Doolan, B (Bernard)
No photo at present
Rifleman Bernard (Bertie) Doolan was the son of Margaret Doolan, of 16, Pennyburn, Londonderry, and the late Martin Doolan. Before joining the army, he was employed in the service of the North of Ireland Shipbuilding Company. Bernard died of spinal meningitis[1] in Purdysburn Hospital.
It is possible though that he may have died from the 1918 outbreak of the Spanish Flu pandemic.[2]
The Spanish flu is rather deceiving as it did not originate in that country of its namesake. Spain though was the first country to openly report on the pandemic due to its neutrality in the war. Therefore, the illness received its name by this association.
The outbreak began around January 1918 and ended at the end of 1920. There were three major outbreaks, each deadlier than the previous. Great efforts were made to suppress the news, but so many people were affected that it became pointless as the flu crept through the armies and into the villages, towns, and cities of Europe. There were no vaccines to protect against this flu virus or the infections, no antiviral drugs to treat it and no antibiotics to treat secondary bacterial infections like pneumonia. The only tools that authorities could implement was the promotion of good personal hygiene, isolation, and quarantine of the ill, along with the closures of public places.
There are several servicemen in the City Cemetery who possibly died of the illness, most of whom were diagnosed with meningitis, flu, or pneumonia. It especially affected young adults.
Royal Irish Rifles, 5th Battalion was a reserve battalion, it had just moved to Ballykinlar in March and was preparing to move to England when Bernard passed away.
He only served at home so was not eligible for any medals.
Bernard was buried with full military honours on the 6th of April. His three brothers were also in the army. Corporal M.J. Doolan of the M.T.S.[3] and Thomas Doolan attended the funeral. Private Patrick Doolan of the Royal Dublin Fusiliers, who had been wounded six times, was unable to attend.
Date of Death: 04/04/1918 (Aged 17)
Service: Rifleman, Royal Irish Rifles, 5th Battalion.
Service Number: 20639
Burial Location: Londonderry (or Derry), City Cemetery, M. C. 413.
[1] Cerebral spinal meningitis is an infection of the thin covering of the brain and spinal cord.
[2] Spanish Flu: 50 to 100,000,000 deaths.
[3] M.T.S. is the Mechanical Transport Service
