Royal Munster Fusiliers Association News

For any News and Notices then you can contact the secretary, T.Moloney, 86 High Meadows, Gouldavoher, Limerick, Ireland.

10th (IRISH) DIVISION MEMORIAL TOUR GALLIPOLI AND ISTANBUL (BOOKING FORM)

President McAleese's visit to Gallipoli: On the 24th March 2010, President Mary McAleese visited Gallipoli to commemorate over 3,000 Irish soldiers who died in the British Army in WWI.

The President said she hopes a joint British-Irish commemoration to mark the Gallipoli landings will be possible on the centenary of the engagement in five years' time.

She was speaking during a visit to a cemetery there where many Irish remains lie.

Mrs McAleese fulfilled a number of engagements including a visit to the Turkish monument, a ceremony at the memorial to British and Irish soldiers who died, and a dedication of a commemorative plinth (see photo) at another graveyard.

Speaking at V beach, where many Irish perished in an abortive landing, the President said that those who fell at Gallipoli were doubly disadvantaged; they were shunned at home for having worn the British uniform and their sacrifice was forgotten because they had been associated with defeat.

This was the first official recognition by the State of Irish involvement in the Gallipoli landings.

It is estimated that over 3,000 Irish soldiers died out of a total of 44,000 on the allied side in WWI.

They died over six months in 1915 in a failed attempt by the Allies - whose key members included Britain, France and the Russian Empire - to secure the approaches to Istanbul and the Black Sea.

Some 80,000 Turkish soldiers lost their lives in the campaign.

The visit had been a long time coming for those who have been campaigning for the recognition of the role played by Irish soldiers in the British Army. RTE News

The banners of the Royal Munster Fusiliers Association (carried by Mr. Neil Leinster) and Royal Dublin Fusiliers Association (carried by Mr. Seamus Green) along with the banner of the 10th Irish Division were on parade.

Mouse over Images to expand
"Gallipoli Fallen Remembered in Limerick" article by Major Brian Duffy (Left)   (Image to Left): Major Duffy,   V/President Royal British Legion, Limerick, at the Gallipoli commemoration in Limerick, April 25, 2010.  NB:Image is actual size

	G. Spillane (2nd. Left) T. Moloney (2nd right), D O'Carrol (right)	The Royal Munster Fusiliers Association commemoration at Limerick on April 25, 2010, in honour of the Irishmen who fell at Gallipoli
The Chairman, front, and the Secretary at the wreath laying. Gallipoli Day, Limerick, April 25, 2010

RE - Proposed erection of memorial for the victims of Iron/Guise

We now have an outline and the dimensions of the proposed memorial for the victims at Iron/Guise, (our members will be familiar with the tragedy, outlined on our website during the months May/June).

The estimated cost of the memorial is €12,000 (excluding bronze plaque), which is considerably more than the anticipated figure of €5,000/6,000. However, it is believed that if an Iron Memorial Fund is set up as a charity and/or public liability company then we should be able to avoid VAT. It is suggested also that if the builders can be persuaded to spend a couple of days installing the monument – rather than making a donation – this would avoid the charge for erection (€3,000), making the total cost more manageable. There is already a bank account opened to receive funds (which will be good for those who wish to pay in sterling). We may need other arrangements for those who wish to donate in Euros: see details below.

The uniqueness of this project requires that we respond in a positive way and I, as your chairman, would urge our members to make some donation. An ad hoc committee has agreed in principle to also make a donation from our funds and it only remains for us to contact the rest of the association committee in the province to decide the amount.

Shot by Germans:
The proposed memorial is dedicated to 5, Munster Fusiliers, 5, Connaught Rangers and 1, 15th (The King’s) Hussars. Also included on the memorial are the French civilians who helped them: Vincent Chalandre, the Logez and Chalandre families and villagers.

IRON MEMORIAL FUND:

Donations by Credit Transfer

Name of Account: Iron Memorial Fund

Bank: HSBC

Bank Sort Code: 40-22-27

Address: 12 Westgate, Guisborough TS14 6BE, United Kingdom

Account No. 01457055

Donations by Cheque

Cheques should be made payable to: ‘Iron Memorial Fund 402227 01457055’ and sent to:

HSBC Bank plc
12 Westgate
Guisborough TS14 6BE
United Kingdom

Electronic Payments

The codes for the above account are

IBAN code GB54MIDL40222701457055
SWIFT code MIDL GB21 32P

Donations for the Iron/Guise Memorial can also be made direct to the secretary (Mr T. Moloney) of the RMFA.

IRON MEMORIAL UNVEILING:

The Royal Munster Fusiliers Association (RMFA) has agreed that Saturday July 2 2011 would be an appropriate date for the unveiling of the Iron Memorial. This date was suggested to us by Mr Hedley Malloch, organiser of the Memorial Fund, as it is the day following the Somme commemorations and many people will be in the area.

It would give our members who wish to attend a chance to do both the Somme and Iron on the same trip. All three regimental associations, RMFA, Connaught Rangers and Light Dragoons (descendents of the 15th (Kings) Dragoons) have backed the project ‘morally and financially’ and the presence of representatives of these associations would be very important. It is hoped that the organisers will be able to provide a band and possibly some re-enactors for the occasion.

Remember the date – 2 July 2011.

Iron Memorial Update (July 2010)