Two Carroll brothers at sea
Owen and Michael Carroll were two of the eleven children born to Tom and Margaret Carroll of Ballyconnigar, Blackwater, Co. Wexford. Owen was born in 1884 and worked on a lightship in Liverpool for a number of years. He travelled to the US in 1909 to find work and lived in Long Island, New York. In 1916 he became a naturalised American citizen. He worked on the Corsair, a private cruise ship belonging to American industrialist, J. P. Morgan jnr. In May1917 the Corsair was chartered by the US Navy and in June of the same year the USS Corsair sailed from New York with the first contingent of the American Expeditionary Force to France, arriving at Saint-Nazaire on 27 June. During the war, the USS Corsair crossed the war zone many times on convoy escort, and rescued survivors of torpedoed vessels. After the war Corsair was returned to her owner and once again became the private yacht Corsair II. Owen returned to Ireland and married Catherine Corrigan of Ballyconnigar in 1922. He remained in Ireland and took up farming, having inherited a farm from his aunt in Ballina, Blackwater, Co. Wexford. He died in 1969. Michael Carroll was born in January 1891. He followed his brother, Owen, to the US looking for work and took a job as a bartender. He went to college to study medicine. He was drafted in 1918 and had the choice of leaving the country or becoming an American citizen. As he wanted to continue his medical studies he agreed to the terms of citizenship. He enlisted as a Private in Casual Company 410, Medical Department and in September 1918 shipped out aboard the troop carrier HMS Otranto bound for Liverpool with American troops. On 6 Oct. 1918, during a heavy storm, HMS Otranto collided with another troop-carrier HMS Kashmir in Machir Bay off the north coast of Islay, Scotland. The collision ripped a large hole in her side at the point where the ship’s hospital was, killing several men in the hospital. Private Michael Carroll’s body was washed ashore at Colonsay, a small island near Islay a short while later. He was buried in Kilchoman cemetery (near Islay), overlooking the sea. He was 26 years old. He had married Nellie Reilly in St Joseph of the Holy Family church in Upper Manhattan. His death certificate was issued on 14 April 1919 and in the early 1920s, Michael’s wife Nellie requested that he be re-interred in Queen’s Cemetery, New York. The church service for his re-interment took place in the church where they were originally married.
Michael Carroll; Owen Carroll; USA army cert for Michael Carroll
Michael 'Mike' Carroll 1891-1918
Michael Carroll
Photograph
United States
US certificate of honour for Michael Carroll
Official document
Owen Carroll
Owen Carroll 1884-1969
CONTRIBUTOR
Rita Carroll and Sheila Clissold
DATE
1917 - 1918
LANGUAGE
eng
ITEMS
3
INSTITUTION
Europeana 1914-1918
PROGRESS
METADATA
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Three Carty brothers at sea
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John Carty memory card; John Carty service record; Peter Carty enrolment papers; Peter Carty service record; Matthew Carty identity papers. || John, Peter and Matthew Carty were three sons of Philip Carty, a shipwright in Wexford town, Ireland. John was the eldest of the three, born in 1890, Peter was born in 1892, and Matthew in 1898. They lived in the Tuskar View/ Seaview Avenue/Trinity Street area of Wexford town. John’s service record describes him as being 5 feet 3½ inches tall with blue eyes and a fair complexion. He worked as a fireman (boiler man) at the Mill Road Ironworks (Pierce’s foundry) before enrolling with the Royal Naval Reserve (service number 1656S) as a stoker in April 1910. After a training period he returned to Wexford and worked again in the foundry for a year or two. His service was renewed in April 1912 and he made a few trips with the Mercantile Marine. Shortly after the outbreak of the war he was deployed as stoker on the SS Monmouth, an armed cruiser. A family story had it that John was coming into dock having finished a tour of duty when he was sent unexpectedly to the Monmouth. On 1 November 1914 the Monmouth was sunk during the Battle of Coronel off the coast of Chile. There were no survivors. Peter Carty was described on his service record as being 5 feet 4 inches tall, with fair complexion and blue eyes. Like his brother John, Peter worked in the Mill Road Ironworks. He enrolled in the Royal Naval Reserve October 1911 and joined the Royal Navy in March 1912 as a stoker, 2nd class. Matthew, the youngest of the seafaring brothers, was described as being 5 feet 7 inches tall, with dark hair, and blue eyes. He served as an AB Seaman towards the end of the war period. Anastasia Carty Coles, the three boys’ sister, had photos of the ships they served on on her wall but the boys were rarely spoken of. Each year she would light a candle on 1 November in memory of John, a tradition that continued into subsequent generations. After the war, Peter and Matthew lost touch with their family in Wexford. || || Photograph || Seaman John Carty - memory card || Seaman John Carty || || John Carty's service record, page 1 || Official document || John Carty || || Official document || John Carty's service record, page 2 || John Carty || || Peter carty || Official document || Peter Carty's enrolment papers, page 1 || || Official document || Peter Carty || Peter Carty's enrolment papers, page 2 || || Peter Carty's service record || Peter Carty || Official document || || Matthew Carty || Matthew Carty's identity document || Matthew Carty's identification papers, with photograph. || Other
Two Brothers Serving in France
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Private Angus Anthony (307160)served with 15th Battalion, Tank Corps and was killed in action on the 27th September 1918, when his tank received a direct hit. He had previously served with the Royal Engineers (304981). Three letters were received after his death, some very descriptive of events. Also a birthday card that he received just before his death, which was returned to the family by Captain Gibson. Acting Sergeant William Anthony, the contributors great grandfather, enlisted on the 26th February 1916 and was called up on the 29th March 1916. He went to France, with the Royal Engineers, in November 1918 and sent letters detailing his work and the things he saw. He also sought out his brothers grave and hoped to find the tank that he died in. Furthermore, he obtained photographs, which he sent to his mother. He also received a letter from a friend serving in British Guiana, sent after the armistice was announced. William Anthony took his mother to France to visit Angus's grave. Her passport has been retained and is stamped recording her arrival and departure. || Letter. Letter. Letter (2 pages). Letter and birthday card. Last letter home. Memorial card. Photograph of Angus Anthony. Card. Letter. Demob certificate. Letters (numerous). Copy of letter. Photos (7) - left hand of photo is William Anthony. Postcards - pre and post war (numerous). Passport.