100 YEARS SINCE THE GUNS FELL

Maurice James Dease Capt Arthur O’sullivan

AN estimated 49,000 men from Ireland died fighting in World War One, yet many of their stories remain unknown to the public. Research by Ancestry.ie has revealed some their incredible feats in the “War to end all wars”.

According to official archives, 80,000 men across the island enlisted in the British Army during the first 12 months of the conflict, joining the 50,000 men who were already serving.

Ancestry spokesman Joe Buggy said: “These records give a fascinating insight into the stories of those men from Ireland who died during the war and allow us to bring them to life again to commemorate the centenary of the end of World War One.

“The collection gives families a chance to add the ancestors who fought in France and elsewhere to their family tree and learn more about their stories.”

These are some of their poignant stories.

was born in Coole, Co Westmeath, in 1889. At the age of 21 he joined the British Army and was stationed in Aldershot with the 4 Battalion Royal Fusiliers.

Tragically, Dease was killed in action three years later in Mons, Belgium.

He became the first posthumous recipient of the Victoria Cross, receiving the honour for defending his position despite numerous wounds. Born in India to Irish parents in 1878,

enlisted in 1900. By the time the war started in 1914, he had joined the Royal Irish Rifles where he rose to the rank of Captain. During the famous Christmas Truce of 1914, O’sullivan and his regiment went to No Man’s Land to meet German soldiers and exchange gifts O’sullivan fired a shot from his pistol at midnight, signalling the end of the truce and a return to war.

He was fatally wounded in battle on May 9, 1915. In 2017 his grave was formally identified. Rugby star was born in England in 1881 but spent much of his life in