An Cosantóir

| 27 www.military.ie THE DEFENCE FORCES MAGAZINE | 27 www.military.ie THE DEFENCE FORCES MAGAZINE ex-servicemen Alexander Walker was an Antarctic Explorer before the war serving onboard the Scotia on the Scottish expedition led by William Speirs Bruce. There was also about a dozen Killester ex-servicemen who joined the new National Army from 1922, one example was a Patrick Barrington who served with the Royal Dublin Fusiliers in WW1, then joined the National Army and was based at the Curragh Camp. There was also one Killester ex-serviceman who was a battle- hardened Regimental Sergeant Major Samuel Leech whom the National Army sought as an military advisor. Another Killester ex-servicemen Daniel McAuliffe was alleged to be in the IRA during the War of Independence and even assisted Sam Maguire in raiding British Army depots. Killester mainly remained unscathed during both the War of Independence and Civil War apart from one notable incident which was the killing of Anti-Treaty Volunteer Michael Neville by the National Army in 1922, near the Killester Graveyard, he was a native of Co Clare. So far we have found three Killester ex-servicemen awarded the Military Cross, one the Military Medal and a handful being awarded Distinguished Conduct Medals, Distinguished Service Medals and Meritorious Service Medals. We have also found a total of 38 different Service/Corps/Regiments represented. Of these, 10 different Irish units have been identified. A total of 70 men have been identified as serving with these Irish units. 12 of the Killester ex- servicemen had been Prisoners of Wars (POWs) during WW1 in German Camps, one ex-serviceman Thomas Croke was captured in 1914 by the Germans and only repatriated in 1919! He suffered with paranoia for the rest of his life in Killester. Another ex-serviceman was held captive at a camp on the Baltic Sea. The whole ideal of the Killester Garden Village was built purposely by its visionaries to aid in the recovery and wellbeing for these Irish WW1 ex-servicemen especially those who suffered with insanity, paranoia , schizophrenia, alcoholism and physical disabilities. The estate was an idyllic and peaceful place with a strong sense of community and common bond for these veterans and families to live and settle after the war although the effects of war was still carried with the ex-servicemen for many years after it ending in 1918. Interestingly enough two of the wives of Killester ex- servicemen were Nurses in WW1, they worked in what was known as Voluntary Aid Detachments, so it was not only the men serving in WW1 but the women also! The Killester Garden Village had its very own 'Officer In Charge' for the estate. Captain James De Lacy MC formerly of the Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers lived in 21 The Demesne and was the Superintendent of the estate; his roles included dealing with any issues in the estate be it maintenance, rent or family issues, being a link to the Irish Sailors and Soldiers Land Trust and he would help in any events in the estate like the British Minister visiting. He was awarded his Military Cross for gallantry when he was put in command of a Battalion when all senior officers were killed and he went forward to the enemy in harm's way killing three of the enemy. 11th November 1923 saw the first Armistice Day ceremony take place in 1923 with a huge turnout by the Killester community. The ceremony took place on the greens at Abbeyfield and Middle Third in Killester with the ex- servicemen under the control of Sgt Major J. A. McBrien formerly of the Royal Irish Fusiliers who marched the men onto parade, the officers fell in, including Capt De Lacy. The event included the Last Post, 1 minutes silence, Reveille and a speech by the guest speaker Major Bryan Cooper TD who served in WW1 and was then elected to Dáil Éireann as an Independent TD, his speech was quite emotive and resonates with today in some ways: "For it is no small thing we have accomplished. Together with our Allies, we have broken the strength of the greatest military power that the modern world has ever known – an Empire whose purpose was solely directed to securing supremacy in war. And wherever the battle was fiercest, there was the Irish soldier to be found. Irishmen stood in the gap at Mons, Irishmen shattered the power of Turkey in Gallipoli and Palestine, Irishmen were foremost on the blood-drenched steeps of the Somme, and Irishmen North and South stood side by side victorious on the ridge of Messines. The ARP Corps in Killester during the Emergency An example of one of the WW1 ex-servicemen houses, 90 Abbeyfield The Contemptible' s Bus Company Ltd in Killester (named after the Old Contemptible' s of WW1) An example of the activities at the Legion Hall in Killester, a Christmas Party in 1940

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