C Barry

C Barry

Rank:Private

Service No:10142

Date of Death:09/05/1915

Regiment/Service:Royal Munster Fusiliers 2nd Bn.

Awards: D C M

Grave Reference: XXIX. A. 61.

Cemetery: CABARET-ROUGE BRITISH CEMETERY, SOUCHEZ

Additional Information:

Son of Mrs. Mary Barry, of 7, Railway Place, Cork.

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Distinguished Conduct Medal - Wikipedia

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HEROIC CORK BOY – PRIVATE CHRISTY BARRY’S DEATH – LETTER FROM FR. GLEESON – TOUCHING TRIBUTE TO BRAVE DEED

Rev. Father Francis A. Gleeson, chaplain to the Munsters at the front, writes as follows to Mrs. Barry, 89 Douglas Street, Cork, mother of Private Christy Barry, 2nd Battalion, Royal Munster Fusiliers, who was killed in action on May 9th ...... ‘2nd June, 1915 –

Dear Mrs. Barry - By this time you will have heard of the death of your heroic boy in the attack of Sunday, 9th May, 1915.

The greatest consolation I can offer you is to tell you that your son was well prepared for death, as the battalion received Holy Communion the Sunday before the battle and were given absolution a few hours before the terrible ordeal.

You need have no worry regarding your son’s soul, for he was careful and zealous about it, and was one of the best boys in the battalion.

I knew him quite well, and to know him was to love him, for he was one of the most cheerful and good-natured young fellows I have met.

I buried his body in a little cemetery beside the trenches, and several comrades lie beside him.

A little cross marks his grave. He has made an immortal name for the gallantry and unselfishness with which he rescued the body of Captain Hawkes.

He had not the faintest idea of what fear was. There could not be greater heroism displayed than that shown by your son.

You may well feel proud of being the mother of such a son. He has, by his thrilling acts of bravery, imprinted his name on all our hearts, and no honour, no matter how high, could be at all adequate to mark the greatness of his action.

Out of a battalion of cheerful and daring heroes, Barry stands out supreme and admired of all, and his glorious death has inspired it. He was shot three times during his rescue of Captain Hawkes - still, in spite of loss of blood and a tornado of bullets and shells, he held on to his task till he got the captain in safety over the parapets.

Having done this, he fell down exhausted and mortally wounded, into the British lines, where he died a saintly and easy death a few hours afterwards.

You will not grudge the good God such a good boy, and will be compensated for his death by the greatness and glory which marked it.

On his pure and saintly soul may Jesus have mercy.

Yours sincerely, Francis A. Gleeson, Chaplain, Munsters.



Cork Examiner 9/6/1915

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