Ireland and the two world wars A t the outbreak of the First World War in 1914, Ireland was part of the United Kingdom. Both Nationalist and Unionist leaders initially supported the war and men from north and south, from both Catholic and Protestant backgrounds, enlisted. It is believed that 210,000 Irishmen served in the British forces during the First World War, while many others of Irish descent served with the forces of other Commonwealth nations or those of America. The work of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission in Ireland Dugort Church of Ireland Churchyard, County Mayo
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Ireland and the two world wars
At the outbreak of the First World War in 1914, Ireland was part
of the United Kingdom. Both Nationalist and Unionist leaders
initially supported the war and men from north and south,
from both Catholic and Protestant backgrounds, enlisted.
It is believed that 210,000 Irishmen served in the British forces during
the First World War, while many others of Irish descent served with
the forces of other Commonwealth nations or those of America.
The work of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission
in Ireland
Dugort Church of Ireland Churchyard, County Mayo
Estimates for the number of Irishmen killed during the war vary
considerably, but it is believed that as many as 50,000 died.
During the Second World War Ireland, apart from the six counties of
Northern Ireland, remained neutral and it is estimated that in the British
army alone, as many as 100,000 people from the island of Ireland
served, and that at least 10,000 Irishmen were killed. Again many
more of Irish descent served with the Allied forces of other nations.
In addition to serving personnel, some 1,000 Irish civilians were killed
during the Second World War in air raids on Belfast and Dublin.
War graves in Ireland
The majority of those Irishmen and women who died in service, lie
buried or commemorated in the countries where they died – their
graves and memorials looked after in perpetuity by the
Commonwealth War Graves Commission.
Less well known is the fact that there are more than 5,500
Commonwealth war dead buried or commemorated at more than a
1,000 burial grounds or churchyards throughout the island of Ireland.
The majority of the war burials in Ireland are Irish casualties who died
in the United Kingdom during both world wars and whose bodies were
taken home for burial by their families in their local cemetery or
churchyard. Some were buried in family graves marked with private
memorials but others are commemorated either by Commission
headstones erected on their graves or by commemorative memorials
where it was not possible to mark the actual place of burial.
Right: The Island of Ireland Peace Park, Messines, Belgium is dedicated to thesoldiers of Ireland, of all political and religious beliefs, who died, were wounded ormissing in the Great War of 1914-1918
Estimates for the number of Irishmen killed during the war vary
considerably, but it is believed that as many as 50,000 died.
During the Second World War Ireland, apart from the six counties of
Northern Ireland, remained neutral and it is estimated that in the British
army alone, as many as 100,000 people from the island of Ireland
served, and that at least 10,000 Irishmen were killed. Again many
more of Irish descent served with the Allied forces of other nations.
In addition to serving personnel, some 1,000 Irish civilians were killed
during the Second World War in air raids on Belfast and Dublin.
War graves in Ireland
The majority of those Irishmen and women who died in service, lie
buried or commemorated in the countries where they died – their
graves and memorials looked after in perpetuity by the
Commonwealth War Graves Commission.
Less well known is the fact that there are more than 5,500
Commonwealth war dead buried or commemorated at more than a
1,000 burial grounds or churchyards throughout the island of Ireland.
The majority of the war burials in Ireland are Irish casualties who died
in the United Kingdom during both world wars and whose bodies were
taken home for burial by their families in their local cemetery or
churchyard. Some were buried in family graves marked with private
memorials but others are commemorated either by Commission
headstones erected on their graves or by commemorative memorials
where it was not possible to mark the actual place of burial.
Right: The Island of Ireland Peace Park, Messines, Belgium is dedicated to thesoldiers of Ireland, of all political and religious beliefs, who died, were wounded ormissing in the Great War of 1914-1918
Most of the burials on the west coast of Ireland are those of men
who lost their lives in the many ships which were torpedoed and
sunk by German U-boats in the first years of the Second World War
and whose bodies were washed ashore or recovered from the sea;
a great many of them could not be identified.
