E Mail below is from Trevor Tasker who with K. Tasker are the authors of the WW1 book I got the details of the WW1 campain around Gavrelle and Arras.
Trevor has kept in contact over the years, and last week he sent by post, some maps of Gavrell war trench lay out and the 14th Worcestershire Regt. involvement.
This weeks E Mail is from his present visit to Arras. Sean
Tuesday, March 27, 2007
Monday, March 26, 2007
Trevors News from Arras -- Sean
Sorry about the delay (as regards your e-mails)
Been very busy with my trip to Arras - will be leaving in a weeks time,
before I leave will get another package posted.
Found your hotel is near the rail station, but will send the steet plan anyway,
The Irish pub "Ould Shebeen" (also near the station - will mark on map) has just been sold and
I do not know if the new owners - like the last will even be Irish.
Will be in Arras 4-11 April so will have time to post an update (ie after visiting the tourist office, reading the local paper
while having a beer in a cafe, etc).
TREVOR
PS Irish pub only opened in the evening/late night - or should I say was.
Been very busy with my trip to Arras - will be leaving in a weeks time,
before I leave will get another package posted.
Found your hotel is near the rail station, but will send the steet plan anyway,
The Irish pub "Ould Shebeen" (also near the station - will mark on map) has just been sold and
I do not know if the new owners - like the last will even be Irish.
Will be in Arras 4-11 April so will have time to post an update (ie after visiting the tourist office, reading the local paper
while having a beer in a cafe, etc).
TREVOR
PS Irish pub only opened in the evening/late night - or should I say was.
Friday, March 23, 2007
14thWorcestershires Pioneer Batt. A Company RND
Paddy Horkan WW1. Battle of Arras. By Sean Horkan
I have been asked to fill in some of the background of why we are going to France in April, the simple answer is that it is 90 years since Dad was awarded the Military Medal for bravery there in 1917, and the Horkan family should be there to mark the event.
For many years growing up we were aware that Dad took part in the Great War and had the M.M. but little more information of what happened there, we had more information of his part in the old IRA and the Civil war, but not a lot of that either.
We knew of the war-medals from both conflicts, mounted together and framed by Henry, with the WW1 Military Medal inscribed Pte. P. Horkan 30363, Gavrelle 1917, we had the letters sent home to Castle Street from Dad’s commanding officers, and later the taped interviews with Peter, Patsy and transcribed by Seamus, we had more references to his WW1 experiences, as a enlisted solder in 1915 in the 14th.Worcestershire Battalion and activity on the front lines.
In an interview with Michael Mullen Dad described the training on the Salisbury Plains, the dispatch to France in 1915, marching to the town of Albert and the action in the Battle of Arras, all in a offhanded way.
I was always intrigued by the Military Medal and the details of why it was awarded; over a numbers of years I was making inquiries.
First with the war office in London where I found that most of the WW1 records were lost in the Second World War, as a result of the London blitz.
I then tried the Worcestershire Regiment, to find that Dad served in the 14th Battalion of the 63rd. division and with no more information again on account of poor records left.
Next I tried the museum of the Worcestershire Regiment and found out, that Dad was attached to the RND, Royal Naval Division, A Company Pioneer Batt.
This came about by a lucky encounter, I had been in correspondence with the Worcestershire museum following leads, when a Captain Love (retired), a volunteer working in the museum there wrote that the War Diaries of the 14th Worcestershire, in the action around the Battle of Arras, had just been found and he sent me copies of the April days leading up to the engagement at Gavrelle where Pte. P. Horkan was in the particular action was awarded the M.M., also a copy of the War Diary for May 1917, when the awarding of the M.M. was announced to the Battalion, hence the 3 letters home to Castlebar from the Officers of the Worcestershires.
Those war diaries gave the information that enabled the particulars of the RND involvement in the Battle of Arras, and the Gravelle campaign, be recorded and the record of the pioneers of the 14th Batt. and their involvement there be included in the history of the Worcestershire Regiment.
The printing of the Tasker- Tallet book “ Gavelle Battleground Europe” was assisted by the finding of those War Diaries, great that the letters and the copies of the war diaries I received are in the safe keeping of Eamon.
Author Trevor Tasker has kept up the correspondence and last week I received from Trevor, some more details and maps of the Gravelle engagement and what is to be found there today.
In an earlier letter, in reply to some of the details I sent of Dad’s WW1 and IRA record, he stated as a military historian “ I’d love to have had a pint with that man”.
