Graves of Royal Dublin Fusiliers rededicated in Belgium

Les Reynolds, great nephew of Pte Bertie George Reynolds MM, lays a wreath at Hooge Crater Cemetery. (Crown copyright)

The graves of six Royal Dublin Fusiliers listed as missing in the ‘100 Days Offensive’ during the First World War have finally been located and rededicated in Belgium on 10 and 11 July 2024.

Rededication ceremonies for Serjeant (Sjt) Laurence Connell MM (Military Medal), and LCpl George Washington were held at the CWGC Dadizeele New British Cemetery, CWGC Stasegem Communal Cemetery and CWGC Hooge Crater Cemetery, all in Belgium. All were organised by the MOD’s Joint Casualty and Compassionate Centre (JCCC) and were also attended by serving soldiers of The Royal Irish Regiment, members of The Royal Dublin Fusiliers Association and the families of Sjt Connell, Pte McCann and Pte Reynolds.

JCCC Caseworker, Rosie Barron, said:
“It has been a privilege to have organised these rededication services and to have had so many people in attendance, both from the United Kingdom and Ireland . It is important that the sacrifices of these Royal Dublin Fusiliers are not forgotten as they paid the ultimate sacrifice for all our freedom in the face of tyranny.”

On 8 August 1918 the Allies launched what became known as the 100 Days Offensive near Amiens, France, the stalemate of the Western Front ended and the German Army was forced to retreat. It was during this phase of the fighting, as Allied forces moved east out of the Ypres Salient in Belgium, that all six were killed.

Sjt Connell arrived on the Western Front on 20 December 1915. He was awarded the Military Medal, as published in the London Gazette of 19 February 1919 after his death. On 5 October 1918, 1st Battalion The Royal Dublin Fusiliers moved into the line near Ledegem. Sjt Connell was amongst those killed on the day they had entered the line. He was 21 years old. Sjt Connell’s remains were recovered and buried in Dadizeele New British Cemetery as an unknown Serjeant of 1st Battalion The Royal Dublin Fusiliers. Because he was listed as missing, he was commemorated on the Tyne Cot Memorial.

Bonita Fish, the great niece of Sergeant Laurence Connell MM, at the rededication service, Dadizeele New British Cemetery with her family. (Crown copyright)

Pte McCann enlisted into The Royal Dublin Fusiliers and joined 2nd Battalion on the Western Front on 10 June 1915. On 21 October, the day of Pte McCann’s death, the battalion was withdrawn from the front line. Pte McCann’s remains were buried in Stasegem Communal Cemetery as an unknown soldier of 1st Battalion The Royal Dublin Fusiliers. As he was missing, he was commemorated on the Tyne Cot Memorial.

LCpl James Edward Freer, Cpl Edward Doyle, Pte Bertie George Reynolds MM and LCpl George Washington were all members of 1st Battalion The Royal Dublin Fusiliers at the time of their deaths on 28 and 29 September 1918. At 5.30am on 28 September 1918, 1st Battalion The Royal Dublin Fusiliers followed the 1st Battalion The Lancashire Fusiliers into attack. At 10.45am the Dublin Fusiliers were ordered to march down the Menin Road. At 6pm on 29 September 1918 the advance continued. They encountered considerable machine gun fire from the left flank and their progress was slow. At 8.30am the battalion took up positions around two kilometres east of Geluveld.

All four men were missing following the fighting and were commemorated on the Tyne Cot Memorial. Their remains were recovered together after the war and were buried side by side in Hooge Crater Cemetery as unknown soldiers of The Royal Dublin Fusiliers.

The identification of the graves came about after researchers submitted evidence to CWGC suggesting their occupants could be named. Further research by CWGC, the National Army Museum and JCCC confirmed their findings.

Julie McInaly, great granddaughter of Private William McCann, speaks with the Rev'd Jason Clarke MBE CF at the graveside in Stasegem Communal Cemetery. (Crown copyright)

The service was conducted by the Reverend Jason Clarke MBE CF, Chaplain to 1st Battalion The Royal Irish Regiment, who said:
"These men laid down their lives in the service of others. Each one a precious soul, each one loved and cherished by family and friends; and now each one known and honoured by name by us in that honoured rest they so deserve for the service they gave to others."

