1 By Ger Browne Index Page 2 : The Great Houses and of Clonlara during WW1 Page 4 : Kiltenanlea Parish Church Clonlara Page 6: The List of those from Clonlara in the Great War Page 12: Individual Profiles - Men from Clonlara in the Great War Clonlara and the Great War
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Clonlara and the Great War - Quilty, County Clare · during WW1. (British Army WW1 Pension Records fold3.com) Robert Browne: Clonlara. (Freddie Bourke - Kiltenanlea Parish Church
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1
By Ger Browne
Index
Page 2 : The Great Houses and of Clonlara during WW1
Page 4 : Kiltenanlea Parish Church Clonlara
Page 6: The List of those from Clonlara in the Great War
Page 12: Individual Profiles - Men from Clonlara in the Great War
Clonlara and the Great War
2
Clonlara’s Great Houses during WW1
Lt J F R Massy-Westropp: Doonass
House, Clonlara. Royal Irish Fusiliers.
Wounded near Ypres in April 1915.
(Kiltenanlea Parish Church Clonlara)
R Massy-Westropp: Doonass House,
Clonlara. (Freddie Bourke -Kiltenanlea
Parish Church Clonlara)
Col. Massy Westropp: An officer of
great experience took over the Clonlara
Volunteers in Aug 1914.
Doonass House Clonlara Home to the Gough, Gardiner, Massy, Massy-Westropp, Dept of Defence, Buckley, O’Brien,
Sheehy, Leahy, Weismann and O’Sullivan families. Still standing and inhabited. See ‘Houses of Clare’
by Hugh W L Weir page 105.
Lt Lancelot Alexander Montgomery: Grandson of John Lecky Phelps of Waterpark, Clonlara. Elder
son of Major General Robert Arundel Kerr Montgomery C.B. DSO and Annie his wife. He was
torpedoed on HMS Good Hope, Flagship of Rear Admiral Sir Christopher Craddock, which sank with
all hands in the Battle of Coronel, South Pacific, All Saints Day 1914. Born at Meernt April 2nd 1888.
Edgar Phelps: Clonlara. (Freddie Bourke -Kiltenanlea Parish Church Clonlara)
Waterpark House Clonlara Home to the Bindon, Phelps, Massey, Williams, Hartigan, Latham, Houlihan and Conway families. It
was a very large, irregular, Victorianised, eighteenth-century house, facing south-east down the
Shannon river valley. The house is now demolished. The original gateway and gates and gate lodge
are standing. See ‘Houses of Clare’ by Hugh W L Weir page 272.
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Major Berkley Vincent CBE KBE: Summerhill House, Doonass, Clonlara. 1871 -1963. Born in London,
baptised and reared in Clonlara. Royal Iniskilling Dragoons. At the beginning of the 1914-18 War he
left India for France where he took part in the Battle of the Somme and later Ancre. During the
Battle of Arras he was buried by constant shelling, but was dug out alive. Nearly all his command
were killed. In 1919 he was awarded the CBE and six years later he was honoured by George V with
the KBE. (Freddie Bourke -Kiltenanlea Parish Church Clonlara) (Freddie Bourke CC Nov 2018)
Summerhill Clonlara Home to the Massy, Vincent, Macnamara and O’Connell families. It was a large eighteenth century,
three storey, hip-roofed house, over a basement, facing south-east over the River Shannon. The
house is now demolished. The Gate Lodge is standing and inhabited. See ‘Houses of Clare’ by Hugh
W L Weir page 256.
Clonlara’s Great Houses during WW1
Arthur Rose Vincent: Summerhill
House, Doonass, Clonlara. 1876-1956.
He volunteered as an ambulance driver
and served on the Western Front with
the French army in 1915 and 1916.
(Freddie Bourke - Kiltenanlea Parish
Church Clonlara) He died in 1956 and is
buried in Killegy, Muckross,
Killarney.(Freddie Bourke CC Nov 2018)
Erinagh Clonlara Home to the Fitzgerald, Gabbett, Goring, Minchin, Vincent, Hall, O’Grady and Bourke families. It
was a large, eighteenth-century, hip-roofed, rectangular, one-storey house. The house is now
demolished. See ‘Houses of Clare’ by Hugh W L Weir page 120.