Gavrelle is a small village in the northeast of France, with a population of 800, and was totally destroyed in April 1917. In the 1914 German invasion, Gavrelle was occupied and remained so in 1915-1916, and to April 1917, all the offensives of 1915-1916 altered the front line very little; all that seemed to result was an increase in the size of the numerous military cemeteries in that area.
The winter of 1916-17, and the very cold spring was the hardest in memory, creating extreme hardship in the trenches and behind the lines.
The Royal Naval Division (RND) was a unique formation, formed in 1914 on the outbreak of the war, using surplus naval reservists when there were more men than boats, it fought in Belgium and Holland and there loosing a third of its strength.
The division was reconstructed and took part in Gallipoli campaign, and later was ordered to France where it proved its worth in the Somme campaign, at Beaumont Hamel and Beaucourt, and fought around Ancre in February.
The RND was moved down to Arras sector for the Arras offensive and ready for their date with history at Gavrelle.
Gavrelle was important because it was part of the Arleux line, a defensive line of significant importance.
The Germans wanted to hold the allied armies in this line whilst their half-finished defences behind were completed, as part of The Siegfried Line (famous in the English music-hall comic song " we'll hang out our washing on the Siegfried Line"
The Battle of Arras started on Easter Monday April 9, 1917 after a weeklong bombardment, the actions from 9-14 April are known as the First Battle of the Scarpe.
Another attack on April 23 was known as The Second Battle of the Scarpe.
The capture of the important high ground to the north of the village, giving excellent observation of practically the whole Douai plain, fell to the 63rd. Royal Naval Division and was a significant part of this unique division’s history.
In the days after the 23 April the German artillery was very active, constantly trying to blast the RND out of their gains.
On the 28 April a second British attack around Gavrelle was planned.
The WW1 records now give detailed accounts of the RND Pioneer 14th Battalion involvement on the 28-29 &30 April at Gavrelle, the war-diary account of those days are recorded in my article in the Connacht Telegraph, and now at Gavrelle we will get more on-the-ground information of this engagement, when we visit there in April.
In the Worcestershire Regiment history, in the record of Dad’s “A" company it says, “ A Company was admitted by all to have behaved splendidly (for gallantry during the day two stretcher-bearers of the Battalion, Ptes. C. Rooke and P. Horkan, were awarded the M.M.); so much so that when the remainder of the 188th Brigade was relieved during the following night (April 29th/30th.), by the troops of the 31st Division, the Worcestershire company was left to hold the north-east corner of the village during the relief and did not rejoin the remainder of the Battalion until the following night".
The Tasker-Tallett book, “Gavrell, Battleground Europe”, gives an account of the Gavrelle fighting and says; “ this action was a defining moment in the Royal Naval Division, as it was at Gavrelle that almost the last of the originals were killed off, as well as Gallipoli survivors and those who had just come back from wounds incurred at Beaucourt, Gavrell was the deathbed of the original RND.”
The losses for the Royal Marines there were, and still are the largest casualty list for one day’s fighting in its history, which amounted to 850 all ranks with a fatal to wounded ratio of almost one to one, whereas it would be normally one to three. The division was disbanded in early 1919, never to reform, and so become a wartime only formation.
Sean.
I have been asked to fill in some of the background of why we are going to France in April, the simple answer is that it is 90 years since Dad was awarded the Military Medal for bravery there in 1917, and the Horkan family should be there to mark the event.
For many years growing up we were aware that Dad took part in the Great War and had the M.M. but little more information of what happened there, we had more information of his part in the old IRA and the Civil war, but not a lot of that either.
We knew of the war-medals from both conflicts, mounted together and framed by Henry, with the WW1 Military Medal inscribed Pte. P. Horkan 30363, Gavrelle 1917, we had the letters sent home to Castle Street from Dad’s commanding officers, and later the taped interviews with Peter, Patsy and transcribed by Seamus, we had more references to his WW1 experiences, as a enlisted solder in 1915 in the 14th.Worcestershire Battalion and activity on the front lines.
In an interview with Michael Mullen Dad described the training on the Salisbury Plains, the dispatch to France in 1915, marching to the town of Albert and the action in the Battle of Arras, all in a offhanded way.
I was always intrigued by the Military Medal and the details of why it was awarded; over a numbers of years I was making inquiries.
First with the war office in London where I found that most of the WW1 records were lost in the Second World War, as a result of the London blitz.
I then tried the Worcestershire Regiment, to find that Dad served in the 14th Battalion of the 63rd. division and with no more information again on account of poor records left.
