-in-law, and her
children, escaped serious injury, the unfortunate man himself being buried
under a fall of masonry. The sincere sympathy of the people of the town has
been extended to the bereaved mother and relatives. A vote of sympathy was
passed to the relatives at a meeting of the Urban Council in their sad
bereavement. (Ballina Herald, 28th April, 1941).
• • •
Sincere and widespread
sympathy has been extended to Mrs. Susan
E. Balmforth, Rossbeg, Westport, (and the late Oscar), on the death of her
only son, Sergeant George Balmforth,
No. 544600, 50th Sqdn., who was well-known in Westport, having received his
early education at the Christian Brothers’ Schools here, died from shock
following an air raid in Yorkshire. His funeral, which took place with full
military honours, was deferred by the authorities to allow his bereaved mother
and sisters to attend. Interment took place in All Saints Churchyard,
Newtown-on-Ouse, Lincoln, Row Q., Grave 10. Messages of sympathy were received
from his commanding officer, his comrades, and many friends at home. To his
sorely bereaved widowed mother we join in tendering an expression of our
sympathy. (Connaught Telegraph, Sat., 31st May, 1941).
• • •
Mr.
Frank Gibbons, who was recently rather severely wounded
in Iceland, has now recovered and resumed duty. Mr. Gibbons is son of Mr. Michael Gibbons, Marine Valley,
Rossbeg, Westport. His many friends in Westport will be delighted to hear of
his recovery. (Connaught Telegraph, Sat., 31st May, 1941).
• • •
Miss
Tessa Giblin, who is employed in Woolworths, London,
was injured in an air raid during the recent war and this is her first visit
home in ten years. (Connaught Telegraph, 19th June, 1948).
• • •
Mrs.
Ellen Murtagh, wife of Mr. William Murtagh, 9 Roseford
Terrace, Hammersmith, formerly The Quay Westport. died at The Dell, Hyde Park,
London, in an air raid on 24th July, 1944. She was identified by her wedding
ring. Her daughter, Kitty, joined
the United States Navy. Her husband, Bill, died in May, 1950 (Connaught
Telegraph, May 27th, 1950).
• • •
Ballyhaunis and
district was shocked last weekend by the tragic tidings that Mr. Patrick A. Murphy, aged about 48
years, and a native of Lecarrow, Ballyhaunis, had lost his life during a German
air raid on Manchester. In view of the numerous aggravated and no less false
rumours going the rounds of late regarding similar fatalities, people were,
naturally, slow to give this latest news serious credence, but subsequent
confirmatory news proved the painful happening all too true. Full particulars
as to the circumstances surrounding his death are not to hand at the time of
writing. (Connaught
Telegraph, 19th Oct., 1940).
• • •
Mr. Paddy A.
Murphy,
Lecarrow, Ballyhaunis, died in an air raid on 13th October, 1940 (Annagh Magazine).
Patrick J. Kennedy, Ballyhaunis, died in an air
raid in London at 3 Melrose Terrace,
Hammersmith Metropolitan Borough, on the 19th February, 1944, aged 48. (Annagh
Magazine).
• • •
Mr.
Edward Kilroy, and his wife, Lena, both stated to be from the Castlebar district, who had been in England
for many years, were killed with their son, aged about -----------, when a high
explosive shell struck the shelter in which they had taken refuge during a
recent air raid. (Connaught Telegraph, Sat., 18th Jan.,
1941).
• • •
Mrs.
Emily Hunter (65), a widow (maiden name Hogan),
whose parents were from near Crossmolina, was killed in an air raid on England.
(Ballina
Herald, June 17th, 1944).
• • •
News has reached his
relatives that Mr. Anthony Gillespie,
Carragorra, Knockmore, was accidentally killed in England last week-end. He was
brother of Mr. Jim Gillespie, former
well-known member of Ballina Boxing Club. (Ballina Herald, 26th
Sept., 1942).
• • •
It has been reported
that Mr. John Sharkey, Clooncunny,
Ballaghaderreen, has been killed during an air raid in England.
(Western People, 5th October, 1940).
• • •
News has reached
Claremorris of the death of Mr. Joseph
Sloyan, a native of Drimineen, Claremorris, who was killed in England
during an air raid. (Western People, 7th December, 1940).
• • •
Mrs.
Monica O’Carroll,
(maiden name, Kelly), (45), from near Castlerea, was killed in a raid on an
English eastern town, and
Sheila
Mary Barry
(16), who parents came from near Swinford, was killed in a raid on an English
south-west town. (Western
People, 27th Feb., 1943).