2nd Lt. Ivor Ronald Gillespie: Clonlara. He was educated at the College of St Columba
and Dublin University (Canditate Bachelor, 1915) and entered the Divinity School 1914. He is the son of
Rev Chancellor Gillespie D.D., Rector of Kiltenanlea, Diocese of Killaloe, and the brother of Frank. (The
Church of Ireland Gazette 1915) He enlisted in the Royal Irish Rifles and was wounded on July 4 1917.
(Freddie Bourke CC Nov 2018)
Private Henry Hitchens: Clonlara. A farm labourer.He was aged 19 when he enlisted in 1916. Reserve Battalion Yorkshire Regiment 29886. His father was Adda Hitchens. (British Army WW1 Service Records @ ancestry.com)
J Howard: Clonlara. (Freddie Bourke - Kiltenanlea Parish Church Clonlara) He was the
husband of Muriel Eleanor Gillespie and posted to India in 1919.His name is inscribed on the War
Memorial in Kiltenanlea Parish Church Clonlara. (Freddie Bourke CC Nov 2018)
Michael Joseph Keane: Born 26th May 1889 in Trough Co Clare. Royal Navy K32073 from April 1916 – Feb 1919. The first ship he served on was the Victory. The last ship he served on was the Achilles. (UK Royal Navy Registers of Seamans Services 1853-1928)
John McInerney: Clonlara. Worked at Bob Johnson’s Knockbrack. (Freddie Bourke CC Nov
2018)
Daniel Meehan: Born in Clonlara, died Oct 1918 (possibly of wounds as a POW), Royal Irish
Regiment 7th (South Irish Horse) Bn 25602, 21st Brigade, 30th Division. G/M in Hautmont France. Allied
prisoners who died in the local German hospitals were buried there by the authorities of the town. (TB)
The 7th (South Irish Horse) Battalion, Royal Irish Regiment was formed in France, from the dismounted
1st and 2nd South Irish Horse on the 1st of September 1917. In 1918 they were in action during the Final
Advance in Flanders (17 October – 11 November 1918). The hardest-fought of the final offensive
actions. where the First, Third and Fourth Armies exploited their success in breaking the Hindenburg
Line by pushing on across the Rivers Selle and Sambre, recapturing Valenciennes and finally in liberating
Mons (very close to Hautmont where Daniel Meehan is buried). Brother of Tomas Meehan 25601.
(Freddie Bourke CC Nov 2018)
Clonlara
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Tomas Meehan: Clonlara. South Irish Horse 25601. He was present at the official medal
awarding ceremony in 1923. Brother of Daniel Meehan 25602.(Freddie Bourke CC Nov 2018)
Rifleman Patrick Millard (Mallard): Clonlara Co Clare. Royal Irish Rifles 9304 2nd Bn. He was
killed in action on the the 17th October 1914, during the First Battle of Ypres. G/M on the on the Le
Touret Memorial in France. He is on the Irish Memorial Records as coming from Clonard Co Limerick and
KIA 27th Oct 1914. (Freddie Bourke CC Nov 2018)
John Moloney: Born in Clonlara, killed in action 9th Sept 1916 on the Somme, Royal Dublin
Fusiliers 8th Bn 20351 (16th Div), G/M in Thiepval France. (TB) Battle of Ginchy, 9 September:‘.. The 8th
Battalion (200 strong).... on the 9th September moved towards Ginchy…. The Battalion was in the right
attack which was launched about 4.45pm….the enemy trenches… were strongly held by five machine-
guns. In consequence a frontal attack was impossible… …. Casualties: Killed 1 officer; wounded 4
officers, other ranks 76.’
Lt Lancelot Alexander Montgomery: Grandson of John Lecky Phelps of Waterpark, Clonlara.
Elder son of Major General Robert Arundel Kerr Montgomery C.B. DSO and Annie his wife. He was
torpedoed on HMS Good Hope, Flagship of Rear Admiral Sir Christopher Craddock, which sank with all
hands in the Battle of Coronel, South Pacific, All Saints Day 1914. Born at Meernt April 2nd 1888.