Next I tried the museum of the Worcestershire Regiment and found out, that Dad was attached to the RND, Royal Naval Division, A Company Pioneer Batt.
This came about by a lucky encounter, I had been in correspondence with the Worcestershire museum following leads, when a Captain Love (retired), a volunteer working in the museum there wrote that the War Diaries of the 14th Worcestershire, in the action around the Battle of Arras, had just been found and he sent me copies of the April days leading up to the engagement at Gavrelle where Pte. P. Horkan was in the particular action was awarded the M.M., also a copy of the War Diary for May 1917, when the awarding of the M.M. was announced to the Battalion, hence the 3 letters home to Castlebar from the Officers of the Worcestershires.
Those war diaries gave the information that enabled the particulars of the RND involvement in the Battle of Arras, and the Gravelle campaign, be recorded and the record of the pioneers of the 14th Batt. and their involvement there be included in the history of the Worcestershire Regiment.
The printing of the Tasker- Tallet book “ Gavelle Battleground Europe” was assisted by the finding of those War Diaries, great that the letters and the copies of the war diaries I received are in the safe keeping of Eamon.
Author Trevor Tasker has kept up the correspondence and last week I received from Trevor, some more details and maps of the Gravelle engagement and what is to be found there today.
In an earlier letter, in reply to some of the details I sent of Dad’s WW1 and IRA record, he stated as a military historian “ I’d love to have had a pint with that man”.
Gavrelle is a small village in the northeast of France, with a population of 800, and was totally destroyed in April 1917. In the 1914 German invasion, Gavrelle was occupied and remained so in 1915-1916, and to April 1917, all the offensives of 1915-1916 altered the front line very little; all that seemed to result was an increase in the size of the numerous military cemeteries in that area.
The winter of 1916-17, and the very cold spring was the hardest in memory, creating extreme hardship in the trenches and behind the lines.
The Royal Naval Division (RND) was a unique formation, formed in 1914 on the outbreak of the war, using surplus naval reservists when there were more men than boats, it fought in Belgium and Holland and there loosing a third of its strength.
The division was reconstructed and took part in Gallipoli campaign, and later was ordered to France where it proved its worth in the Somme campaign, at Beaumont Hamel and Beaucourt, and fought around Ancre in February.
The RND was moved down to Arras sector for the Arras offensive and ready for their date with history at Gavrelle.
Gavrelle was important because it was part of the Arleux line, a defensive line of significant importance.
The Germans wanted to hold the allied armies in this line whilst their half-finished defences behind were completed, as part of The Siegfried Line (famous in the English music-hall comic song " we'll hang out our washing on the Siegfried Line"
The Battle of Arras started on Easter Monday April 9, 1917 after a weeklong bombardment, the actions from 9-14 April are known as the First Battle of the Scarpe.
Another attack on April 23 was known as The Second Battle of the Scarpe.
The capture of the important high ground to the north of the village, giving excellent observation of practically the whole Douai plain, fell to the 63rd. Royal Naval Division and was a significant part of this unique division’s history.
In the days after the 23 April the German artillery was very active, constantly trying to blast the RND out of their gains.
On the 28 April a second British attack around Gavrelle was planned.
The WW1 records now give detailed accounts of the RND Pioneer 14th Battalion involvement on the 28-29 &30 April at Gavrelle, the war-diary account of those days are recorded in my article in the Connacht Telegraph, and now at Gavrelle we will get more on-the-ground information of this engagement, when we visit there in April.
In the Worcestershire Regiment history, in the record of Dad’s “A" company it says, “ A Company was admitted by all to have behaved splendidly (for gallantry during the day two stretcher-bearers of the Battalion, Ptes. C. Rooke and P. Horkan, were awarded the M.M.); so much so that when the remainder of the 188th Brigade was relieved during the following night (April 29th/30th.), by the troops of the 31st Division, the Worcestershire company was left to hold the north-east corner of the village during the relief and did not rejoin the remainder of the Battalion until the following night".
The Tasker-Tallett book, “Gavrell, Battleground Europe”, gives an account of the Gavrelle fighting and says; “ this action was a defining moment in the Royal Naval Division, as it was at Gavrelle that almost the last of the originals were killed off, as well as Gallipoli survivors and those who had just come back from wounds incurred at Beaucourt, Gavrell was the deathbed of the original RND.”