• • •
One of the four Sisters of Mercy who
were killed in the recent air raid on the city of York (Mother Vincent), was
the daughter of a Ballina man, the later Dominick Jordan, who was born in King
street, and emigrated to Halifax, in the West Riding of Yorkshire, when in her
teens. Mother Vincent’s name in the world was Evangeline Jordan, and she was a trained and certified teacher when
she became a nun, and during her life as a nun, which lasted a quarter of
century, she followed her profession, being at the time of her tragic death the
head mistress of the English Martyr R.C. elementary School, York City. The Bar
Convent, wherein this terrible tragedy occurred, is one of the oldest and most
widely known of the convents of the Teaching Order of the Sisters of Mercy in
England, and most highly appreciated for the successful working of all the
schools it conducts in the city. Mr. Pat
Jordan, who was for many years the proprietor of a tailoring establishment
in King Street and who died at a ripe old age, was her uncle, and there are
three cousins of hers living in the town, viz., the brothers, Joe, Tom and Pat Jordan. To
be swept so suddenly out of life while in perfect health and zealously carrying
on one of the most essential and civilising of the professions, is an event
which must give a pang of sorrow to the hearts of everyone who hears of it, and
also deepen their hatred of war an all its accompanying horrors. That these
noble women who led such pious, self-sacrificing and eminently useful lives
have heard the welcome words “Well done, My brave and faithful servant; enter
thou into the kingdom prepared for thee”, there is not the slightest reason to
doubt. R.I.P. (Western People, 6th June, 1942).
Also,
see: Mother Vincent, Mercy Convent, York, who was killed
recently in an air raid, was aunt of Mr
Patrick Jordan, Station Road, Ballina, (Ballina Herald, 4th
June, 1942).
•
• •
Tragic news came to the
Garrett family, Rooskey,
Attymass, on Saturday, when a wire
arrived from England, stating that Mr.
John Garrett, aged 40, the head of the family, had been killed. Later, the
bereaved family learned that deceased had been killed in an air raid while
returning from work. He had been in England only short time before his death,
having emigrated as one of the many men recruited from the West for work on
English reconstruction schemes. He leaves a widow and eight children.
• • •
In
the remoteness of her Erris home a mother prayed daily for the safety and
return of her youthful son. On Friday last a telegram arrived announcing his
death in a London air raid, writes the Erris representative of the “W.P.” the
bereaved family are Mr. and Mrs. Michael Cosgrove, Coolaba,
Geesala. When I visited their home hosts of relatives and sorrowing
sympathisers came to condone with the stricken
parents.
The
victim of the sad event was their son, Patrick,
aged 21, who two years ago set out to toil in the industrial fields of England,
leaving behind in the home his parents, two sisters, Maggie and Sabine, and a
younger brother, Michael. Other
members of the family, sharing in the affliction are Mrs. O’Boyle and Mrs. Cafferkey, Ballycroy; Mrs. Walker, London, and Mary in Edinburgh (sister), and John (a brother) in England.
From
the meagre information to hand it would appear that the unfortunate young man
was first struck by a bomb splinter and then rushed off to hospital, where the
building was more severely shelled in the course of which he succumbed to his
injuries. (Western
People, 7th Sept., 1940).
• • •
News has been received
by Mrs. M. Feeney, Edmondstown, Ballaghaderreen,
that her daughter, Josie, was
recently killed during an air raid on London. Much sympathy has been extended
to the bereaved mother and relatives. (Mayo News, Sept. 21st,
1940).
• • •
The story of a
Ballinrobe lady’s experience during a German air raid in Kent was told a “W.P.”
reported this week. The lady is Miss
“Babs” Flannery, New Street, Ballinrobe, who, with two priests, were the
only survivors of the raid which completely destroyed St. Joseph’s Church, St.
Mary Cray, Kent. The church, school and house were wrecked. the priests were Rev. Ml. Fahey, P.P., (a native of
Loughglynn), and his curate, Rev. M.
Breslin. (Western People, 1st Aug., 1942).
• • •
Sympathy will be
generally felt with Mr. and Mrs. Heneghan, Ardygommon, Westport, on
the death of their son, Dick, killed
in an air raid in London. Before his departure for England deceased was
deservedly popular in Westport where he was for sime on the staff of Mr. R.
O’Malley, merchant. (Mayo News, 30th March, 1941).
• • •
Mrs.
