World War I Exhibition 1915

[dukestreet]

I would imagine this military display would have been an occasion to get the townspeople out in numbers.
Present in Warrenpoint that day was Guardsman Micheal O'Leary who was the first Irishman to win a Victoria Cross during WW1, also present was Captain William H.K. Redmond M.P. who was killed on the Western Front in 1917.

[Brian]

ah... now remember this thread?

http://www.oldwarrenpointforum.com/phpB ... c.php?t=92

and in particular this photo..





I had been told recently that this was the parade for the opening of the baths, but this was confusing me as the person also said that the Lord Lieutenant was there, and after a bit of research I found that Captain Roger Hall opened the baths in June 1908, so I assume the two have been confused, and i imagine there would have been no need for a navy band and the lord lieutenant to be there at the opening of the baths :)


so, i think we can put that article with that photo with some degree of confidence.

again, I stand to be corrected.



Oh, and note that date for the baths above, June 1908 next year is the baths centenary.

[Brian]

I had an email on this, and have to mention that the first person to be awarded the Victoria cross was in fact Charles Davis Lucas in 1857

The first Victoria Cross ever was won by an Irishman, Charles Davis Lucas, who later became an admiral.

Mate Charles Davis LUCAS (1st man to win VC)

Born on 19th February 1834 at Drumargole, Armagh.

Charles Davis Lucas

Mate (later rising to Rear Admiral) in the Royal Navy

The first act of bravery to win the Victoria Cross medal was undertaken by a Tunbridge Wells resident, Charles Lucas.

Lucas received his medal from Queen Victoria on 26 June 1857. On 21 June 1854, during the Crimean War, Lucas was serving aboard HMS Hecla in the Baltic Sea.

During the bombardment of a Russian fort, a live shell, with its fuse still hissing, landed on the deck. Lucas
saved many lives by seizing the shell and throwing it into the sea, where it exploded just before hitting the water.

Due to his action, no one was seriously injured. Lucas was promoted to Lieutenant on the spot by his commanding officer.

He died in Tunbridge Wells at the age of 80. Lucas’s house, Great Culverden, was on the site now occupied by the Kent and Sussex Hospital.

Source info here: http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index ... 736AAf2ezI

However I was also able to find some more information about Micheal O'Leary and there is a great article about him here:

http://www.mainlesson.com/display.php?a ... ory=oleary

[Adie]

However I was also able to find some more information about Micheal O'Leary and there is a great article about him here:

Thanks Brian,
I enjoyed reading this as well as the rest of the info. above!

[townclerk]

For more information on the above, Google: Dundalk Democrat, 26 June 1915

[Brian]

A few more photos have turned up, these are from the National Library of Ireland's collection