Recruits to Casement's Irish Brigade

The Bureau of Military History in Dublin has the original Roll Book of the Irish Brigade, which appears to have been started when they moved to Zossen in summer 1915. The name of the only recruit after that in November 1915, Wilson, has been added at the end of the Roll. The 56 men on this list, is the correct figure for men who joined the Brigade.

One can use other lists, which usually agree with the roll except for the odd man that was missing at the time, or memory failed if it was drawn up after the event. However they do serve to add the odd useful fact on individuals

In addition a number did use an alias, like Bailey using "Beverley", and that only came to light as he went to Ireland in the submarine with Casement. Others have used false Christian names, probably to appear more Irish, where for example Delamore styles himself "Patrick" rather than "Harold Percy".

Casement's List was primarily to highlight men's skills when they went out to work in Germany. Casements list has 55, and omits Carroll. In a letter to Count Wedel dated 11 Apr 1916, Sir Roger Casement gives a list of those who joined the Irish Brigade.

American List was made by American Ambassador around the time the men moved to Zossen. The ‘American list’ covered more than just men who had moved to Zossen and therefore more than just men of the Irish Brigade. Missing Kavanagh, Dowling, Keogh, Quinlisk, Sewell, Wilson

Keogh's list give 55 men - he omits Scanlon. Note that this was drawn up a long time after the event.

Mahony's List gives those who volunteered for Egypt. Omits McMahon

As far as one can tell Fulford, McCabe, Delamore, Donoghue were born in England. And one or two others may have been, but I have not been able to tie their place of birth down.

The regiments they served in were:-

20 men from Royal Irish Regiment

9 men from 2nd Connaught Rangers

5 men from Royal Dublin Fusiliers

5 men from Leinster Regiment

3 men from Royal Irish Rifles

3 men from South Lancashire Regiment

2 men from Irish Guards

2 Royal Artillery

1 man from Royal Irish Fusiliers

1 man from Royal Munster Fusiliers

1 man from Royal Inniskillings

1 man South Irish Horse

1 Somerset Light Infantry

1 Bedfordshire Regiment

1 South Staffordshires

The Deputy Attorney General (B Child) wrote to the Secretary of State on 18/4/1919:- “I feel the public generally will find themselves unable to understand why no action has been taken with a view to bringing these men to trial. There have been 2 questions on the subject (one in each House ). I suggest therefore that men who joined the Irish Brigade should be discharged forthwith for misconduct thus forfeiting their war gratuities and, if due for discharge, the 28 days furlough with pay and other advantages which are given to men who are demobilised.. It is a sad (not to say ignominious as far as we are concerned) ending to a disgraceful incident. I expect you would possibly desire a friendly question put up on the matter after their discharges have been carried out.”

But that attitude softed over time and some but not all were not discharged for "misconduct". Only 14 appear to have lost their medals in the end

