A book involving a Tipperary author details the fascinating history of Clonmel soldiers

A new book, Mons Star to the Royal Irish Regiment by Mary Anne Maher (Ballingarry, Co. Tipperary) and Larry Scallan (Retd. Comdt. Irish Defence Forces, James Stephens Bks., Kilkenny, Wexford native, residing in Kilkenny City), which researches soldiers mostly from Tipperary (  Clonmel being the Depot of the Regiment), Kilkenny, Wexford and Waterford, was recently launched to great reception.

READ MORE: Hugely popular band will kick-off Irish tour at a Tipperary venue

This one of a kind book details the order of deployment, rank and alphabetical order of the regiment’s 1,928 men who were awarded the ‘Mons’ Star medal given to men who served in France or Belgium between the day after Britain’s declaration of war against the Central Powers on August 5, 1914 and the end of First Battle of Ypres on November 22, 1914.

Authors Maher and Scallan have a long-standing shared interest in the Royal Irish Regiment due to the fact that both had a great-granduncle killed in an engagement between the regiment and the German army in Le Pilly, France in October 1914, where just under 180 were killed over the period of 19-31 October 1914 & where just under 400 men were taken prisoner of war.

The book is the culmination of four years of this research and includes details such as a post-war address for 72% of the soldiers and the names and locations of when and where over 800 men were taken prisoner of war.

Following lectures in Kilkenny, Wexford and Waterford, the authors will give a lecture in Clonmel library where details from their recent publication as well as stories on some soldier from Tipperary such as the Hogan brothers from Carrick on Suir who had a one son a casualty on 23 August 1914 the first day of engagement between the British and German armies in Mons and on the 12 November 1918 the day after the Armistice.

READ NEXT: Joyous occasion as Tipperary priest marks Golden Jubilee

The lecture at Clonmel Library will be held on September 24 at 6.45.All are welcome. For more information or to book contact Clonmel Library at 052 616130 or email clonmellibrary@tipperarycoco.ie or check out details online https://www.tipperarylibraries.ie/event/history-lecture-at-clonmel-library-mons-stars-to-the-royal-irish-regiment/