Branch Meeting, 18 June, 2016.
William Ahern
Private 6045
1 Battalion Irish Guards
Killed in Action, 18 June, 1916.
It seems that Williams papers did not survive the Blitz in WW2, however, from the information that is available we know that he was born in the Mallow area of County Cork, and that he enlisted in Dublin.
His Medal Index Card further tells us that he landed in the France/Flanders Theatre of War on 15 May, 1915, and was Killed in Action on 18 June, 1916.
Rudyard Kipling’s book on the Irish Guards tells us that:
'On the 18th June officer patrols went out to look at the enemy’s wire. Second Lieutenant F. H. N. Lee was wounded in the leg while close to it, and was carried back by No. 3836 Corporal Redmond; dying later of gangrene. Another officer, Lieutenant Hon. P. Ogilvy, ran by mistake into wire on his return journey, and had to fight his way back with his orderly. One man was killed and one wounded, besides the wounded officer.'
Presumably, that one casualty was William, he is buried in Essex Farm Cemetery, Near Boezinge, Western Flanders, Belgium, and was entitled to the 1915 Star and the British War and Victory Medals.
In his Will, dated 1 June, 1915, William left the bulk of his estate to his Father, also William, who’s address he gave as: The Castle, Ballyclough, Mallow, Co. Cork. However, he also left £1.13s 4d to the widow of a Driver Jenkins, who had at some stage loaned this amount to him, this bequest was duly paid when Williams effects were distributed.