Born Egypt Rank Name Initials Trade British Service No Regiment Notes 1891 yes Sergeant Major Keogh Michael Machinist 10687 Private 2nd Royal Irish Regt 1895 yes QM Sergeant Quinlisk Timothy Clerk 10435 Corporal 2nd Royal Irish Regt dismissed misconduct 1886 yes Sergeant Dowling Joseph Carpenter 8243 L/Cpl 2nd Connaught Rang medals forfeited 1887 yes Sergeant Bailey Daniel J Painter 7483 Private 2nd Royal Irish Rifles 1889 yes Sergeant O'Toole Michael Clerk (Acct) 3964 Private Irish Guards 1893 yes Corporal Delamore Harold P Musician 8988 L/Cpl . 1st Bedford Regt deserted,medals forfeit 1890 yes Corporal Kavanagh John Farrier 509 Private South Irish Horse 1887 yes Corporal Granaghan John Labourer 39861 Driver RGA 1891 no Corporal Mahoney John Labourer 9623 Private Royal Dublin Fusiliers 1895 yes L/Corporal Burke Henry Tailor 11438 Private Royal Dublin Fusiliers medals forfeited 1894 no L/Corporal O'Callaghan Michael Hotel Boots 10005 Private R. Munster Fusiliers 1880 no L/Corporal Golden David Coal miner 7196 Private 1st Somerset LI 1885 yes L/Corporal McGrath William Labourer 10674 Private Royal Irish Regt 1889 no Private Barnacle Ignatius Labourer 10022 Private 2nd Connaught Rang. medals forfeited 1887 ? yes Berry James Labourer 6858 Private 2nd Leinster Regt 1896 yes Brandon Thomas Labourer 10554 Private Royal Inniskilling Fus 1894 no Carr James Labourer 10063 Private 2 S Lancs Regt 1890 yes Carr Peter Fireman 47774 Gunner RFA Died 15/9/1918, 1886 no Carroll James Labourer 7453 Private Royal Irish Regt 1890 ? no Collins Michael Labourer 11496 Private Royal Irish Fusiliers medals forfeited 1892 ? yes Curry John Painter 11324 Private Royal Dublin Fusiliers medals forfeited 1890 no Daly John Farm Labourer 10123 Private 2nd Connaught Rang. medals forfeited 1877 ? no Davis John Labourer 3296 Private 1st Leinster Regt medals forfeited 1880 yes Donoghue Thomas Glass maker 10161 Private 2nd S. Lancs Regt 1885 ? yes Dowling Michael Blacksmith 8117 Private 2nd Royal Irish Regt 1896 yes Forde Peter Groom 10664 Private 2nd Connaught Rang. 1892 yes Fulford John Waiter 8869 Private South Staffs Regt 1884 yes Greer John Railway Porter 7708 Private 2nd Royal Irish Rifles medals forfeited 1891 no Harte Tom Labourer 3690 Private Leinster Regt 1880 no Holohan Patrick Engineers Steward 9877 Private 2nd Royal Irish Regt Died in captivity.1916. 1896 yes Kennedy James Labourer 10698 Private Royal Irish Regt 1891 yes Keogh Patrick Labourer 10771 Private Royal Irish Reg 1881 yes Long John Builders Labourer 8779 Private Royal Irish Regt 1894 yes Lynch Patrick Labourer 9513 Private Leinster Regt medals forfeited 1893 yes McCabe James Labourer 1500 Private 2nd S Lancs Regt 1894 yes McCarthy Charles Labourer 10819 Private Royal Irish Regt 1893 no McDonagh Michael Saddler 9869 Private 2nd Leinster Regt medals forfeited 1892 no McGrath Patrick Horse Trainer 6208 Private Royal Irish Regt 1894 no McGrath Thomas Labourer 10933 Private Royal Irish Regt 1894 yes McMahon Thomas Groom 10627 Private Royal Irish Regt 1892 yes Mallon John Coal miner 10598 Private 2nd Connaught Rang 1893 yes Meade Maurice Labourer 10271 Private Royal Irish Regt 1883 yes Murphy John Labourer 8445 Private Royal Irish Regt 1883 yes Murphy Daniel Labourer 7644 Private 2nd Connaught Rang medals forfeited 1892 yes O'Callaghan Jeremiah Waiter 10844 Private 2nd Royal Irish Regt 1882 no O'Neill Patrick Labourer 8441 Private 2nd Connaught Rang 1895 no Rahilly Cornelius Clerk 10714 Privae Royal Irish Regt 1886 no Ryan Michael Labourer 7784 Private 2nd Connaught Rang 1889 yes Scanlon Robert Boilermaker 7576 Private 2nd R Irish Rifles Shot 1919, Munich 1886 yes Sewell Frank Carpenter 3152 Private Irish Guards 1884 no Stacey Joseph Labourer 7895 Private Royal Dublin Fusiliers deserted,medals forfeit 1889 no Sweeney Patrick Labourer 6937 Private 2nd Connaught Rang Murdered Feb1919 1882 no Sweeney John Gardener 10357 Private Royal Irish Regt 1875 no Tracey Thomas Labourer 5588 Private Royal Irish Regt 1887 no Waters Patrick Labourer 7582 Private Royal Irish Regt 1896 yes Wilson Thomas Labourer 11350 Private Royal Dublin Fusiliers forfeited, but restored

An extensive source of information at this NLI document

There are very few photographs of the Irish Brigade. They were not keen for photos to be published during the war, in case men were recognised and allowances stopped.

Casement's Irish Brigade