My Great Grand Uncle Michael McGrath was born in the townland of Croanwalsh near Clonmel, Co. Tipperary in late 1890. He emigrated to Western Australia early in the 20th century. in January 1916 he joined the Australian Army where he was posted to the Artillery. He was assigned to the Divisional Artillery Column of the Australian 3rd Division. Michael left Australia in May 1916 for the UK where after further training the Division left for Franch in November of that year. His records show that apart from occasional illness he served without indicent until the end of the war and never rose beyond the rank of gunner. In April 1919 he left the AIF while still in the UK and returned to Ireland. As he chose to leave the Australian Army in the UK he was required to sign a waiver acknowledging that the Australian Government were no longer obliged to transport him back to Australia at their expense. He eventually became involved in the Irish war of Independence and was killed while serving as an officer in the Anti-Treaty IRA in the closing stages of the Civil War in May 1923.

John Lawrence (front).

Postcards and photos Letter || Patrick (Paddy) and John O'Rourke were brothers of my Mother and were from Johnstown, Co. Kilkenny in Ireland. There was only about 2 years between them. They appear in several of the photos together. They were both members of the Southern Irish Horse and were based in Clonmel and Fermoy. Patrick was injured in the Somme and suffered from shellshock. In 1922 he was admitted to a mental home in Kilkenny City. He died sometime in the 1980s. John was based in the depot and never served abroad, but he was a fine shot. He lived into his 80s and had a family. Marcello referred to in postcards was my mother. Because Paddy served abroad, most of the items are connected with him rather than John. || || Photo of Soldiers || Photograph || || Front || Home Front || Letter to Patrick and John's sister from a (Private?) Pick. || Letter to Miss O'Rourke from Pick || Riverstown, Co. Cork, Ireland || Miss O'Rourke || Letter || || Home Front || Back || Miss O'Rourke || Letter to Patrick and John's sister from a (Private?) Pick. || Letter || Riverstown, Co. Cork, Ireland || Letter to Miss O'Rourke from Pick || || Multiple || Photos and Postcard from Patrick (Paddy) || || Postcard || Backs of postcards. Some addressed to Mrs. (?) O'Rourke, Johnstown, Co. Kilkenny, Ireland. || Deutsch || English || Postcards || (Mrs.?) O'Rourke || || Front || Postcards || Français || English || Postcard || || Postcard || Miss O'Rourke || Back || Postcards, one of which is to Miss O'Rourke from Patrick (Paddy). || Postcards || || Photos || Photograph || || Photos || Photograph || || Postcard || France || Postcards || Postcards including one from Paddy to May O'Rourke. || || Photo of Bureau de Poste || Photograph || Français || || Postcards, including one from Paddy to his mother. || Back || Postcard || Postcards || || Photo of destruction || Photo/postcard showing destruction of unknown village (location scribbled out) due to War. || Photograph || Français || || Photo of Soldiers || Photograph || || Photograph || Photo of Soldier(s) || || Photo of Soldiers || Photograph || || Back || Postcard from Patrick (Paddy) to his sister(s) || Postcard || || Marcello || Postcard to Marcello (Patrick and John's sister) from Partick (Paddy) || Letter || Postcard to Marcello from Paddy || Back || || Postcard || Back || || Photograph || Photo of Soldiers on horseback || || Photograph || Photo || || Postcard from May to Father || Postcard from May to Father (Outside) || || Postcard from May to Father || Postcard from May to Father (Inside) || Postcard || || Français || Postcard || English || Christmas postcards