Name of soldier : Michael Scully
Descendent : John McDonnell
John McDonnell must have been the happiest street cleaner in North Dublin before he stepped down from Dublin City Council in 2017. He was a regular sight to be seen around Phibsborough crossroads in the morning pushing his dust cart and lifting people’s spirits with a greeting and a broad smile. He is now retired and lives on Dowth avenue in Cabra.
The Worcester Regiment traces its origins back to 1694 and spent its early years in Ireland before amalgamation with other regiments. It suffered heavily in World War One, losing 9,000 of its 15,000 officers and men. Its battalions most fought on the Western Front but also in Gallipoli, Mesopotamia (modern Iraq), Italy and in Russia.
Your own name : John McDonnell
Your relative : Grandfather Michael Scully
Period of activity: World War One
Specific regiment: Worcestershire Regiment
Areas served in: Belgium and France. The Somme.
Did you have much contact with him?
No, he died in 1920 before I was born.
What are your most striking memories of him?
He came from the Liberties in Dublin. He had a tough time of it at the Western Front and never really recovered.
Where is he buried?
In Grangegorman military cemetery.
Do you have any mementos of him?
There were some in the family but they got sold, much to our annoyance. I hear this happens often with the families of veterans.
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More about the Worcester Regiment on this excellent website about World War One created by the University of Limerick and based on archive of the Armstrong family of Moyaliffe Castle, County Tipperary
Worcestershire Regiment | It’s a Long Way To Tipperary https://longwaytotipperary.ul.ie/the-military/worcestershire-regiment/
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