WW1 Casualty: Private 10234 Patrick Plunkett - Private 10234 Patrick Plunkett
| Unit/Regiment |
1st Bn., Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers |
| Date of Death |
01/07/1916 |
Burial/Memorial
& Reference |
Thiepval Memorial
Pier and Face 4D and 5B |
| Census Details |
1901 Census -
7 year old Patrick Plunkett lived at No 1 House, 1 Court, Chesterfield Street, Toxteth. Along with parents Peter (44, a Corporation Labourer) and Ellen (30), were his siblings Helena (12), Frank (10) and Kate (3). Both parents were born in Cavan Ireland, whilst all the children were born in England |
| Birth/Marriage/Death Registrations |
Birth Registered Q3/1893, Toxteth Park, Volume 8b, Page 172 |
| SDGW - Where Born |
Prescot, Lancs |
| Enlisted |
Londonderry |
| How Died |
Killed in Action |
Theatre of War |
France & Flanders |
| Notes |
Census and Birth details have not been confirmed, but seem to be for the correct man. |
| Research Ref. No. |
P225 |
Service DetailsThe 1st Battalion of the Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers (the 'Skins') were part of the 29th Division and at the vanguard of the fighting on the first day of the Somme, 1st July 1916. Ominously, one sergeant had noted "They don't seem to be trying to cut the wire in this sector", suggesting that the artillery barrage had achieved little. A number of trench raids had been attempted leading up to the attack, but General Haig, in his report of the battle, noted that none had been successful.
The 1st Bn were on the extreme right of 29th Division near Mary Redan. They went 'over the top' at 07.30 a.m. but were mainly held up by uncut wire south of Y Ravine, their Lt Col being killed. A few men got beyond the first line trench and down into the valley behind (Beaumont Hamel to Beaucourt Station Road). They were then fired on from the rear by German Machine Guns and either killed or captured.
It would appear that Private Plunkett was killed in this assault. Like so many of his comrades, his body was never identified after the battle and he is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial to the missing of the Somme.
Private Plunkett's Medal Index Card. It can be seen that he first saw actions in the Balkan theatre of war, arriving in Gallipoli on 17th March 1915. His card also states 'Presumed Dead 1-7-16' which reveals that he was posted missing, and his body was never subsequently identified
Patrick Plunkett's inscription on the Thiepval Memorial
Picture taken Monday 21/02/1011
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