Michael John O'Callaghan

1888 Oct/Dec born Castlemagner Cork Ireland. Michael John O'Callaghan registered birth Oct - Dec 1888 in Kanturk district Vol 5, p 195. Castlemagner is about 8 miles from Mallow. Son of Patrick O'Callaghan.

1904 Oct/Nov Michael O'Callaghan  enlisted in Royal Munster Fusiliers in Oct/Nov 1904 from his service number of 7988. Note this is not the same Michael O'Callaghan as this man with service number 10055

1909 Aug 7 Michael John O'Callaghan married to Kathleen Scully at St John Church in Tralee, Kerry Ireland. Michael gives (on the marriage cert) his father name as Patrick O'Callaghan (in the army) Kathleen gives her her father name as Jeremiah Scully (retired army with pension). Address on 1909 marriage certificate is Ballymullen Barracks. Also on the marriage certificate he puts his profession as laborer. But i can not find a Michael O'Callaghan  in the 1911 census for Ireland.

Ballymullen Barracks, Ballymullen, Tralee. Ballymullen Barracks were built just outside Tralee. Building was completed and the first troops moved in in 1815. The accommodation for the troops was very basic and very cramped. Some wifes of the soldiers were permitted to stay in the Barracks. Many British Regiments were posted to Tralee In 1880 the reorganization of the British Army the Ist and 2nd Royal Master Fusiliers were located with Ballymullen Barracks as Depot and Regimental Headquarters. This association with Tralee was to continue up to 1921. While the regular battalions of the R.M.F. were stationed in Tralee, all recruits were trained in Ballymullen and on completion of training joined their regiments.

1910 Their first child born Eileen O'Callaghan, at Huggards Lane, Ballymullen, Tralee, Co Kerry, (d. 20 Jan 1931)

1911 Irish census has Kathleen (with Eileen her daughter) living with her mother Susan Scully, and her brother Daniel at Huggard Lane in Tralee Susan Scully (maiden name Bryne from Liverpool) is Kathleens Mother. Susan (Bryne) Scully had a shop. They in fact have had 2 children, but one has already died.

1912 2nd Battalion RMF moved from Ireland, where it had previosly been stationed, to Aldershot. It was still at Aldershot at the outbreak of war.

1914 Mar 29 their second child born, Jeremiah O'Callaghan, at Huggards Lane, Ballymullen, Tralee, Co Kerry, (d. 1975, Guys Hospital, London)

1914 Aug 13 2nd Battalion landed in France with the 1st Brigade of the Expeditionary Force - the “Old Contemptibles”. At the outbreak of war the battalion was under strength, and reservists travelled from the regimental depots at Tralee and Fermoy amid much local cheering, 485 out of 703, to join the battalion at Aldershot bringing it up to a strength of 27 officers and 971 other ranks for its departure to France on the 13 August 1914.

1914 Aug 27 suffered almost total annihilation at Etreux, on 27th August, where 9 officers and 113 other ranks laid down their lives; after holding up the advance of a whole German Army Corps for twelve hours. With the Munsters at Mons

1914 September 14 : after suffering heavy casualties at Etreux, left Division and became Army Troops.

1914 Nov 9 : transferred to 3rd Brigade in 1st Division.

1914 Nov 22 The battalion was moved south to the Festubert sector in France, after a 36 hour march were ordered on 22 November to fill a gap by taking two lines of trenches. There were 200 casualties in the first 10 minutes of heavy fire. Withdrawing in total exhaustion on the next day, many wounded drowned in water-filled shell holes. Throughout December they were fully occupied maintaining the trenches.

1914 Dec 21 Served with the 2nd Munsters, and he was killed in action at Festubert France and is buried in a CWGC grave in France

 

 

 

he had a brother Jeremiah who was in the army as well, and survived the war.

Jeremiah O'Callaghan - Kanturk Regristration District births Jul/Sep 1887 Vol 5. p 223

Jeremiah O'Callaghan - Kanturk Registration District marriages Jan/Mar 1918 Vol 5 p189

Jeremiah O'Callaghan - Kanturk Registration District marriages Jul/Sep 1911 Vol 5 p158

Jeremiah O'Callaghan - Kanturk Registration District marriages Apr/Jun 1924 Vol 5 p136

Jeremiah O'Callaghan - Mallow Registration District marriages Apr/Jun 1922 vol 5/ p 303

Jeremiah O'Callaghan - Mallow Registration District marriages Jan/Mar 1923 vol 5/ p 296