Cork Military Cemetery, Military Barracks, Cork City

Survey of the Military Cemetery, Assumption Hill, Blackpool, Cork City 2007-2009

By Sean Healy

 The Cork Military Cemetery was opened in 1849 to cater for the needs of the growing numbers of soldiers and their family’s who were stationed at the then Victoria Barracks now Collins Barracks.

The area of the cemetery grounds was just over 3 acres and was formed on land leased from Anne, the Dowager Countess of Listowel., It is estimated that there were around 900 burials in the cemetery from the time it was opened to the final recorded burial of Miss Fowles in the
early 60s, unfortunately there where no surviving records found to document the burials

Around 2006 a City Council plan was put forward to refurbish the Cemetery grounds as an amenity park for the local residents. It was also envisaged that by opening the ground up as a park it would curb the vandalism that had been occurring in the cemetery grounds for many years while also giving a useable green space for the local people.  The plan would see a system of footpaths and seats as well as a children’s play area being put in place. During the planning for the cemetery a senior archaeologist from the City Council was consulted to insure that no ground work would interfere or damage the archaeology of the cemetery.

Over a period of five months in 2007 I carried out a survey of the cemetery in an effort to document the remaining information from the headstones before they too were eroded by the weather, the following are the findings of that survey.

There are 251 identified burials in this cemetery, 30 other headstones are illegible.

Men: 184.   Woman; 44.  Children 23

There are 83 burials in the cemetery in connection with WW 1, their headstones were
damaged over time and the War Graves Commission built a memorial to these 81
men and 2 women in Grangegorman Cemetery in Dublin.

 The remaining burials are of soldiers and their family members who would have had a connection with or had been living in the barracks during the years 1849 to 1922.

While you would associate a military cemetery with death from conflict, the inscriptions on
some the headstones also give an insight into social conditions at that time. Influenza and
diphtheria were responsible for many of the deaths and as far as can be ascertained was responsible for the deaths of all the children in the cemetery.

 The earliest recorded burial that can be confirmed is of David C Kelfji who died in1852 with the last major burials being the 81 men and 2 women from WW1.

With the handover of the barracks to Irish Soldiers in 1922, the need for further burials in the cemetery would have decreased as most of the soldiers would have been from the area or would have family ties with other parts of the country.

The confirmed exceptions to this are the graves of Staff Quarter Master Sergeant Edward
Joseph Peede, Army Pay Corps, died 14^th April 1931 aged 70 years. He died at his residence in Douglas and he was buried with his wife Margaret who had died in 1907 aged 39 years. Also the grave of Sgt William J Murphy, RMF who died on the 12^th August 1949 and his wife Bridget died 13^th February 1953. The last known burial is that of Miss Fowles whose father and mother had been buried prior to 1922, she was buried with her parents sometime after 1960 as it appeared she had no living relative.

 The Regiments associated with the Cemetery

Royal Artillery, Royal Irish Fusiliers, Royal Army Service Corps, Royal Irish Rifles, Royal Irish Regiment, Royal Garrison Artillery, Royal Engineers.   Royal Dublin Fusiliers, Royal Munster Fusiliers, Royal Scots Fusiliers, Royal Warwickshire Regiment,  Royal Field Artillery,   Royal South Lincoln Militia, Royal Welch Fusiliers,Lincolnshire Regiment,  Gordon Highlanders, Leicestershire Regiment, Norfolk Regiment, Middlesex Regiment, Hampshire Regiment, Connaught Rangers, Canadian Infantry, Manchester Regiment, Leinster Regiment, Highland Light Infantry, King Edwards Horse, Somerset Light Infantry, Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders, Cameron Highlanders, West Yorkshire Regiment, QMACC, Kings Royal Rifles, Kings Shropshire Light Infantry, Kings Liverpool Regiment, Highland Light Infantry, King Edwards Horse,  Kings Royal Regiment, Lincolnshire Regiment, Oxford and Bucks Light infantry, Life Guards, Black Watch.

The inscriptions that follow are taken from the headstones and are as accurate as possible, in some cases only partial inscriptions survived. The highlighted names with CWGC are the men and woman who died during 1914 to 1921 and while buried in this cemetery, they are commemorated in Grangegorman Cemetery in Dublin.