The losses for the Royal Marines there were, and still are the largest casualty list for one day’s fighting in its history, which amounted to 850 all ranks with a fatal to wounded ratio of almost one to one, whereas it would be normally one to three. The division was disbanded in early 1919, never to reform, and so become a wartime only formation.
Sean.
Saturday, March 17, 2007
Copy of WW1 letters recieved by Paddy in Castlebar
Letter no 1
14th. (s) Bn. Worcestershire,
No. 30366 Pte. P. Horkan
A Company
I wish to offer you my congratulations on gaining the Military Medal during the operation at GAVRELLE on April 29th, this bringing honour to our Battalion.
I have pleasure of enclosing a piece of ribbon for your tunic.
C. H. Gascoigne Lt. Col.
May 25th.1917.
-------------------------------------
Letter no 2
B. E. S.
26 th May 1917
My Dear Boy,
I cannot say how pleased I was to hear that your bravery has been awarded & that you have got the Military medal. A medal medal in itself is a mere bit of metal but when as in your case it represents devotion to duty, courage in the face of the greatest danger it becomes more precious than gold. I send you my heartiest congratulations & as your medical officer my sincerest thanks. I trust your wound will soon be well, I hear it is progressing favourably that you shall soon be back with us when I shall feel it an honour to shake you by the hand. You will be pleased to hear that the battalion got out with remarkable few causalities& that Cook ( I think this should be Rook, Dad’s fellow stretcher- bearer) your bearer is again back with us quite recovered.
Have a good time while you are at home
With all good wishes
Yours sincerely
D. Matthew Cap R.A. M.S.
-------------------------------------------------------
Letter no 3
20 th. May 1917
Dear Horkan,
The Sgt. Major &
evening he had heard from your ( This section of the pare is missing)
like to send you a note
glad I am that you are going
and to thank you for all
I know you belong to
you’re half No4 as you al
my own 3 B. your work
so willing
wounded way out of the line or if it was only
you bring in a cup of tea as you used to
do when we got back from Purl French to those
little dugout on the Nacre – and your calm way of doing your “bit” and the courage you always showed was an example to all & I was always very (underlined) proud of my stretcher-bearers. I hope you continue to make good progress and come back to
“A” company soon after you had a nice holiday at your home in Ireland and when you feel well enough should like to hear from you.
With all best wishes
Yours very sincerely
Glanvilk Roberts 2nd. Lieut
P.S. M stretcher is out this evening at the same spot we spent that Sunday on
I’m quite sure he would wish to confirm all I have said. HGR.
14th. (s) Bn. Worcestershire,
No. 30366 Pte. P. Horkan
A Company
I wish to offer you my congratulations on gaining the Military Medal during the operation at GAVRELLE on April 29th, this bringing honour to our Battalion.
I have pleasure of enclosing a piece of ribbon for your tunic.
C. H. Gascoigne Lt. Col.
May 25th.1917.
-------------------------------------
Letter no 2
B. E. S.
26 th May 1917
My Dear Boy,
I cannot say how pleased I was to hear that your bravery has been awarded & that you have got the Military medal. A medal medal in itself is a mere bit of metal but when as in your case it represents devotion to duty, courage in the face of the greatest danger it becomes more precious than gold. I send you my heartiest congratulations & as your medical officer my sincerest thanks. I trust your wound will soon be well, I hear it is progressing favourably that you shall soon be back with us when I shall feel it an honour to shake you by the hand. You will be pleased to hear that the battalion got out with remarkable few causalities& that Cook ( I think this should be Rook, Dad’s fellow stretcher- bearer) your bearer is again back with us quite recovered.
Have a good time while you are at home
With all good wishes
Yours sincerely
D. Matthew Cap R.A. M.S.
-------------------------------------------------------
Letter no 3
20 th. May 1917
Dear Horkan,
The Sgt. Major &
evening he had heard from your ( This section of the pare is missing)
like to send you a note
glad I am that you are going
and to thank you for all
I know you belong to
you’re half No4 as you al
my own 3 B. your work
so willing
wounded way out of the line or if it was only
you bring in a cup of tea as you used to
do when we got back from Purl French to those
little dugout on the Nacre – and your calm way of doing your “bit” and the courage you always showed was an example to all & I was always very (underlined) proud of my stretcher-bearers. I hope you continue to make good progress and come back to
“A” company soon after you had a nice holiday at your home in Ireland and when you feel well enough should like to hear from you.
With all best wishes
Yours very sincerely
Glanvilk Roberts 2nd. Lieut
P.S. M stretcher is out this evening at the same spot we spent that Sunday on
I’m quite sure he would wish to confirm all I have said. HGR.
