Cassidy, R (Robert)
Cassidy, J (James)
Private Robert Cassidy was the son of the late Joseph and Matilda Cassidy, of Londonderry. In the same grave is also buried his brother, Private J. Cassidy, G/28018. Royal Irish Fusiliers, 3rd Garrison Battalion, who died on the 10th of July 1918, age 19.
The records state that he served in the 7th, 9th, and 10th Battalions of the Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers when he was in France.
Robert landed though with the 9th Battalion in Boulogne, France on the 5th of October 1915.
The battalion would spend the next five months in minor skirmishes and doing many forced marches until they settled at the trenches of Authuille[1] and Martinsart[2] in the Somme area of France. In these two places, the men started suffering casualties from shelling, grenade, and gas attacks.
On Saint Patrick’s Day of that year the 9th received and wore shamrocks which were sent from General Sir George Richardson, commanding officer of the Ulster Volunteer Force.[3]
By May though they were taking heavier and heavier casualties, but they practiced, fought well, and came to the notice of Sir Douglas Haig who mentioned them in dispatches.
Casualties continued to increase throughout June and then on the 1st of July they left their trenches at Thiepval Woods[4] to take part in the “Great Offensive” at the Somme.
A quote from the commanding officer, best explains this day “the ranks began to thin, they fell by the score” and “with magnificent courage they still went on.” Casualties for this day were 477 dead, missing or wounded (around 50% of the battalion.)
Robert Cassidy would survive this historic event and at some stage moved to the 7th and 10th Battalions of the Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers. Both suffered similar experiences and fared no better than the 9th.
The three battalions suffered badly during the war, but Robert Cassidy ultimately, probably miraculously survived.
Private Robert Cassidy was a discharged soldier at his time of death. He died from pulmonary phthisis.[5]
Robert was awarded the 1914/15 Star, the British War and Victory Medals.
Date of Death: 07/07/23 (Aged 30 or 33)
Service: Private, 7th, 9th and 10th Battalions, Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers
Service Number: 15405
Burial Location: Londonderry (or Derry), City Cemetery, FB. 118.
[1] Authuille is an area in northern France, close to Thiepval woods, and within the Somme.
[2] Martinsart is another area in in northern France, a few miles west of Authuille.
[3] A Protestant Militia, based in Ireland, formed in 1912.
[4] Thiepval Wood is in the Somme area of northern France and is located a short distance west of Thiepval Village.
[5] Pulmonary phthisis or tuberculosis (TB) is an infection of the lung, which leads to wasting away of the body.