A

Charles Henry Allison, Lance corporal, 1911.
Henry Anthony, Chef Warder in charge military prison,Cork, Died May 1893 aged 63 years.
Annette, Wife of Alexander.
Jean Allen. 1918.
Sharon Elizabeth Oswald Agar. 1860.
Sidney Alder, CWGC List , 1914.
Edward N. Aldridge, CWGC List, 1917.
Joseph Andrews, CWGC List, 1917.
Capt James O Airy, CWGC List,1920.
Pte Richard Alexander, CWGC List, 1914.

B

Robert Alexander Burnard, Died March 1884 aged 9 years, Son of (below).
William Burnard, Died August 1897 age 63 years and husband of (below)
Sarah Jane Burnard, December 1924 age 86 years.
Brigadier General Norman Bruce.
Sergeant Major William H. Blakely, CWGC List, 1917.
May Bennett, Beloved wife of Staff Sergt. Bennett (next row) died 2/3/1909 32 years.
Staff Sergeant C. Bennett.
Louis Beater, CWGC List, 1915.
C.S.M.H.A. Barnes died 26th July 1906 aged 34.
Private William Brenner. 1898.
Captain Baker. 1893
Private John Barry. 1857
Jessie Baldwin (Joseph)
Walter Brightwell died Aug 1883 also
Dora Jessie Brightwell died 2nd. Sep 188-, Children of Sergt. Joseph and Mary Ann Brightwell
Josephine Boland also her father (below),
Patrick Boland.
Sergt. L Baker, KRR Corps.
Mary E Beeton, wife of Sergeant J W Beeton, Suffolk Regt, September 3rd 1880.
Bennerman, Army Staff Sergeant, March 1909, aged 32.

C

Emily Diana Ellen Crooke. 1877.
Maud Crowley.
Staff Sergeant William Coleman. Husband of Elizabeth, at Cork Barracks 1908.
Michael Elizabeth Condron. 1894.
Major.T. Cleary. 1895.
Lt. Colonel William John Chads.
Joseph Callaghan. CWGC List, 1916.
Philip Connors. CWGC List, 1915.
Michael Crosbie. CWGC List, 1916.
C. Casey. CWGC List, 1916.
Pte Albert. CWGC List, 1914.
Lt. Graham Charles Campbell, 1888.
John Carroll, Co Segt. Major RA died 10/2/1892 aged 32 years.
Mary Joseph Cloke. 1891.
William Henry Clapp died 18/3/1868 aged 83.
Ethel Comerford.
Major John N Cosset.1_03.?.
James Corley. CWGC List, 1914.
James Curran. CWGC List, 1914.
Joseph Caffery. CWGC List, 1914.
John James Connolly. In memory of our Dear Baby. 1910.
Colonel Sergt. Patrick Collins. 1901.
D.R.N. Major James Coughlan.
Albert G. Camm. CWGC List, 1921.
William Coates 2nd batt 17re died 27/6/1863 aged 22.
Anne Coughlan, wife of John Coughlan
James Crossan, South Lincoln Militia 1855 yo 1856.
Alfred H. Cooper. CWGC List, 1918.
Thomas E.Coster. CWGC List, 1919.
Robert Copley. Son of Robert Copley April 1860.
Daniel Conolly and Cathrine Conolly.
Florence Mary Coughlan, died April 18___. Aged 70 years.

D

Pte William  Doyle. No 15201. CWGC List, 1918.
Annie Beatrice Donne
Edmund J. Drudy. CWGC List, 1917
Henry Doherty Superintendent in charge died Oct 20th 1885 aged 34 years.
William Doyle. CWGC List, 1914.
William Doyle. CWGC list, 1918.
Leonard H. Dodson. CWGC List, 1914.
Caroline Dalley, wife of Segt. Richard Dalley.
Patrick Dowling late pay master sergeant 21st. Regt, died 2/9/185— aged 47years.

E

Car. E. Enright

F

Henry S. Fox. CWGC List, 1920.
Captain William Felwick. 1897.
James Forsyth. CWGC LIST, 1915.
James Fulton. CWGC List, 1915.
N. Me.Fadyen, 1916
Matthew Fogarty. CWGC List, 1918.
Thomas Lionel Foley QM Segt. died 27th July 1897 aged 43 and his wife
Sarah Ann Foley who died 19th Sep 1920.
John Foley. 1871.
Albert E Fisher. CWGC List, 1914.
Miss Lillie Fowles, 11 Frankfield View, Old Youghal Road, 1960 Approx, 80 Years.

