Given the monthly rythm chosen for our WWI Honour Roll, two of our Clann earliest war deads are being celebrated during our last round of tributes. Thomas & Albert are therefore the sixteenth and seventeeth Clann members fallen during the "Great War" to be honoured on our website, the last from the Flanders Fields (Belgium) theatre of operations.
Thomas was only 20 years old when he died, on October 20th 1914. The son of Mrs. Mary Coleman, of Bridge St., Athboy, Co. Meath, he served as a Private with "D" Coy, 2nd Bn. of the Leinster Regiment. He remains the first Clann member to give his life in Flanders Fields, dying on the second day of the First Battle of Ypres (October 19th - November 30th 1914). His remains were never found but a carving on panel 10 of the Ploegsteert Memorial to the Missing is here to remind us of his ultimate sacrifice.
Unfortunately, another Clann member would fall during the First Battle of Ypres, Albert, who served as a Private for the 4th Dragoon Guards (Royal Irish) and passed away on November 3rd 1914. His remains were never found and he is now remembered on panel 5 of the Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial.
Please note that poppies pictured on the crosses above represent the flowers found growing on soldiers' graves in Flanders Fields. It is not a political statement of any sort.
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