Thomas Cassidy

Thomas enlisted in the Irish Guards at Navan, County Meath.

The Irish Guards was formed by Queen Victoria on 1 April 1900 'in recognition of the many acts of courage and bravery performed by Irish regiments during the Second Boer War [1899-1902].' Pre-war, the 1st Battalion was one of four Guards battalions of the 4th (Guards) Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division, and primarily engaged on ceremonial duties at home. In 1911 the Battalion was in Wellington Barracks, London.

There is a record that 3452 Private T Cassidy, age 21y 3m, was admitted to Queen Alexandra's Military Hospital, Millbank, London, on 4 August 1913 (wounds), discharged 13 August 1913.

Thomas Cassidy was a Reservist and recalled to the 1st Bn Irish Guards on 4 August 1914. The Battalion landed at Havre, France on 13 August 1914.

The 2nd Division was in action during the First Battle of Ypres and in November was holding the line in and around Klein Zillebeke; the Irish Guards taking heavy casualties. Thomas was wounded and taken prisoner of war on 6 November 1914. He died three days later on 9 November. His grave was brought in to Larch Wood (Railway Cutting) Cemetery, Belgium after the Armistice. (Grave ref. IV.D.11)

Thomas qualified for the 1914 Star.

CWGC: History of Larch Wood (Railway Cutting) Cemetery (extract): Larch Wood Cemetery is 4km from the town of Ieper [Ypres], Belgium. 'The cemetery was begun in April 1915 at the North-end of a small plantation of larches. It was used by troops holding this sector, particularly the 46th (North Midland) Division and the 1st Dorsets, until April 1918. It was enlarged after the Armistice when graves were brought in from the battlefields of Ypres and from the following smaller cemeteries (listed).' (www.cwgc.org)

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