7004 Private Michael Desmond, 1st Battalion Royal Munster Fusiliers was born in Millstreet on January 9th in 1884 to John and Mary Desmond of Claramore, and was baptised the following day in St.Patrick’s Church Millstreet. Michael was from a large family who lived in Claramore, until they moved to Liscahane in 1906 (?). At 17 Michael was working as a farm labourer in Caherbarnagh, and was working for Charles McCarthy on Feb 2nd 1902 when he enlisted to the British Army in Mallow. 48 days later he joined the Royal Munster Fusiliers. We have no account of him from there on. Records say that he later enlisted in Tralee, Kerry, and landed at V Beach on the first day of the Gallipoli landings
on 25 April 1915 only to be killed in action on the following day 26th April aged 31. He is buried at V Beach Cemetery, Gallipoli, Canakkale, Turkey. Plot: Special Memorial A. 36.
* His posthumous war medals (pictured right) were sold last year. Here are the details from the online sale: “1914-15 Star officially named to 7004 Pte. M. Desmond R. Muns. Fus and Memorial Plaque (considerably pitted) to Michael Desmond. Also with badly damaged and erased British War Medal disc and WW2 mounted [read more …] “On this day 100 years ago: Michael Desmond died in Gallipoli”