The largest concentrations of graves will be found in Belfast and
Dublin. The cemeteries with the most war burials are Grangegorman
Military Cemetery with over 600 and Glasnevin (or Prospect)
Cemetery with over 200 (both in Dublin) and Belfast City Cemetery
with almost 600.
Among the war burials in Grangegorman Military Cemetery are 145
officers and men whose bodies were recovered following the sinking
of the mail-boat Leinster which had been struck by a torpedo from a
German submarine after leaving Dun Laoghaire for Holyhead on 10
October 1918. Also in the cemetery is a memorial to 72 casualties
Grangegorman Military Cemetery, Dublin
CWGC Commissioner Sir Rob Young lays a wreath at Glasnevin Cemetery, Dublin.Remembrance Day 2010
whose graves elsewhere in Ireland could no longer be maintained
and memorial headstones to some 83 casualties buried in Cork
Military Cemetery whose graves could not be maintained there.
At Glasnevin Cemetery, the Commission and the Glasnevin Trust
(who oversee the maintenance of the cemetery) have been working
together on a project to identify war graves within the cemetery and
to erect the familiar Commission headstone on many graves that
until now have been unmarked.
Thanks to the joint efforts of the Trust and the Commission, almost
50 of these men and women have been properly recognised with the
erection of Commission headstones over their graves. It is hoped
that as the project continues the remaining graves will be identified
and marked in the near future.
Most of the burials on the west coast of Ireland are those of men
who lost their lives in the many ships which were torpedoed and
sunk by German U-boats in the first years of the Second World War
and whose bodies were washed ashore or recovered from the sea;
a great many of them could not be identified.
The largest concentrations of graves will be found in Belfast and
Dublin. The cemeteries with the most war burials are Grangegorman
Military Cemetery with over 600 and Glasnevin (or Prospect)
Cemetery with over 200 (both in Dublin) and Belfast City Cemetery
with almost 600.
Among the war burials in Grangegorman Military Cemetery are 145
officers and men whose bodies were recovered following the sinking
of the mail-boat Leinster which had been struck by a torpedo from a
German submarine after leaving Dun Laoghaire for Holyhead on 10
October 1918. Also in the cemetery is a memorial to 72 casualties
Grangegorman Military Cemetery, Dublin
CWGC Commissioner Sir Rob Young lays a wreath at Glasnevin Cemetery, Dublin.Remembrance Day 2010
whose graves elsewhere in Ireland could no longer be maintained
and memorial headstones to some 83 casualties buried in Cork
Military Cemetery whose graves could not be maintained there.
At Glasnevin Cemetery, the Commission and the Glasnevin Trust
(who oversee the maintenance of the cemetery) have been working
together on a project to identify war graves within the cemetery and
to erect the familiar Commission headstone on many graves that
until now have been unmarked.
Thanks to the joint efforts of the Trust and the Commission, almost
50 of these men and women have been properly recognised with the
erection of Commission headstones over their graves. It is hoped
that as the project continues the remaining graves will be identified
and marked in the near future.
Caring for war graves in Ireland
For the maintenance of all but a few of the Commonwealth
War Graves in the Republic of Ireland, the Commission has an
arrangement with the Office of Public Works. The war graves
in Northern Ireland are maintained by local authorities, church
authorities and individuals. These arrangements are
administered by the Commission’s United Kingdom Area office
at the address given at the end of this leaflet. The
Commission has a Regional Supervisor responsible for
inspecting war graves throughout Ireland and ensuring that the
war casualties continue to be adequately commemorated.
Caring for war graves in Ireland
For the maintenance of all but a few of the Commonwealth
War Graves in the Republic of Ireland, the Commission has an
arrangement with the Office of Public Works. The war graves
in Northern Ireland are maintained by local authorities, church
authorities and individuals. These arrangements are
administered by the Commission’s United Kingdom Area office
at the address given at the end of this leaflet. The
Commission has a Regional Supervisor responsible for
inspecting war graves throughout Ireland and ensuring that the
war casualties continue to be adequately commemorated.