Christina Sheppard, daughter of Mr. Patrick Ruddy, The Quay,
Ballina, arrived in Ballina last week as a refugee from London. She had with
her her 3½ daughter, Pamela Rosemary. Her home was bombed in London and her
youngest child, aged eleven months, was killed. (Western People, 26th
April, 1941).
• • •
It was learned with
much regret in Ballina that the death had occurred in England, following an air
raid, of Miss Sheila Mongini, aged nine
years, who spent three years as a little war refugee under the care of Mrs. Diamond, Ardnaree. She attended
the Convent National School during that time, and her sunny disposition earned
her widespread popularity. She returned to her parents in England last year.
Her parents were injured in the raid. She was the daughter of Mr. Joseph
Mongini, 28 Clarence Way, St. Pancras Metropolitan Borough. She died at home. (Western
People, Sept. 24th June, 1944).
• • •
There is a tragic
coincidence associated with the death of Dr.
John Francis Begley, M.B., B.Chir., B.A.O., a native of Mossbrook,
Claremorris, who, as reported in last week’s issue, was killed in an air raid
on England. Husband of Mrs. Alicia
Begley, he died at his residence, 184 Barking Road, London, West Ham
Borough. On the day he was killed, his sister, Mrs. Peter Tuohy, Ballintubber House, Claremorris, received a
letter from him in which he told her he was well and had so far escaped any
injuries from the bombing. (Western People, 5th April, 1941).
• • •
Mr.
Bartholomew Mackin (52), whose parents come from near Shrule,
was killed during an air raid in the South of London. (Western
People, 14th August, 1943).
• • •
Miss
Frances Josephine Hoban, an elderly woman, who came from near
Belmullet, was killed in an air raid on South-east England. (Western
People, 30th May, 1942).
• • •
It is reported that a
young labourer named Murray from
Glagerna, Islandeady, had been killed during an air raid on an English
aerodrome. (Mayo News, 17th August., 1940).
• • •
Sincere sympathy is
extended to the Gavin family,
Knockfin, Westport, on the death in a London air raid of their brother, Thomas, aged 23 of 5
Trinity Church Road, Barnes Municipal Authority. Son of Edward Gavin and the late Nora.
Deceased
was very popular in the district before going to England some years ago, and
the news of his tragic end has caused widespread regret. Westport G.A.A. Club
extended sincere sympathy to his brother Sean,
Knockfin. (Connaught Telegraph, 26th October, 1940).
• • •
Mr.
Francis Percival Gillan (55), whose parents came from
Ballinrobe, was killed in a air raid on an English coast town. (Western
People, 26th Oct., 1940).
• • •
Universal regret goes
out to the Durcan family of Turlough
in their recent sad bereavement by the death in London during an air raid of
that brilliant and very promising young man, Walter Francis, younger son of Mrs. Durcan, and the late Mr. John Durcan, and brother of that
popular and outstanding young member of the Connacht Bar, Mr. J. J. Durcan, B.L., and also of Mr. Michael Durcan, chemist, Ballina. A member of an outstanding
clever family, the deceased, who went to London in March to take up a professional
appointment, had been previously on the staff of Clongowes Wood College. A very
promising type of young man, and popular with all classes, the announcement of
his death was regretted by all who knew him, and came as shock to his mother,
brothers and sisters. Interment took place in Streatham Cemetery, London, after
High Mass in Westminster Cathedral. There was a large attendance of mourners
from deceased’s native parish and Castlebar. (Western
People, 23rd Nov., 1940).
• • •
It has just been
learned that Miss May Lynott, Kilglass,
Enniscrone, has been killed in a recent air raid on London. No definite
information has yet been received by her parents or relatives. (Ballina
Herald, 7th June, 1941).
• • •
AMID ALL THE TURMOIL A
GOOD NEWS STORY!
Like
all brides, Mary O’Malley of
Tonragee, Achill, hoped that her wedding on August 17th, 1940, would go without
a hitch. It did. But only just. She was lucky to have had a church to get
married in. On the night before her wedding the Church of Our Lady, Lisson
Gardens, St. John’s Wood, London, very narrowly escaped destruction during a
German air raid. Two bombs landed in the church grounds but the damage to the
church building was minimal and the fears and anxieties of “The Blitz” were
temporarily evaporated as Mary and her bridegroom, Denny O’Shea of Claondaire, Ardgroom, Co. Cork, joined their guests
in the church for their wedding.
Last
month, Mary and Denny, now residing in peaceful Claondaire, Ardgroom,
celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary and recalled their wedding day during
the turmoil of the London blitz bombings of World War II.