G

Emily Graves. Beloved Child of RJ Graves (next row)
Lt. Robert Graves. CWGC List, 1917.
Lt. Col. James William Graves
John Grogan. CWGC List, 1917.
Cristopher Grogan. CWGC List
Peter Greally. CWGC List, 1917.
John Gibson D Com 2nd Highlanders died 12 March 1888 aged 20.
Fred Vivian Gibson 1801.
Henry Garrett. CWGC List, 1914.
Kate Geddes, July 13 1888 aged 13 also
Margarate Elizabeth Geddes, died Dec 2nd 1889 aged 17.
Eliza Grant. Died at Cork, 20/1/1901 aged 46 Wife of QM Sergt Grant (next row)
Charles Innes Grant. Late QMSRA died 26/10/1916 aged 67.
S. J. Gold. 1911.
Richard Good.
F. Gleaker. 1914.
William T Glover. (boy). CWGC List, 1915.
Malcolm Galbraith. CWGC List, 1918.
Major Charles Christopher Grieve. CWGC List, 1920
Jane Glapp, died 3/7/1861 aged 53years, husband next row.
Charles Kendal Greene. CWGC List.
Ann Gosset, Died 1868, Daughter of Major John Gosset DBM and Maria his wife.

H

Sgt D Hayes. CWGC List, 1919.
Sergeant David Hickmott. CWGC List, 1918.
Jane Anne Hemingway; Beloved wife of Srgt H Hemmingway bt Highland.
Lance Corporal Charles Henry
Daniel Haydon. CWGC List, 1915.
Worker M.K. Harricks. CWGC List, 1918.
Color Sergt John Hamilton 1st batt 60th KRR who died at Cork, Nov 1901.
QT Mast Sergeant J. Hanna KRR Corps died at Cork 27th Feb 1896.
Greg T. Hardisty. 1912.
L.D. Hodnett. CWGC List.
John Hood. 1888.
Robert Hogue. 1860.
John Herren

J

Henrieta Jenny
Edita Jenny
Walter J. Jackson. CWGC List, 1914.
Richard Jameson

K

Lena Annie Kimber
John Kelly. CWGC List, 1920
David C Kelfji. 1852.
Catherine Kelly. 1869.
Arthur Kennedy. CWGC List, 1915.
Cathleen Kerrigan died 23/4/1897 aged 3 years.

L

Leader, Pte Ernest George.  CWGC List, 1914.
Stephen Lawson
William Lawlor. CWGC List, 1914.
W (William) Lidington, Died 1894 (also his daughters below)
Ada Lidington, Dec 1893.
___ Lidington, April 1894.
W.E. Lancell. 1919.
James Lawlor,1st batt Norfolk Regt. Born at Banteer, August 1861 died Cork 3/1886
Henry Linnett, Royal South Lincoln Militia 1855 to 1856
Catherine Leonard, Wife of John Leonard ______, Military Prison.

M

Robert Mathews. CWGC List, 1915.
Ida Florence Magpariane.
Thomas Mullen. 1878 aged 4.
Queeine Mullen. 1887. aged 5.
Sgt John Murray 7985. CWGC List, 1915.
Srg William Murray 6481. CWGC List, 1915.
Thomas May. CWGC List, 1916.
Owen David Mooney. CWGC List, 1916.
John Mulligan. CWGC List, 1918.
D. Mayes.
Neil McFadyen. CWGC list, 1916.
Jeremiah Moran. CWGC List, 1918.
John McMullen.
John McGuire. CWGC List, 1914.
Michael Maloney, CWGC List. 1914.
George Morgan, 89 Regt died 26th Dec 1853.
Serg J. Moore. 1886.
Private Michael McCabe. 1877.
Justin McCarthy Segt Instructor of Gunnery South Irish died at Cork Nov 1886 aged 43.
J Moore, Died June 1885.
William McLoughin Sep 1850.
Elizabeth McLoughlin died ___.
John Miller Royal South Lincoln Militia 1855 to 1856.
Sergt J Mullen Royal Irish Fusiliers died 11 Dec 1896 aged 30.
Sgt W Murphy Died 12 Aug 1949 and wife
Bridget Murphy Died 13th Feb 1953.
Alexander McGregor By Bridget McGregor.

