The graves of two Irish soldiers from The Great War rededicated in Belgium

Photo: (Crown Copyright).

The graves of Captain (Capt) Hugh Mortimer Travers DSO and Serjeant (Sjt) Frederick Cardy, who were killed on the Western Front whilst serving with Irish regiments, have been rededicated in Belgium more than a hundred years after they died.

The services, which were organised by the MOD’s Joint Casualty and Compassionate Centre (JCCC), also known as the ‘MOD War Detectives’, were held at the Commonwealth War Graves Commission’s (CWGC) New Irish Farm Cemetery and White House Cemetery, near Ypres.

Rosie Barron, JCCC case lead said:
“It is always a privilage to work with The Royal Irish Regiment to organise these services and to discover more of Ireland’s unique experience of the First World War. Both Capt Travers and Sjt Cardy paid the ultimate sacrifice in the defence of freedom and justice and it is as vital today as ever that their sacrifices are not forgotten.”  

The final resting places of Capt Travers and Sjt Cardy were discovered after researchers submitted evidence to CWGC hoping to have located them. Further research conducted by CWGC, the National Army Museum and JCCC, agreed with their findings and the identifications were confirmed.

The services were attended by representatives of the British and Irish Embassies as well as serving soldiers of The Royal Irish Regiment. They were conducted by the Reverend Dr Isaac Thompson MBE, TD, DL, HCF, Chaplain to The Royal Irish Regiment.

Captain Hugh Mortimer Travers DSO

Photos: Capt Hugh Mortimer Travers DSO (Copyright IWM HU 119239). The rededication service for Capt Travers was attended by members of his family as well as British and Irish Defence Staff (Crown Copyright).

Capt Hugh Mortimer Travers DSO was born on 2 September 1873 in Calcutta, India. He was one of four children born to Lt Col Joseph Oates Travers of The Leicestershire Regiment and his wife Eleanor Louisa Travers. He came from a military family, his grandfathers having been General Sir Robert Travers KCMG, CB of The Rifle Brigade and Major General Sir Henry Marion Durand KCSI CB of the Corps of Royal Engineers.

He joined the Militia as a Second Lieutenant serving with 5th Battalion The Royal Munster Fusiliers on 16 September 1893. On 9 December 1896 he was Commissioned as a Second Lieutenant and joined 1st Battalion The Leicestershire Regiment in South Africa. He was promoted to Lieutenant in October 1899. During his time in South Africa Capt Travers saw action at Talana Hill, took part in the retreat from Dundee and actions at Lombard’s Kop, was involved in the siege of Ladysmith and the advance on Lydenburg and served in the Eastern Transvaal. He received The Queen’s South Africa Medal with five clasps and The King’s South Africa Medal with two clasps. He also received The King George V Coronation Medal. Capt Travers was wearing these medal ribbons at the time of his death, which assisted with the identification of his grave.

Having been promoted to Captain on 26 April 1902 he was selected for the Egyptian Army but was forced to retire in 1907. Later that year he rejoined 5th Battalion The Royal Munster Fusiliers. On the outbreak of the First World War he was attached to 2nd Battalion The Duke of Wellington’s (West Riding) Regiment. He was killed during a bayonet charge near Gheluvelt on 8 November 1914, when the battalion was ordered to retake trenches on the northern side of the Menin Road. He received the Distinguished Service Order for the part he played in this action. The citation for the gallatry medal read:

‘For conspicuous gallantry and ability on the 8th November 1914, near Ypres, in organising an attack and re-capturing a trench from the enemy, and subsequently for leading a second attack and capturing another position 50 yards further to the front. Captain Travers was killed whilst maintaining his post on this occasion.’

The Adjutant of the battalion described Capt Travers as having ‘died the death of a soldier and a very gallant gentleman.’ Another member of the battalion stated that Captain Travers’ actions were ‘the coolest deed’ he had ever seen. ‘It was gloriously brave.’ As Capt Travers was recorded as missing he was commemorated on the Menin Gate.

The rededication service at New Irish Farm Cemetery was attended by members of Capt Travers’ family. Guy Travers, Capt Travers’ great nephew said:
“I am very happy that a service has been held for my Great Uncle, Captain HM Travers, after so many many years. I believe my grandfather, his brother, had no luck in finding him. This service is also for him. And of course Hugh’s fallen comrades. His stone is magnificent, I can’t thank the Commonwealth War Graves Commission enough.”

The Reverend Dr Thompson said:
“Hugh Travers, born in India into a family where his father and both of his grandfathers were Army officers, joined the Royal Munster Fusiliers in South Africa in 1893. Bravery appears to have oozed from this young man’s veins. As a forty-one year old he arrived in France in October 1914 but by November 1914 he was killed near Ypres. Those who witnessed his bravery said, “He died the death of a soldier and a very gallant gentleman.”

Serjeant Frederick Cardy

Photos: Sjt Frederick Cardy (Courtesy of the Cardy Family). Gp Capt John Dickson, Defence Attaché to Belgium and Luxembourg, lays a wreath at the grave of Sjt Cardy (Crown Copyright).

Serjeant Frederick Cardy was born in 1893 in the market town of Sudbury in Suffolk. He was one of eight children born to Harry Cardy and his wife Sarah Ann. In 1911, Frederick married Emily Layzell. Their son Ralph Iva Cardy was born in July 1916. Having had previous service with 13th Royal Hussars, on 24 October 1916, he rejoined the regiment. On 11 December 1916 Serjeant Cardy was transferred to The Royal Irish Fusiliers. 

Sjt Cardy was serving with 7/8th Battalion The Royal Irish Fusiliers when he was killed during the Third Battle of Ypres. At around midnight on 10 August 1917 his battalion moved into the frontline north of Frezenberg. They were relieved at midnight on 12 August. It was during this time in the frontline that Serjeant Cardy was killed although the exact date is unknown. Sjt Cardy was buried and a wooden cross was erected over his grave. In 1919, his remains were concentrated into White House Cemetery, but it appears the original grave maker was damaged and he could not be identified. As Serjeant Cardy was missing he was commemorated on the Menin Gate.

The Reverend Dr Thompson added:
“Frederick Cardy, a native of Suffolk, must have had his heart strings tugged to the limit when he learned of the birth of his son, Ralph back in England in July 1916. Within a year, in August 1917, this brave Royal Irish Fusilier, gave his life in the service of others, reflecting the motto of his regiment, “Faugh a Ballagh” (Irish for “Clear the Way”), a rallying cry that had inspired “Faughs” since 1811 and still today in their successors, The Royal Irish Regiment; young Cardy had cleared the way for his young son to grow up in a land free of war for another two decades.”  

The headstones over their graves will now be replaced by the CWGC, who will care for their final resting places in perpetuity. 

CWGC Commemorations Officer, Fergus Read, said:
“Having both been commemorated on the Ypres (Menin Gate) memorial until now, we are moved and honoured to be able to mark these brave men’s graves today. Thanks to the effort of many, the Commission will proudly care for their graves, and their memory, in perpetuity.”

Visit the Ieper Visitor Centre in Belgium to learn more about our work in the area.