The Golden Jubilee celebrations
commenced with Mass of Thanksgiving in Ardgroom Church, celebrated by Very Rev. Tom Pierce, P.P. In
attendance was Mary’s bridesmaid of 50 years ago in London—Margaret Fallon of
Currane, Achill,--and her best man, Johnny Murphy.
Family
members, relatives and friends gathered from many parts of Ireland, England,
South Africa and the USA for the celebration which included a banquet and
entertainment in Craigies Hotel.
All
of the Golden Jubilarians’ family of eleven—four sons and seven daughters—were
present: Denis (Ardgroom), Neil (London), Martin (Galway), Johnny
(Ardgroom), Mary (London), Ann (South Africa), Josephine (Castletownbere), Rita (Kilmacowen), Sheila (Ardgroom), Teresa
(Urham), and Helen (Castletownbere).
There, too, wee the couple’s sons-in-law, daughters-in-law, and large number of
grandchildren.
During
the function, Mary and Denny were recipients of many presentations from family
members and friends. (Mayo
News, 9th Sept., 1990).
•
• •
AND ANOTHER
A Ballina woman, a member of the Royal Naval
Nursing Service, has been granted the O.B.E. for heroic conduct during a German
air raid in August, 1940. She is Miss
Kathleen Gilmartin, daughter of Mr.
Thomas and Mrs. Mary Gilmartin, Laughty, Ballina. The
information was conveyed to Mrs. Gilmartin in a letter from her daughter who,
writing from HMS “Peregrine”, Royal Naval Air Station, says: “You will be
pleased to hear that I am going to be presented with the O.B.E. and that I will
be the first woman of the royal Navy to get so great an honour. I saved the
lives of a sub-lieutenant and a woman during a heavy air raid at this station.
I am going to Buckingham Palace to be presented to the King and to receive the
Order. I have been congratulated by the captain and surgeon commander on my
skill at nursing. The surgeon is a Sligo man, and he knew my father”.
She also mentions in the letter that Vincent Duffy, son of Mr. Eugene Duffy,
St. Mary’s Villas, is at the station, and goes on to say that she chanced her
life in performing the heroic deed, and that as she was at Holy Communion on
the morning of the air raid she did not mind.
The letter proceeds: “This is a land station
and don’t worry about me. Send me a Sacred Heart badge and say a few prayers
for me. The war seems to be very bad, but we are well protected here, but . . .
. . I am the first nurse in the Royal
Navy to be presented with the honour in this war.” (Western People, 13th Jan., 1999—From The Past).
• • •
Miss Bridget Quinn, S.R.N.,
(25),
109 West Hill Road, Wandsworth, daughter of Mrs. Catherine Quinn, and the late
Mr. Peter Quinn, from Churchfield, Tourmakeady, a nurse at the hospital for
Nervous Diseases, Regents Park, London, died with eleven of her patients when a
German flying bomb scored a direct hit on the hospital in 18th June, 1944. In
1954 the Mayor of Westminster, Alderman
Patrick Sterling, unveiled a plaque and named a new ward at the West End
Hospital to her “so that her sacrifice will be remembered for all time.”
(Excerpt from the
“Irish Times” newspaper, Thursday, 17th Nov., 1955):
The Mayor of Westminster, Mr. Patrick
Sterling, yesterday unveiled a plaque and named a ward in the Neurological
Hospital, London, in memory of Nurse Bridget Quinn, a native of Churchfield,
Tourmakeady, County Mayo, who died when a flying bomb fell on the hospital on
18th June, 1944. The bomb also killed eleven patients and blinded for life
Nurse Margaret Patterson, who attended yesterday’s ceremony in the rebuilt
hospital in Deane Street, Nurse Quinn had refused to leave her patients.
Mr. Sterling said he was pleased to pay
tribute to the nursing profession. During the war many London hospitals were
heavily damaged by bombing, but this hospital was particularly hard hit. In
spite of the fact that it had been hit twice by bombs work went on steadily.
Watching the ceremony was Nurse Quinn’s
58-years-old mother, Mrs. Bridget Quinn,
from Tourmakeady, who was accompanied by her two daughters, Mrs. Kay Hoban and Mrs. Nora Sheehan, now
living at Clapham, London.
Mrs. Quinn told the I.N.A.: “It is a
sorrowful day for me, but it is a great honour that this tribute is being paid
to my daughter”.
There are probably some more that never made
the newspapers and if any reader has a name that can be researched I would be
delighted to help out—P. J. Clarke,
Ballina.
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