Philip Edward Kelly
Lieut. Col. Royal Irish Fusillers
“In Flander’s Fields, where the Poppies Blow”
In Flanders Fields where the Poppies Grow
Between the crosses, row on row
That mark our place, and in the sky
The larks still singing bravely fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below
We are the dead, short days ago
We lived, saw dawn, watched sunset glow
Loved and were loved, and now we lie
In Flander’s Fields
Take up our quarrel with the foe
To you, from failing hands, we throw
The torch, be yours to hold it high
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flander’s Fields
Composed at the Battlefront, May 1915 by Lieut Col John McCrae [i]
Flanders Fields are an expanse of battlefields where many lost their lives during World War 1, in Belgium and France and what was known as the Western Front. “Ireland’s Memorial Records 1914-1918” (names of Irishmen who fell in the Great European War 1914-1918.) was a publication that was made available for approx. 150 libraries throughout the UK. Approx. 200,000 Irishmen and women signed up for WWI. This war had the most severe loss of all, up to 16 million were killed and 20 million wounded. Though exact numbers of Irish war dead is not known, It lists 49,000 names- –e.g. Name, Rank, Regiment, Reg No, Places of Births and marriages. 30,986 gave Ireland as their birth country, 11,299, of these were from Northern Ireland, others from remaining counties, but in some the exact county not recorded.[ii]
Mayo Men in WWI
We are fortunate in Mayo to have the beautiful Mayo Peace Park and Memorial Garden in Lannagh Road in Castlebar. This garden and its memorials pay tribute to our Mayo war dead, and includes the fallen in all wars. Michael Feeney, Castlebar whose Grandfather Patrick Feeney fought in WW1 was the founder of the wonderful monument. He was awarded an MBE for his achievements. Michael has two books written on the subject “Remembering Mayo Fallen Heroes” and “Mayo Comrades of the Great War”.[iii]
Lieut Col Philip Edward Kelly
Philip Edward Kelly was one of the fallen in Flanders fields. Philip was the son of William and Edith Kelly from Westport, Co Mayo, his wife was Elizabeth. Philip was a Lieutenant Colonel and was in the 1st Battalion of the Royal Irish Fusiliers, he was serving in the RHA (Royal Horse Artillery) at the time of his death.
Burial – in Dadizeele New British Cemetery
Philip died in action on October 10th 1918 at the early age of 29 years. He is buried in Dadizeele Cemetery in Belgium in Grave no 11.D.8. Dadizeele has 1029 Commonwealth War Burials of fallen soldiers from WW1 and 158 of these are unknown. [iv]
Memorial in Holy Trinity Church Westport
Holy Trinity Church in Westport was built in 1868, by some Church of Ireland Parishoners and its benefactor George John Browne, Marquess of Sligo has many memorial plaques erected in memory of those who have fallen in various wars.
One of these was for Philip Edward Kelly. There is a beautiful stained glass window at the end of the church near the back entrance. It is said that one of the disciples in the boat has the features of Philip Edward Kelly.
Additional Links:
CWGC – Commonwealth War Graves Commission
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