The headstone over each grave was replaced by the CWGC.

Geert Bekaert, Area Director for CWGC, said:
"Caring for the graves of these courageous men is both an honour and a privilege for the CWGC. Their stories, uncovered through meticulous research, serve as powerful reminders of their bravery and dedication. The CWGC remains steadfast in its commitment to preserving their memory in perpetuity.”

Sjt Laurence Connell

Sjt Laurence Connell MM (Military Medal) was born in Dublin, Ireland, on 25 January 1897. He was one of six children born to John Connell and his wife Elizabeth. He enlisted into The Royal Dublin Fusiliers and arrived on the Western Front on 20 December 1915. Sjt Connell was awarded the Military Medal which was published in the London Gazette of 19 February 1919. 

Pte William McCann

Pte William McCann was born in Baillieston, in Glasgow, Scotland, in 1896. He was one of eight children born to Patrick McCann and his wife Catherine. His son, William, was born on 24 April 1915. He enlisted into The Royal Dublin Fusiliers and joined 2nd Battalion on the Western Front on 10 June 1915. For reasons now unknown, he served under the alias of Pte Patrick McCann, a name shared by his father and one of his elder brothers. His brother, Pte Patrick McCann, was killed on 3 May 1917 whilst serving with 2nd Battalion The Royal Scots and is commemorated on the Arras Memorial.

Pte William McCann saw action on the Somme in 1916 and during the Battle of Messines and the Third Battle of Ypres, in 1917. During the German Spring Offensive 2nd Battalion The Royal Dublin Fusiliers took heavy casualties and on 14 April 1918, most of the battalion was absorbed into 1st Battalion. On 24 June 1918, Pte McCann was listed as having been wounded.

LCpl James Edward Freer

Photo courtesy the Freer family.

LCpl James Edward Freer was born in Cropston, Leicestershire, in 1888. He was one of 10 children born to James Freer and his wife Elizabeth. Before enlisting into 1st Battalion The Royal Dublin Fusiliers, he worked in shoe manufacturing. He is recorded as having been wounded in the Spring of 1918. LCpl Freer was killed on 29 September 1918. He was 30 years old.

Cpl Edward Doyle

Cpl Edward Doyle was born in Bagenalstown, County Carlow, Ireland in 1897. He was one of 8 children born to Michael Doyle and his wife Katie. Having enlisted into The Royal Dublin Fusiliers he arrived in the Balkans on 2 August 1915. During this time 1st Battalion were involved in the Gallipoli Campaign. The battalion relocated to the Western Front in March 1916 and Cpl Doyle was wounded on the Somme in August 1916. The battalion took part in the Battle of Arras and the Third Battle of Ypres in 1917 and were in the Somme region once more during the German Spring Offensive of 1918. Cpl Doyle was killed on 28 September 1918. He was 21 years old.

Pte Bertie George Reynolds MM

Photo courtesy the Reynolds family.

Pte Bertie George Reynolds MM (Military Medal) was born in Homerton, Middlesex, in 1894. He was one of seven children born to Thomas Reynolds and his wife Alice. Before enlisting into the Army he worked as a porter. He was awarded the MM which was published in the London Gazette of 6 July 1917. Pte Reynolds initially served with 2nd Battalion The Duke of Cornwall’s Light Infantry before transferring to The Royal Dublin Fusiliers. He served with 7th, 10th and 1st Battalions of The Royal Dublin Fusiliers. Pte Reynolds died on 28 September 1918. He was 24 years old.

LCpl George Washington

LCpl George Washington was born in Salford, Lancashire, in 1898. He was one of six children born to James Washington and his Irish wife, Margaret. LCpl Washington is commemorated on the wall of the War Memorial Chapel in the Cathedral Church of St John the Evangelist in Salford. LCpl Washington was killed on 29 September 1918 aged 20.