#OnThisDay 1915 2nd Lt William Heffernan, Killenaule Tipperary was killed in action near Ypres in the Battle of La Bassee. Heffernan, a noted heavy-weight boxer & athlete in Trinity College Dublin also won two mathematical exhibitions. Wounded in January 1915, he made it back to his unit in time for this attack. He got tangled in enemy barbed wire & was killed by enemy fire at the head of his troops.
#OnThisDay 1945 The Allies accept Nazi Germany’s surrender ending the war in Europe. Tens of thousands of Irish people fought in this conflict, many losing their lives in the process. Below men of the London Irish Rifles throwing grenades at the enemy near the Senio river in northern Italy during March 1945.
#OnThisDay 1916 Con Colbert was executed in Kilmainham Gaol. He told Mrs. O’Murchadha that he was
“proud to die for such a cause. I will be passing away at the dawning of the day.
“ The soldier guarding Colbert apparently broke down crying and said
“If only I could die such a death”.
When lead to the Stone Breakers’ Yard to be shot, Colbert told the soldier to pin the napkin nearer to his heart & then shook his hand.
#OnThisDay 1916 Seán Heuston was executed in Kilmainham Gaol. He wrote to his sister, a teacher…
“Whatever I have done, I have done as a soldier of Ireland in what I believed to be my country’s best interests. I have, thank God no vain regrets. After all, it is better to be a corpse then a coward. Let you do your share by teaching Ireland’s history as it should be taught…. Ireland shall be free”
#OnThisDay 1916 Michael Mallin was executed in Kilmainham Gaol. He wrote before his death “I do not believe that our blood has been shed in vain.”
To his brother, he wrote
“I am dying in the hope that we have made Ireland a better Ireland for you to live in.”
The Irish at War 