(Kiltenanlea Parish Church Clonlara) G/M on the Plymouth Naval Memorial in England.The HMS
Monmouth and HMS Good Hope participated in the Battle of Coronel off the coast of Chile on 1
November 1914. Early in the battle, a shell from SMS Gneisenau penetrated the armour of the forward
gun turret of HMS Monmouth. When it was clear that Monmouth was out of action, Gneisenau shifted
fire to HMS Good Hope. A short while later, drifting and on fire, Monmouth was attacked by the newly
arrived light cruiser SMS Nürnberg. Monmouth and Good Hope both sank with a combined loss of 1,570
lives. There were no survivors from either ship.
Private Thomas Myers: Belle-Isle,Doonass Clonlara Co Clare. He was a labourer aged 21
when he enlisted in Dec 1916 with the Irish Guards 3rd Bn 11713. He was discharged in Oct 1917 due to a
hand injury. His parents were Patrick and Johanna Myers Belle-Isle Doonass. (British Army WW1 Pension
Army Service Corps DM2162989, lived with his aunt, Mary Francis O’Grady in Erinagh. (Freddie Bourke
CC Nov 2018)
Clonlara
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Edgar Phelps: Clonlara. (Freddie Bourke - Kiltenanlea Parish Church Clonlara) He enlisted on
May 21 1904 into the South Irish Horse. He suffered greatly from shell shock and was employed as a
farm steward in the Muckross Estate, Killarney. (Freddie Bourke CC Nov 2018)
B Rose: Clonlara. (Freddie Bourke - Kiltenanlea Parish Church Clonlara)
Richard de Ros-Rose MC: Limerick City and Lahinch, Royal Irish Regiment. Awarded Military
Cross with Bar. Died 1939. NCS R De Ros Rose: Clonlara. (Freddie Bourke - Kiltenanlea Parish Church
Clonlara) (6th Service Battalion). Awarded Military Cross with Bar. b. 1879; d.1939. Born in Ardhu House,
Limerick City. Also resided at Dough, Lahinch (1918 Absent Voters List) A/Major Richard de Ros Rose.
First MC as Captain. 30308/26 Sep 1917:30466/9 Jan 1918(C)(MC): 30901/16 Sep 1918(C)(Bar). MC+Bar.
Royal Irish Rifles. (fold3.com) He came from Ardu House, Ennis Road Limerick. He was awarded the
Military Cross with Bar in 1915, suffered greatly from war wounds and died at his holiday hom in Lahinch
in 1939. His name is inscribed on the War Memorial in Kiltenanlea Parish Church Clonlara. (Freddie
Bourke CC Nov 2018)
Driver John Joseph Ryan: Aherinamore. Clonlara Co Clare. He was aged 18 when he enlisted in 1915. Royal Field Artillery 100953. His father was Luke Ryan. (WW1 British Army Service Records @ ancestry.com)
Batt Shea: Born in Trough, Clonlara Co Clare, died 1st Nov 1914 age 36 on the HMS Good
Hope off Chile, Royal Navy 284107, G/M in England. Son of John and Margaret Shea Glenbeigh Co
Kerry.(TB)The HMS Monmouthand HMS Good Hope participated in the Battle of Coronel off the coast of
Chile on 1 November 1914. Early in the battle, a shell from SMS Gneisenau penetrated the armour of the
forward gun turret of HMS Monmouth. When it was clear that Monmouth was out of action, Gneisenau
shifted fire to HMS Good Hope. A short while later, drifting and on fire, Monmouthwas attacked by the
newly arrived light cruiser SMS Nürnberg. Monmouth and Good Hope both sank with a combined loss of
1,570 lives. There were no survivors from either ship.
Robert Sheridan: Clonlara. He enlisted in 1914 into the Royal Munster Fusiliers 6720, and
was involved in active service in Gallipoli and the Somme. Wounded on September 6 1917. He died
around 1960 and was buried in Doonass. (Freddie Bourke CC Nov 2018)
Clonlara
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Arthur Rose Vincent: Summerhill House, Doonass, Clonlara. 1876-1956.
