Kilkenny

A reader recently asked about a military marker in the Glenmore church yard of a Private J. Gaule (service number 29019), who died on the 4^th of July 1918, at the age of 21. Our reader said that he has wondered about J. Gaule for years. A quick check of Danny Dowling’s notebooks revealed that this military marker is for John Gaule, of Haggard, Glenmore who served in the British Infantry in WWI, with the Machine Gun Corps. Danny in notebook 21 made notes regarding John Gaule, but there is no indication where Danny obtained the information recorded. According to Danny’s notes John Gaule was the son of Richard Gaule and Mary O’Brien and the grandson of Michael Gaule and Bridget Power.

The military marker is on the right hand side of the front entrance against the front wall of the churchyard. There are two other Gaule markers that provide clues concerning John’s family. The three Gaule markers against the front wall of the Glenmore churchyard provide the following information.

Marker 1:

29019 Private J. Gaule, Machine Gun Corps (Inf), 4^th July 1918, aged 21

Marker 2:

In loving memory of Mary Gaule, died 26th of April 1902,
Richard Gaule, died 28th of January 1940, 
My dearest husband James Gaule, died 26th November 1912, aged 71
 Interred Kensal Green, London    

Marker 3:

In loving memory of our dear parents,
Martin Gaule died 25th of June 1981, aged 80 years, 
His wife Ellie, died 12th June 1986, aged 84 years, 
Also their twin son, Bill who died in his second year, 
His brother Martin died 15 August 2014, aged 85 years, 
His wife Eileen, neé Murray, died 18th July 2005, aged 84 years. 

According to the birth register John Gaule was born on 15 May 1896 at Ballinlammy, Glenmore. The 1911 Census reveals that John Gaule was living with his family in Knockbrack, Glenmore. The Head of the household was Bridget Gaule, age 77. The rest of the members of the household are as follows: Patrick Gaule, age 38, single, son of the head of household; Richard Gaule, age 44, widower, son of the head of household, agricultural labourer; John Gaule, age 15; Martin Gaule, age 10; James Gaule, age 8 and Michael Power, age 11 (cousin).

The 1901 Census reveals further information. John Gaul (sic) was 5 years of age and living with his family in Ballinlammy, Glenmore. The head of household was his father Richard Gaul, aged 40, and employed as an agricultural labourer. John’s mother is listed as Mary, aged 39. The other members of the family include: Stasia, aged 11; Maggie, aged 8; John, aged 5; Anne, aged 3 and Martin, aged 8 months.

The census records support that the three markers in the Glenmore church yard refer to the same family. For example marker 3 contains John’s brother Martin (c. 1900-1981) and Martin’s family. Marker 2 contains John’s parents Richard (c.1861-1940) and Mary (c. 1862-1902).

British military records reveal that John Gaule was awarded two medals: the British War Medal and the Victory Medal.

The National Archives of Ireland contains John’s handwritten Will. On the 2^nd of June 1916, John wrote the following simple Will, “After my death leave all to my father Richard Gaule, Haggard, Glenmore, Co. Kilkenny, Ireland.” The Will was processed on the 29^th of January 1919. Other records in the file reveal that John enlisted at Waterford. John died from wounds sustained in France/Flanders and died at the Belton Park Military Hospital, Granthan, Lincolnshire, England. Belton Park was also where WWI machine gunmen training camps and depots were located. To view John’s Will held by the National Archives see, http://soldierswills.nationalarchives.ie/reels/sw/1918_22/GauleJ_E669256.pdf.

A quick walk around the Glenmore churchyard today did not reveal additional British military markers, but according to Danny’s notebooks another Glenmore man John Ryan, of Rochestown, served in the British Army during WWI and died in 1919. We will feature John Ryan and the mystery surrounding him in a future post.

Update of 3 Sept. 2021–Catherine Davies née Kearney, aged 92, made contact via her son Stephen Davies and shared a verse written by John Gaule which he gave to his father before he went off to join the war. The verse was given to Catherine by her mother Anastatia Kearney nee Gaule (the sister of John Gaule). John Gaule was called “Jack” by his family.

Remember dearest father,
Remember days gone by,
Your son he is a solider,
And he's not afraid to die.

From the information provided we were able to find further information regarding some of the siblings of John Gaule ( 1896-1918). His sister Maggie Gaule (b. 26 Jan. 1894) married James Treacy on 12 January 1914 at Mullinavat. James Treacy was the son of William Treacy and Mary Treacy née Dee. Annie Gaule was the maid of honour. His sister Anastatia Gaule was born on 2 May 1890 per the Glenmore parish register. However, the civil register lists her birth as occuring on 1 April 1890 and her mother is listed as Mary Murphy. The information for the civil registration was provided by Bridget Gaule who was present at the birth. Anastatia Gaule married Michael Kearney (smith) on 8 July 1912 at St. Patrick’s of Waterford City. Michael was the son of Tom Kearney (smith). Witnesses to the wedding were William Hartley and Katie Meany. The addresses of the bride and groom are “The Square.” Some of the children of this marriage were found in the publically available records including: [1] Michael Kearny (b. 5 Aug. 1912); [2] Bridget Kearney (b. 9 Feb. 1914); and [3] Mary Kearney (b. 10 Aug. 1915). We know from the birth records that the family resided in Arundal Square, Waterford City when Michael was born and then moved to Gurteens, Slieverue where the father continued to work as a blacksmith.

Update: 13 October 2021, Stephen Davies indicated that Michael Kearney and Anastatia “Statia” Kearney née Gaule had a total of 14 children. The following names were supplied by Stephen: [4] John Kearney; [5] Anastatia “Daney” Kearney; [6] Ellen “Nell” Kearney; [7] Richard “Dick” Kearney; [8] Maggie Kearney; [9] Andrew Kearney; [10] Agnes Kearney; [11] Johanna Kearney; [12] Catherine “Katie” Kearney; [13] Angela Kearney.

Michael Kearney died when his daughter Catherine “Katie” was 13. When her father died the family moved to Rathpatrick and a year later Catherine “Katie” Kearney went to her sister Mary in England.

Dr. Kathleen Moore Walsh