Two Irish WW1 soldiers' graves rededicated in Belgium
The graves of Capt Hugh Travers, DSO, and Sjt Frederick Cardy rededicated in Ypres.
The rededication service for Capt Travers, DSO, was attended by members of his family, as well as British and Irish Defence staff. 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 MOD바카라 사이트檚 Joint Casualty and Compassionate Centre (JCCC), also known as the 바카라 사이트楳OD War Detectives바카라 사이트�, were held at the Commonwealth War Graves Commission바카라 사이트檚 (CWGC) New Irish Farm Cemetery and White House Cemetery, near Ypres.
Rosie Barron, JCCC case lead said:바카라 사이트�
바카라 사이트淚t is always a privillage to work with The Royal Irish Regiment to organise these services and to discover more of Ireland바카라 사이트檚 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.바카라 사이트�바카라 사이트�바카라 사이트�
Capt Travers, aged 41, was a veteran of the Boer War. For his service in South Africa he received The Queen바카라 사이트檚 South Africa Medal with five clasps and The King바카라 사이트檚 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.
The Adjutant of the battalion described Capt Travers as having 바카라 사이트榙ied the death of a soldier and a very gallant gentleman.바카라 사이트� Another member of the battalion stated that Captain Travers바카라 사이트� actions were 바카라 사이트榯he coolest deed바카라 사이트� he had ever seen. 바카라 사이트業t was gloriously brave.바카라 사이트� 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 Travers바카라 사이트� family. Guy Travers, Capt Travers바카라 사이트� great nephew said:
바카라 사이트淚 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 Hugh바카라 사이트檚 fallen comrades. His stone is magnificent, I can바카라 사이트檛 thank the Commonwealth War Graves Commission enough.바카라 사이트�
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.
The Reverend Dr Thompson said:바카라 사이트�
바카라 사이트淗ugh 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 man바카라 사이트檚 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, 바카라 사이트淗e died the death of a soldier and a very gallant gentleman.바카라 사이트�
Capt Travers was a member of 5th Battalion The Royal Munster Fusiliers but on the outbreak of the First World War was attached to 2nd Battalion The Duke of Wellington바카라 사이트檚 (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:
바카라 사이트楩or 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.바카라 사이트�
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 the Menin Gate.
The Reverend Dr Thompson added:
바카라 사이트淔rederick 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, 바카라 사이트淔augh a Ballagh바카라 사이트� (Irish for 바카라 사이트淐lear the Way바카라 사이트�), a rallying cry that had inspired 바카라 사이트淔aughs바카라 사이트� 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.바카라 사이트�바카라 사이트�바카라 사이트�
The headstones over their graves will now be replaced by the CWGC, who will care for바카라 사이트痶heir바카라 사이트痜inal resting places in perpetuity.바카라 사이트�
CWGC Commemorations Officer, Fergus Read, said:
바카라 사이트淗aving both been commemorated on the Ypres (Menin Gate) memorial until now, we are moved and honoured to be able to mark these brave men바카라 사이트檚 graves today. Thanks to the effort of many, the Commission will proudly care for their graves, and their memory, in perpetuity.바카라 사이트