N

Leonard A.J Paddy Newton

O

Patrick O Donoghue, Died June 20th 1894 aged 56, was 38 years in HMS Cork  Artillery.
Surgeon Goodwing O Grady. 1880.
Jeremiah O’Connell. CWGC List, 1914.
John O Neill. 1877.
Eliza Anne O Neill. 1873.
Jeremiah O Shea. CWGC List, 1919.
John O’Keeffe.

P

Lieutenant John Pring. 1905
Cpr. Frederick Gunning Pownall; RA who died May, aged 46 years. 1889
William Purcell. CWGC List, 1915.
Henry W. Porter. CWGC List, 1914.
Reginald Peverell. CWGC List, 1914.
Mona Palent, Died 13/02/1905.
Irene Palent, Died 28/09/1905.
Percy Palant, Died  1905.
Bernard Pegum. 1896.
Margaret Peede. died 23 Nov 1907 aged 39 years, also her Husband
Edward Joseph Peede QM Sergt. APC died 14th April 1931 aged 70 years.
Helen Paterson.
Thomas H Pitts Surgion 2nd Batt 11th Foot died 24/5/1860 aged 23.
Charlotte Jane Pogue also her beloved Baby.

Q

Alice Quigley wife of James( Below) died 11/2/1899 aged 72.
James Quigley. Late 39Rgt died 15/9/1895 aged 73.

R

Martin Richards. CWGC List,1916.
James Ryan. Aged 62 June 5th 1892
Captain J.M. Roberg. 1870.
J.J. Ruth. CWGC List, 1918.
Sergeant James Ryan. 1888.
William B.G. Roon. 1906.
William Redfer. 1860.
John Ryan. 1879.
George F Randall. CWGC List, 1916
Capt J H Robley late 43rd MNI Died at Cork May 28th 1870.

S

James Stewart Who died at Cork Jan 1888 also his grandson.
Charles Edward Stewart, the beloved son of Donald Stewart (1856)
Elizabeth Sullivan. 1894.
Son of Captain Chas Stockwell. 1871.
Lt. Leonard Sharpe. CWGC List, 1918.
James Shevlin. CWGC List, 1914.
Francis Stokes. CWGC List, 1914.
Charles, Son of Dean Swift. 1891 aged 9.
William and Mary Staley. 1893.
W.J Southgate. CWGC List, 1919.
Grace Spencer, wife of Sergt. —- Spencer.
Joseph Sloan. CWGC List, 1914.
Lance Corporal Edward C Stanley. 1910.
Catharine Smith died Feb 1860.

T

Edward Travers. 1879.
H. W. Taylor. 1869.
Pte William Tancell. CWGC List, 1919.
Andrew Thomson. CWGC List, 1917.
Sergt. G Turpin Royal Irish Fusiliers died 21 Nov 1896 aged 28.
——— Trollope.?

W

Margarita Eileen Woodward. Age 3, little daughter. 1913.
Sergeant A. Wilson. CWGC List, 1918.
Sergeant John Wain. 3 Batt Leistershire Regt who died 24/12 /1904 aged 31.
Frederick Watson.
John Wall. CWGC List, 1915.
J. Ward. CWGC List, 1920.
A. Walker. 1897.
Emily Whalley
Pte George Walton. CWGC List, 1918.
Gunner Frederick Watlin (Watkins). CWGC List, 1916.
Lce Cpl Bryant Webber. CWGC List, 1914.
Maud Wright.  CWGC List, 1919.
Henry Wild. CWGC List, 1920.
George Patrigan.Wedgewood, son of George and Eliza Wedgewood,aged 4 1869.
Henry Wedgwood died Jan 22 188__ aged 68.
James Wellseard.
Thomas Williams. CWGC List, 1915.
William E. Williams. CWGC List, 1915.
Frederick Wells. CWGC List, 1914.
Harry C. Wilson. CWGC List, 1916.
John Walker Royal South Lincoln Militia 1855 to 1856.
Charles Whitworth, Major 112th Regt accidentally drowned.
John Wells, Royal South Lincoln Militia, 1855 to 1856.
Catherine Way, Widow of W Way, 28th Regt 1902.