Wednesday, March 14, 2007
Sorry cant be with you, ed.
The Cashel Park Clan will be in Gursney, Channel Islands, for the 28th April, for Ann Marie's 40th. Birthday. We will try to organize a trip later for our crew, it is a pity we all will not be together. However have a wonderful time and we will be thinking of you. Best Regards Eamonn
Friday, March 9, 2007
E-mail to sean on war diary
Many thanks for your e-mail letter,
good news, I found a box of Gavrelle photocopies that contained photocopies of RND War Diary pages and trench maps
will photocopy a few things, work on them over the weekend, and post on MONDAY morning.
The pages for the 28/29 are very interesting. As you may know the pioneers usually do not see that much action (being trench diggers etc),
however, a coy of 14th Worcesters were sent to join the regular troops NE of Gravrelle (ie near windmill) they became isolated and when The RND were withdrawn on the night of the 29th the Worcesters had to stay until the next day - very unusual.
If your grandfather won the MM at this time, he must have been with these men, over the weekend will try and see if I can plot exactly where NE of
Gavrelle they were.
So something in the post, you should get this on Wednesday I think (the day you got my last letter)
Will be accessing my e-mails again (via Swansea Library) Monday 11-midday.
TREVOR
good news, I found a box of Gavrelle photocopies that contained photocopies of RND War Diary pages and trench maps
will photocopy a few things, work on them over the weekend, and post on MONDAY morning.
The pages for the 28/29 are very interesting. As you may know the pioneers usually do not see that much action (being trench diggers etc),
however, a coy of 14th Worcesters were sent to join the regular troops NE of Gravrelle (ie near windmill) they became isolated and when The RND were withdrawn on the night of the 29th the Worcesters had to stay until the next day - very unusual.
If your grandfather won the MM at this time, he must have been with these men, over the weekend will try and see if I can plot exactly where NE of
Gavrelle they were.
So something in the post, you should get this on Wednesday I think (the day you got my last letter)
Will be accessing my e-mails again (via Swansea Library) Monday 11-midday.
TREVOR
Friday, March 2, 2007
Greetings from Castlebar
Hi Clan!
Greetings from Castlebar, it is heartning to see all the family on the Move to France where Dad was having a more difficult trip just 90 years ago.
Its great to see a wonderfull take-up from the members of the next generation. John said last week-end "Dad lets go" and within a day it was on. Thanks to Shane in Belfast for getting in straight away with the information on accomodation and car hire. Monday evening I trying to deal with the Hotels in Gavrelle, I with no French anf they with no English and trying to tell me they were booked out with a wedding and I telling that I wanted 7 rooms and what kind of a deal I could get. Well done Shane!
The Blogger is great, everyone can now keep in touch with all the moves.
This morning I was on to a guide and I'm working on a Saturday tour of the Gavrelle WW1 area.
It will cost €350, split between the 16 confirmed, with a possible few extra, will work out well in time saved trying to find locations and getting the local experience from a profesional guide.
Is this ok?
I asked for a price for a bus to hire so all could be togeather in the tour around the Gavrelle area
I have suggested that he also advises on stops coming from the airport and on the return journey on Sunday.
There are some amazing places to visit on route, the town of Mons, in Belguim on the way from the airport, this is where the early start to the WW1 started and where Mons Tce. in Castlebar was called after.
On the way back to the airport it should be possible to visit the Irish Peace Park and Round Tower in Belgium and the towm of Ypres where the famous Monin Gate memorial wher every evening since 1918 the last post is sounded, all in the Flanders fields.
Great to see April 28/29 coming on target and the family there to be part.
Regards Sean.
Greetings from Castlebar, it is heartning to see all the family on the Move to France where Dad was having a more difficult trip just 90 years ago.
Its great to see a wonderfull take-up from the members of the next generation. John said last week-end "Dad lets go" and within a day it was on. Thanks to Shane in Belfast for getting in straight away with the information on accomodation and car hire. Monday evening I trying to deal with the Hotels in Gavrelle, I with no French anf they with no English and trying to tell me they were booked out with a wedding and I telling that I wanted 7 rooms and what kind of a deal I could get. Well done Shane!
The Blogger is great, everyone can now keep in touch with all the moves.
This morning I was on to a guide and I'm working on a Saturday tour of the Gavrelle WW1 area.
It will cost €350, split between the 16 confirmed, with a possible few extra, will work out well in time saved trying to find locations and getting the local experience from a profesional guide.
