Claremen and the First World War Exhibition

King, Patrick, Private, 2nd Bn., South Lancashire Regiment

Died of wounds: 2nd February, 1915, age 26,

Exhibits: British War Medal

Private Patrick King arrived in France with the 2nd battalion of the South Lancashire Regiment on 14th August, 1914, just ten days after war was declared. The South Lancashire’s were part of the 3rd Division that engaged in ‘Winter Operations’ between 23rd November 1914 and 6th February 1915. His Division was involved in an attack on Wytschaete on 14th December 1914, which had resulted in high casualties. Private King was wounded just a few days before the ending of Winter Operations and died of his wounds at a hospital near Bailleul close to where he is buried, on 2nd February, 1915.

Private King was born to George and Alice King in Kildysart, County Clare. He was married to Mary Anne Cassidy who lived in Turnpike, Ennis. A regular soldier at the time of his death, family tradition holds that Private King was a tailor. His membership of a non-Irish Regiment may be the source of the assumption by his grandchildren that he was English rather than Irish by birth.

According to his descendents, prior to the outbreak of war, Private King had returned to Turnpike on leave to visit his wife and daughter, and two months after his death his son was born. This son married and lived for much of his life in Clarecastle. Mysteriously, this medal was found in the car park of the church in that village several years ago. A public appeal by the finder through the museum re-united the medal with the descendents of Private King. Radio and Television coverage of this remarkable story can be found on the links to the RTE website.