Page 10 - Greystones Archaeological Historical Society

THE GREAT WAR – PERSONAL REFLECTIONS

In 1913 there were 16 Irish Regiments under the umbrella of
the British Army. It was a natural career for Irishmen to follow
when there was little chance of employment at home. From
Killruddery Estate alone 32 men served in the forces. Of the men
who joined most worked on the land, whether gardens, fields or
woods. They were resourceful and good with animals such as
horses, in fact horses were in their blood. Out of the 32 who
joined 10 joined the Royal Horse Artillery, 7 joined the Dublin
Fusiliers and the remainder joined the Irish Guards, Iniskillings
and the Irish cavalry regiments. 2 were killed in action; one died
of enteric fever and 5 were wounded. Some of you may have
seen the documentary on RTE of Gay Byrne's father titled My
Father's War. Edward Byrne was born on Killruddery Estate, one
of six brothers and two sisters, his father was Alec Byrne, head
coachman to the Earl of Meath. If you want to find out what
happened to him ask Gay or RTE! It is a very well-conceived
documentary and worth watching.

I have been asked to mention my own relations and their
contribution so I would like to start with my maternal grandfather,
Captain Geoffrey Bowlby, whom I never knew and whom my
mother lost when she was just two years old. He came from a
military family and his grandfather was at Waterloo and survived.
He was a Captain in the Royal Horse Guards and part of the
British Expeditionary Force, which was dispatched to France and
Belgium to check the advance of Germany at the outbreak of
war, a very small force of some 400,000 soldiers but well trained
and disciplined.

He distinguished himself at Wytschaete in October 1914,
taking command of a composite battalion, and was mentioned in
despatches. At the first battle of Ypres he commanded 'A'
company, Royal Horse Guards, and ran 1000 yards leading a
successful afternoon counter attack uphill across open country

6