Is this ok?
I asked for a price for a bus to hire so all could be togeather in the tour around the Gavrelle area
I have suggested that he also advises on stops coming from the airport and on the return journey on Sunday.
There are some amazing places to visit on route, the town of Mons, in Belguim on the way from the airport, this is where the early start to the WW1 started and where Mons Tce. in Castlebar was called after.
On the way back to the airport it should be possible to visit the Irish Peace Park and Round Tower in Belgium and the towm of Ypres where the famous Monin Gate memorial wher every evening since 1918 the last post is sounded, all in the Flanders fields.
Great to see April 28/29 coming on target and the family there to be part.
Regards Sean.
Thursday, March 1, 2007
Car Hire
Shane have checked out all the main car hire companys. Here is his recommondations.
"I have also booked a hire car from Brussels Charleroi airport. I checked
through Hertz, Avis etc. and came across Europcar as being the best value -
www.europcar.be. I have booked a Renault Scenic (5 seater MPV) for the 3
days for GBP 74 - approx. Euro 100. There are various types available -
check it out and see what suits best."
"I have also booked a hire car from Brussels Charleroi airport. I checked
through Hertz, Avis etc. and came across Europcar as being the best value -
www.europcar.be. I have booked a Renault Scenic (5 seater MPV) for the 3
days for GBP 74 - approx. Euro 100. There are various types available -
check it out and see what suits best."
Hotel -Express By Holiday Inn Arras
We are Staying at the Holiday Inn Express Arras (3 star) -3 RUE DOCTEUR BRASSART ARRAS, 62000 FRANCE Hotel Front Desk: 033-3-21608888 Hotel Fax: 033-3-21608900
You can book your room at this web site.
Web link. http://www.ichotelsgroup.com/h/d/ex/1/en/hotel/LILAR?&
The hotel is a 3 star , basic standard ,has large lounge / bar, 98 bedrooms, location : dowtown close to shopping, bars / restaurants, UNESCO world heritage site belfry etc. It should make a good base for us.
Again thanks to Shane for looking at all the hotel options recommonding this one
You can book your room at this web site.
Web link. http://www.ichotelsgroup.com/h/d/ex/1/en/hotel/LILAR?&
The hotel is a 3 star , basic standard ,has large lounge / bar, 98 bedrooms, location : dowtown close to shopping, bars / restaurants, UNESCO world heritage site belfry etc. It should make a good base for us.
Again thanks to Shane for looking at all the hotel options recommonding this one
Hello from London!
Great idea to set-up this site, the trip is an excellent idea and I'm sure will be a great success from looking at the list of 'notables' already confirmed. I'm going to get the Eurostar from London to Calais and see you all sometime on the 27th.
This article http://www.worcestershireregiment.com/wr.php?main=inc/bat_14 (copy and paste into your internet browser) recounts the battle at Gavrelle where Granda won his Military Medal for gallantry. Granda is also mentioned in this article which recounts the history of the Worcester Regiment.
It's not too many men who fought in WW1, The War of Independance and then took the Republican side in the Civil War - and its great and fitting that Paddy Horkan is remembered in this way.
If any of you want to get in touch, email me @ henry.horkan@bordbia.ie
This article http://www.worcestershireregiment.com/wr.php?main=inc/bat_14 (copy and paste into your internet browser) recounts the battle at Gavrelle where Granda won his Military Medal for gallantry. Granda is also mentioned in this article which recounts the history of the Worcester Regiment.
It's not too many men who fought in WW1, The War of Independance and then took the Republican side in the Civil War - and its great and fitting that Paddy Horkan is remembered in this way.
If any of you want to get in touch, email me @ henry.horkan@bordbia.ie
Hello From Drogheda !!
Hi All,
John - great idea to set up this bolg. I'm really looking forward to meeting up with you all and learning a bit more about our family history.
I'm on code red at the moment - Saragh is 39 weeks pregnant so awaiting call to the hospital at any point now.
I'll forward on any pieces of info I come across re Belgium - sum of knowledge at the moment is that they make some good beer in this region. It's a start at least!!
Johnny.
John - great idea to set up this bolg. I'm really looking forward to meeting up with you all and learning a bit more about our family history.
I'm on code red at the moment - Saragh is 39 weeks pregnant so awaiting call to the hospital at any point now.
I'll forward on any pieces of info I come across re Belgium - sum of knowledge at the moment is that they make some good beer in this region. It's a start at least!!
Johnny.
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