Curragh Military Cemetery April 2013

[Matt McNamara]

[Elaine O'Neill]

Hi Matt,
any chance you could point me in the direction of speaking to someone who could tell me more about T.Mercer 16th Lancers who died the day of the Curragh Mutiny. I found a newspaper article saying he was kicked by a horse but that was only mentioned in passing to dispel the rumor that someone had been shot with a live round during the course of the mutiny. The article didn't even mention his name or company. I've been visiting his grave since i was a child and now I'd really like to find out more about where he came from/what happened as the centenary of his death is next march so I'd be very grateful for any and all assistance in gathering some info prior to this.
Many thanks,
Kind regards,
Elaine O'Neill

[Matt McNamara]

Hi Elaine

The death of T.Mercer is news to me. I do have a book written by the Retired General Office Commanding The Curragh Camp at the time and I will have a look through it and see what reference to T. Mercer and his death on The Curragh Camp.

Can you give a reference to where his headstone is located in the cemetery ??

best Regards

Matt

[Caroline Walker]

Wonderful photographs! Makes me want to visit Curragh even more. We have a great uncle that died and would be buried there but there is no reference to him in the transcription list for Curragh Cemetery. We have inherited a slip of paper which says 'Curragh Military Cemetery Register no 1187' (Could be 1184)Does this reference mean anything to anyone? We would so love to visit Cyril Alexander Gardner's grave. There is an article about him at:

www.kildare.ie/library/ehistory/2011/07/curragh_military_funeral.asp

Matt or anyone, can you help?
Regards
Caroline Walker

[Matt McNamara]

Hi Caroline

Thank you very much for the information and the link to the Kildare ehistory page. I always thought that the list was complete until I read that article and seen the very rare photographs of Cyril Alexander Gardner's funeral procession to the Curragh Military Cemetery. I even had a look around the Cemetery at the few remaining headstones, but no luck. I have no doubt that Cyril is buried in the cemetery, but where ??

The Cemetery Register number 1187 is I assume and entry in the register that will also have a map as to the layout of the cemetery and the original grave plots. As you will know the Curragh Cemetery was a British Military Cemetery and when the British Forces left The Curragh in 1922, almost all their records and registers went with them. Maybe the Kildare Historical Archives in Newbridge, Co Kildare will have a copy or know where the original is held. It would be nice to find out more.

The cemetery is at the moment undergoing a major overhaul and I have to say looking very well in the Summer Sun we are having at the moment. It is a great place to visit and take a stroll and read the old headstones.

Please let us know if you come up with any more information on the whereabouts of Cyril's final resting place in the Curragh Military Cemetery.

Regards

Matt

[Matt McNamara]

[Caroline Walker]

Hi Matt

Thank you for the reply ... and especially for looking for Cyril's grave. I will try and contact the Archives at Newbridge. The reference number must mean something somewhere!

I will let you know if I am able to make any headway on finding Cyril's resting place.

Kind Regards
Caroline

[Elaine]

I'm so sorry Matt for the long delay getting back to you I couldn't find the link as I'm not very computer savvy!! Thomas mercer is buried at the top left hand side at the end of the war graves next to he's the second tall headstone away from the wall with a Mrs Elizabeth Bridges being the closest.



Thanks for your assistance,

Regards,

Elaine