“Professional
Soldiers” Duke- family,
Bandon, Co. Cork.
The four sons of Edward and Rebecca duke, of Castle Road Bandon, Co Cork answered the
call to arms 1914 -1918 war like so many other Irishmen. The four brother’s /
Charles
R.F.A. / William Connaught Rangers /
Edward R.F.A. / Thomas Royal Welsh Fusiliers and their nephew
Benjamin Blake Connaught Rangers / were
on the firing line at the same
time. Thomas was killed at the battle
of Loos 1915 the other’s to return home after the war.
44905 Cpl Charles Duke [Military Medal] Royal Field Artillery he has been in France and on the
firing line right through the campaign.
Bombardier Charles Duke R.F.A. was awarded the “Military Medal” for
Gallant Conduct on 26 November 1917 and received the following letter from Lieu
General –Sir Alymer HunterWeston, K.C. B.
D.S.O. M.P. Commanding 8th
corps.
To No 44905
A/BDR C. Duke R.F.A. I heartily
congratulate you on the honour done to you
by “his Majesty the King in awarding you the Military Medal for gallant
conduct on 26 November 1917.
Signed Alider Hunter
Weston Lieu General 7th
December 1917.
B.D.R.
C. Duke also served in India and U.K. for 7 years before W.W.1 and 7
years in WW1. 14 years military service.
He also went to enlist for the Second World War but was turned down
because of his age. Died in Wales, Age 69.
His son
George Duke is Hon. President of Bandon War Memorial and his grandson Albert
Duke also a member.
Private 33087 William Duke / Connaught Rangers also on
the firing line survived the war died in Bandon at the Age of 94 in 1974. The
inscription on his head stone reads
veteran of the 1914-1918 war.
Private 30625 Edward Duke /R.F.A. Survived the war. He had served in the Boar War before WW1. As well as his W.W.1 medals, He
also had the South African Medal with 2 clasps, -orange free state, and cape
colony. Died in Bandon, Age 64.
Private 17406 Thomas Duke 1st Bn., Royal Welsh
Fusiliers / enlisted R.M.F.
Died aged
25 on Saturday 25th September 1915 at the battle of Loos/ on Somme.
He has no
grave, but is Remembered with
honour Loos Memorial, Pas de Calais,
France. Dud Corner Cemetery and Loos
Memorial to the “Missing” lies on the Lens to Bethune road. A large concentration cemetery it takes its
name from the exceptional number of dud shells fired on the spot during the
Battle of Loos. The cemetery it self
records 1,772Uk and 28 Canadian burials while The Loos Memorial records 20,693
“missing” who fell in the Battle of Loos, September and October 1915 and at
Lees, Estaries and Betune,1918.
George and Albert Duke Have been to loos a number of times laid reeds to
honour Thomas Duke and his fallen comrades.
Private Benjamin Blake / Connaught Rangers survived the war He was wounded in action
WW1.
Also killed
in action was Gunner John [jack]Troy R.F.A. friend and comrade of Cpl Charles Duke. George and Albert Duke have been to Jacks
Troy’s grave also, as it was Georges Father, Charles who dug the grave, helped
bury Jack, looked after the grave until he was sent up the line.
In a letter
home to his Mother Charles Duke R.F.A.
says- Dear Mother-just a few lines in answer to your letter. You will be
surprised to hear of poor Jack Troy being dead. He was wounded on the 13th
of the month at 2o`clock and died same night at10 o’clock. I am sure his mother will feel it very
much when she hears it . But we made sure we made him a nice grave
and a priest from cork was there when we buried him, the priests name was
Bradley, our Chaplin was also there.
Im going to plant some flowers on his grave to –morrow and look after it
while I am here.
After referring to domestic affairs Cpl Duke
concludes his letter saying “Mother
you must excuse my short letter, as I feel so much for loosing my chum Jack
Troy . We used to talk very much about
what we would do when the war was finished. He was like a brother to me .I feel
very lonely without him”.
John (Jack) Troy is buried in Vlamertingue, Belgium
Close by is another grave a relative of
Albert Duke and The Bolster family.-Second Lieu. Samuel Levis Trinder
9th Bn, Royal Irish Fusiliers Died aged 36 Friday,17th
August 1917 of Dromkeen House Innishannon,Co. Cork.
Brandhoek new Military Cemetery, Vlamertingue, Belgium.
“World War Two” 1939-1945
B.D.R
Charles Duke Sons,
G.D.S.M. Charles Duke /Royal Irish
Guards.
G.D.S.M. Richard Duke /Royal
Irish Guards.
FUS./RFN. William Duke /Royal Inniskillinkg Fus.
SGT. George Duke / Royal
Ulster Rifles/ R.I.Rangers.
44905 G.D.S.M. Charles Duke R.Irish Guards, No1 Guards
Independent Company, the Parachute
Regiment.
Medals/ France and Germany Star
1939-1945. / War Medal 1939-1945.
Palestine Medal 1946-1948
2725377 G.D.S.M. Richard Duke R.Irish Guards.
Medals/ War Medal 1939-1945 /
Palestine Medal 1945-1948.
Also served in Cairo.
21187318 Fus/Rfn. William Duke R.
Inniskilling Fusiliers / also R.U.Rifles
Served / Jamaica 1949 / Honduras
1951/ Hong Kong 1952.
Medals/ Voluntary Service
Medal / Eastern Service Medal/ U.N.Medal/ N.A.T.O Medal/ Hong-Kong Medal.
19039620 Substancive SGT. George V. Duke
R.Ulster Rifles also R.Irish Rangers Served / Austria 1947
Guarded –Hapsburg and Schonberg Palaces Vienna ./ Security Police at
G.H.Q. Allied Commission Austria . /
Hong
Kong at Chinese Border
40 Division 1949. / Malay 1949-1952 Guerrilla Warfare
against Chinese communist led by Chin Peng
who was later awarded O.B.E. for his co-operation with British during
WW2. /
Cyprus 1956-1958
E.O.K.A. Campaign. Germany1961 1962 [Berlin Wall] N.A.T.O. Troops
always on alert. / Borneo 1963 -1966
Fierce Jungle War
campaign. General Walker in charge he
referred to the Royal Ulster Rifles as his “whiteGurkas”. Northern Ireland 1968-69 St. Patrick’s Depot as squad
training instructor. Germany 1970
1St Bn. Ulster Rifles relieved Royal Canadian and Black Watch
Regt. Northern Ireland 1971-72 Duties- Squad Instructor/ Depot Provost sgt./ Quartermaster Sgt. /
Sgt. Major Depot H.Q Company
Medals –
Malay / Hong Kong / Cyprus / Borneo / N.Ireland / Germany / Voluntary Service /
Eastern Asiatic / United Nations / N.A.T.O /
Demobbed from forces with 22 years
service in 1972.
Duke Family Bandon Co. Cork,
Ireland and U.K.