Military Chat

Looking information on Private Hugh Sheerin - 3rd(Reserve) Battalion Irish Guards. 12284.

From Derry - Northern Ireland. Died on the RMS Leinster (mail boat) probably while returning from leave in Ireland. Lived 1897-1918.

Was awarded the Victory medal so had to be in a field of combat? Can anybody give me additional information on him , I'm not sure if his records were among the burnt in ww2. All responses will be much appreciated.

Thankyou.
John.
<3

Hugh
Last name Sheerin
Service number 12284
Rank Private
Regiment Irish Guards
Battalion Reserve Battalion
Birth place Templemore, Co. Londonderry
Residence -
Enlistment place Londonderry
Death year 1918
Death day 10
Death month 10
Cause of death Died
Death place At Sea
Theatre of war At Sea
Supplementary Notes -
Category Military, armed forces & conflict
Subcategory First World War
Collections from Great Britain, UK None.

------------
Hugh
Last name Sheerin
Year 1914-20
Service number 12284
Rank Private
Regiment Irish Guards
Service record Soldier Number: 12284, Rank: Private, Corps: Irish Guards
Image link http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/SearchUI/Details?uri=D5119158
Country Great Britain
Medal type British Army Medal Index Cards, 1914-1920
Archive reference WO372/18
Archive reference description Campaign Medal Index Cards and Silver War Badge Cards
Record set Britain, Campaign, Gallantry & Long Service Medals & Awards
Category Military, armed forces & conflict
Subcategory Medal rolls and honours
Collections from Great Britain, UK None

nothng else is listed,

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Victory_Medal_(United_Kingdom)

The medal was issued to all those who received the 1914 Star or the 1914–15 Star, and to most of those who were awarded the British War Medal - it was not awarded singly. These three medals were sometimes irreverently referred to as Pip, Squeak and Wilfred.[1][2]

To qualify for the Victory Medal recipients had to be mobilised for war service in the United Kingdom or the British Empire, in any service, and to have entered a theatre of war between 5 August 1914 and 11 November 1918.

The Medal card is shown on Ancestry and he was also awarded the British Medal.

So does this back up my point that he had to have fought in a theatre of war before dying at sea? Or was him dying at sea the theatre of war?

Thanks a lot for your responses.

When I was in the forces, "death on duty" included being on the way TO work, but not from work !!

Have been back to Ancestry today from a different way and also found this -

Hugh Sheerin
in the UK, Army Registers of Soldiers' Effects, 1901-1929
Gender: Male
Death Date: 10 Oct 1918
Death Place: SS Leinoter
Rank: Private
Regiment: Irish Guards
Regimental Number: 12284

Original shows drowned - on SS Leinster - at sea. £9 12s 2d was awarded including £6 War Gratuity on 26.8.1919 to his Father John.

On the medal card there is no notation by "Theatre of war first served in" and "Date of entry therein". So perhaps they were on the way to somewhere.

From google -

This entry shows something about the sinking, she was sunk heading for Holyhead from Dublin by a German submarine.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RMS_Leinster

An entry here -
https://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=99298118
Seems to say his body was not recovered

Several other entries by googling

Hugh'death is recorded at the Hollybrook Memorial Cemetery Southampton


Sheerin Hugh 12284 Private Irish Guards (Reserve Battalion). He died on the 10/10/1918. He was born in Templemore Londonderry.

www.rmsleinster.com/sinking/sinking.htm