Post by Matt McNamara on May 12, 2009 20:58:40 GMT
Matt,
This is one section where I have to make a contribution, but I better recheck all my facts ( before I give all the information)as it seems my ancestry were all involved in the Military in their respective countries (or neighbouring countries as the case may be). Whilst I served in the Irish Army (without any distinction may I add). I now serve in the Philippine Coast Guard Aux, recently promoted to Cmdr.
My father and mother both served in the Royal Air Force. My mother's main posting being at Peters Field Air Base in the UK guiding the bombers back from their missions over Germany., but also in Aden and my father served in the UK and Singapore (accompanied by my mum.) My elder sister was born in Changi in Singapore! My paternal grandmum Gladys Briscoe served in Baldonnell with the RFC. My maternal grandfather Richard Scales served with the 7th Bn Royal Dublin Fusiliers trained at Collins bks Dublin and McDonagh in the Curragh served with the 'The Pals' at Suvla Bay, Gallipoli, was wounded out, recuperated at Kilmainham Royal Hospital and then shipped out to the Somme, gassed but survived.
On my paternal side again my great grandfather Henry Briscoe also served in Gallipoli but died on the troopship Arcadia sunk by a Uboat in the Med. Another son of his died with the Royal Canadian Air Force also named Henry Briscoe. As genealogy is my hobby I can go way further back, but feel frustrated at times that it is often difficult to 'track' my Irish bloodlines due to the loss of records in the Custom House, where another ancestor died. I was honoured this year (in fact just last sunday 10th May) to be part of the first Veterans Day Service held in my Church (International congregation) in Makati, which I had personally suggested should take place to honour Filipino and Allied Veterans. Fact is so many Irishmen (and women) gave of their service, often giving the ultimate sacrifice in many wars before ( and after) we gained our independance, and it is heartening to see that they are now recognised by an Irish memorial in France.
They were truly Irish and fought in wars including WWI, WWII etc., sometimes out of a sense of duty and sometimes out of necessity to put food on the table for their families. I had an odd experience in the Philippines in meeting a Filipino who is a senior member of the Department of Foreign Affairs here who traced his family back to Ireland, again a Briscoe (my grandmothers family) from Dublin, who went to Spain to fight, travelled from there to France and thence to the Philippines. A long way to travel to meet a cousin who looks more Irish than Filipino. It is a very small world in which we live.
I remember meeting a lady at a Rememberence day servive in St. Patrick's Cathedral in Dublin about 15 years ago who was wearing her own British medals on her left chest and her brothers German medals on her right chest. I could go on and on ( but do not wish to bore you all to death). Just my twopence worth.
Louis
This is one section where I have to make a contribution, but I better recheck all my facts ( before I give all the information)as it seems my ancestry were all involved in the Military in their respective countries (or neighbouring countries as the case may be). Whilst I served in the Irish Army (without any distinction may I add). I now serve in the Philippine Coast Guard Aux, recently promoted to Cmdr.
My father and mother both served in the Royal Air Force. My mother's main posting being at Peters Field Air Base in the UK guiding the bombers back from their missions over Germany., but also in Aden and my father served in the UK and Singapore (accompanied by my mum.) My elder sister was born in Changi in Singapore! My paternal grandmum Gladys Briscoe served in Baldonnell with the RFC. My maternal grandfather Richard Scales served with the 7th Bn Royal Dublin Fusiliers trained at Collins bks Dublin and McDonagh in the Curragh served with the 'The Pals' at Suvla Bay, Gallipoli, was wounded out, recuperated at Kilmainham Royal Hospital and then shipped out to the Somme, gassed but survived.
On my paternal side again my great grandfather Henry Briscoe also served in Gallipoli but died on the troopship Arcadia sunk by a Uboat in the Med. Another son of his died with the Royal Canadian Air Force also named Henry Briscoe. As genealogy is my hobby I can go way further back, but feel frustrated at times that it is often difficult to 'track' my Irish bloodlines due to the loss of records in the Custom House, where another ancestor died. I was honoured this year (in fact just last sunday 10th May) to be part of the first Veterans Day Service held in my Church (International congregation) in Makati, which I had personally suggested should take place to honour Filipino and Allied Veterans. Fact is so many Irishmen (and women) gave of their service, often giving the ultimate sacrifice in many wars before ( and after) we gained our independance, and it is heartening to see that they are now recognised by an Irish memorial in France.
They were truly Irish and fought in wars including WWI, WWII etc., sometimes out of a sense of duty and sometimes out of necessity to put food on the table for their families. I had an odd experience in the Philippines in meeting a Filipino who is a senior member of the Department of Foreign Affairs here who traced his family back to Ireland, again a Briscoe (my grandmothers family) from Dublin, who went to Spain to fight, travelled from there to France and thence to the Philippines. A long way to travel to meet a cousin who looks more Irish than Filipino. It is a very small world in which we live.
I remember meeting a lady at a Rememberence day servive in St. Patrick's Cathedral in Dublin about 15 years ago who was wearing her own British medals on her left chest and her brothers German medals on her right chest. I could go on and on ( but do not wish to bore you all to death). Just my twopence worth.
Louis
