Dublin Fusiliers Collar Badge
This is a Dublin Fusiliers collar badge. Thomas Kettle would have worn one similar to this on his uniform.
Courtesy of Conor Dodd.Dublin Fusiliers Collar Badge
Courtesy of Conor Dodd.
Courtesy of Conor Dodd.
Dublin Fusiliers Collar Badge
This is a Dublin Fusiliers collar badge. Thomas Kettle would have worn one similar to this on his uniform.
Courtesy of Conor Dodd.In 1913, Kettle joined the Irish Volunteers. In July 1914, he was sent to Belgium on a mission to gather arms for the Volunteers. A month after he arrived in Belgium, he witnessed the outbreak of the First World War.
Kettle was horrified by the German attacks on Belgium. He returned to Dublin and joined the Dublin Fusiliers, a regiment in the British Army. He spoke at recruitment meetings in Ireland to encourage Irish men to enlist in the army.
Kettle believed that it was important that Ireland supported the allies in their war against Germany. He believed it would help the Irish Home Rule movement. However, the Easter Rising of 1916 left him disillusioned. During the Rising, his brother in-law, Francis Sheehy-Skeffington, was shot by British soldiers. This shooting caused an outcry at the time. Sheehy-Skeffington was a pacifist, who disagreed with the methods of the uprising. He was arrested while out on the streets of Dublin trying to organise the prevention of looting and maintain law and order. Another friend of Kettle's, Thomas McDonagh, was executed for his involvement in the Rising.
Kettle was horrified by the German attacks on Belgium. He returned to Dublin and joined the Dublin Fusiliers, a regiment in the British Army. He spoke at recruitment meetings in Ireland to encourage Irish men to enlist in the army.
Kettle believed that it was important that Ireland supported the allies in their war against Germany. He believed it would help the Irish Home Rule movement. However, the Easter Rising of 1916 left him disillusioned. During the Rising, his brother in-law, Francis Sheehy-Skeffington, was shot by British soldiers. This shooting caused an outcry at the time. Sheehy-Skeffington was a pacifist, who disagreed with the methods of the uprising. He was arrested while out on the streets of Dublin trying to organise the prevention of looting and maintain law and order. Another friend of Kettle's, Thomas McDonagh, was executed for his involvement in the Rising.
Site of Thomas Kettle's Death
In 1916, one of the bloodiest battles of the First World War took place. The Battle of the Somme left thousands of soldiers dead. Thomas Kettle, who fought with the Dublin Fusiliers, died in battle in September 1916. He died in Ginchy in the North of France.
Courtesy of Conor Dodd.Site of Thomas Kettle's Death
Courtesy of Conor Dodd.
Courtesy of Conor Dodd.
Site of Thomas Kettle's Death
In 1916, one of the bloodiest battles of the First World War took place. The Battle of the Somme left thousands of soldiers dead. Thomas Kettle, who fought with the Dublin Fusiliers, died in battle in September 1916. He died in Ginchy in the North of France.
Courtesy of Conor Dodd.Despite this disillusionment, Kettle refused to leave the Dublin Fusiliers. He left Dublin in July 1916 and joined the other troops in the trenches of the Somme.
The Battle of the Somme was one of the bloodiest battles of the First World War. Kettle died there in September 1916.
A memorial in St. Stephen's Green was erected to commemorate this Irish nationalist who died fighting in the British Army.