Owing to a permanent disability to his hip suffered as a young boy, he was considered unfit for active
service during the War 1914-1918. Nevertheless he volunteered as an ambulance driver and served on
the Western Front with the French army in 1915 and 1916. (Freddie Bourke - Kiltenanlea Parish Church
Clonlara) He died in 1956 and is buried in Killegy, Muckross, Killarney.(Freddie Bourke CC Nov 2018)
Mr Phelps: Broadford. He was one of the first Claremen into the war. He took his car to France along
with a Limerick companion, and joined the French Red Cross. (P McNamara) Same person?
Major Berkley Vincent CBE KBE: Summerhill House, Doonass, Clonlara. 1871 -1963. Born in
London, baptised and reared in Clonlara. Royal Iniskilling Dragoons. At the beginning of the 1914-18 War
he left India for France where he took part in the Battle of the Somme and later Ancre. During the Battle
of Arras he was buried by constant shelling, but was dug out alive. Nearly all his command were killed. In
1919 he was awarded the CBE and six years later he was honoured by George V with the KBE. (Freddie
Bourke -Kiltenanlea Parish Church Clonlara) (Freddie Bourke CC Nov 2018) The Royal Iniskilling Dragoons
returned from Mhow in India in August 1914 and landed at Marseille as part of the 5th (Mhow) Cavalry
Brigade in the 2nd Indian Cavalry Division in December 1914 for service on the Western Front.
Wyndham Walsh: Clonlara. (Freddie Bourke - Kiltenanlea Parish Church Clonlara) His name
is inscribed on the War Memorial in Kiltenanlea Parish Church Clonlara. (Freddie Bourke CC Nov 2018)
Lt J F R Massy Westropp: Doonass House, Clonlara. Royal Irish Fusiliers. Wounded near
Ypres in April 1915. (CJ) J Massy Westropp: Clonlara. (Freddie Bourke - Kiltenanlea Parish Church
Clonlara) See Clare Newspapers and WW1 page 34. His son was R Massy Westropp. (Freddie Bourke CC
Nov 2018)
R Massy Westropp:Doonass House, Clonlara. (Kiltenanlea Parish Church Clonlara) His father
was J F R Massy Westropp. (Freddie Bourke CC Nov 2018)
E Willington: Clonlara. (Kiltenanlea Parish Church Clonlara) His name is inscribed on the War
Memorial in Kiltenanlea Parish Church Clonlara. (Freddie Bourke CC Nov 2018)
James Young: Born 13th Dec 1875 in Clonlara Co Clare. Royal Navy 279891 from Aug 1907 –
April 1919. The first ship he served on was the Indus. The last ship was the Valiant. (UK Royal Navy
John Moloney: Born in Clonlara, killed in action 9th Sept 1916 on the Somme, in the Battle of
Ginchy, Royal Dublin Fusiliers 8th Bn 20351, (16th Div), G/M in Thiepval France. (TB)
Private John Moloney
Thiepval Memorial Thiepval
Departement de la Somme
Picardie, France
Plot: Pier and Face 16C.
‘.. The 8th Battalion (200 strong).... on the 9th September moved towards Ginchy…. The Battalion was in the right attack which was launched about 4.45pm….the enemy trenches… were strongly held by five machine-guns. In consequence a frontal attack was impossible… a number of the men succeeded in penetrating the enemy trench, the remainder were only able to advance about one hundred yards; there were many casualties…. Casualties: Killed 1 officer; wounded 4 officers, other ranks 76.’
The 8th Battalion was inflicted to heavy casualties and was unable to bury its dead. The other
battalions of the 48th Brigade of the 16th (Irish) Division captured Ginchy (1st Royal Munster
Fusiliers, the 7th Royal Irish Rifles and the 8th and 9th Royal Dublin Fusiliers).
The Thiepval Memorial, the Memorial to the Missing of the Somme, bears the names of more than
72,000 officers and men who died in the Somme and have no known grave. Over 90% of those