26 Irishmen who paid with their lives

The following Irish soldiers were executed by Britain for alleged cowardice, disobedience or desertion during World War I:

Patrick Joseph Downey: Private 6/227 6th Battalion, Leinster Regiment, executed on Monda, Dec. 27, 1915. Son of Michael and Mary A. Downey of 1 Kelly’s Range, Bize’s Fields, Limerick.

Stephen Byrne: Private 40422 No. 1 Company, 1st Battalion, Royal Dublin Fusiliers, executed on Sunday, Oct. 28, 1917. (Served as M. Monaghan). Brother of Thomas Byrne of 32 Usher’s Quay, Dublin.

Thomas Hogan: Private 17137 2nd Battalion, Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers, executed on Monday, May 14, 1917. (Served as Thomas Murphy). Son of John and Jane Hogan, Tralee, Co. Kerry.

Joseph Carey: Private 21373 7th Battalion, Royal Irish Fusiliers, executed on Friday, Sept. 15, 1916. Husband of May Carey of Julian’s Place, Mayor Street, Dublin.

Thomas Cummings: Private 2222 1st Battalion, Irish Guards, executed on Thursday, Jan. 28, 1915. Son of William Cummings of Tully Muckamore, Belfast.

Albert Smythe: Private 3379 1st Battalion, Irish Guards, executed on Thursday, Jan. 28, 1915. Believed to be from Ulster.

Thomas Hope: Private 9689 2nd Battalion, Leinster Regiment, executed on Tuesday, March 2, 1915. Son of Mrs. B Hope, Mill Road, Mullingar, Co. Westmeath.

Thomas Davis: Private 1/9804 1st Battalion, Royal Munster Fusiliers, executed on Friday, July 2, 1915. Son of Mrs. Margaret Davis of Turnpike Road, Ennis, Co. Clare.

Peter Sands: Lance-Cpl. 8225 1st Battalion, Royal Irish Rifles, executed on Wednesday, Sept. 15, 1915. Husband of Elizabeth Sands of 74 Abyssinia St., Belfast.

James Graham: Private 9948 2nd Battalion, Royal Munster Fusiliers, executed on Tuesday, Dec. 21, 1915. Son of Mrs. Jane Graham of Lavitt’s Lane, off Old Market Place, Cork.

James Crozier: Private 14218 9th Battalion, Royal Irish Rifles, executed on Sunday, Feb. 27, 1916. Son of Mrs. Elizabeth Crozier of Battenberg Street, Belfast.

J. Templeton: Rifleman 15/890 15th Battalion, Royal Irish Rifles, executed on Sunday, March 19, 1916. Son of Mr. Templeton of 12, Enfield St., Belfast.

J.F. McCracken: 15/13211 15 Royal Irish Rifles, executed on Sunday, March 19, 1916. Believed to be from Belfast.

James H. Wilson: Private 10701 4th Battalion, Canadian Infantry (Central Ontario Regiment), executed on Sunday, July 9, 1916. Believed to be from Limerick.

James Cassidy: Private 12396 1st Battalion, Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers, executed on Sunday, July 23, 1916. Believed to be from Ireland.

Albert Rickman: Private 12923 1st Battalion, Royal Dublin Fusiliers, executed on Friday, Sept. 15, 1916. Believed to be from Naas, Co. Kildare.

James Mullany: Driver 64987 72nd Battery, Royal Field Artillery, executed on Tuesday, Oct. 3, 1916. Believed to be from Ireland.

Bernard McGeehan: Private 2974 1st/8th Battalion, The King’s (Liverpool Regiment), executed on Thursday, Nov. 2, 1916. Believed to be from Derry.

Samuel McBride: 5009 2nd Battalion, Royal Irish Rifles, executed on Thursday, Dec. 7, 1916. Believed to be from Ireland. [Number 8225 is also attributed to this man].

Arthur Hamilton: Private 39213 14th Battalion, Durham Light Infantry, executed on Tuesday, March 27, 1917. Believed to be from St Peters/Belfast.

J. Wishart: 26248 7 Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers, executed on June 5, 1917. Believed to be from Omagh.

Obert Hepple (Hope): Private 23726 “D” Company, 1st Battalion, Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers, executed on Thursday, July 5, 1917. Believed to be from Ireland.

George Hanna: Private 12609 1st Battalion, Royal Irish Fusiliers, executed on Tuesday, Nov. 6 1917. Son of Henry and Elizabeth Hanna. Believed to be from Belfast.

John Seymour: Private 10603 2nd Battalion, Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers, executed on Thursday, Jan. 24, 1918.

Benjamin O’Connell: 10686 1 Irish Guards, executed Aug. 8, 1918. Believed to be from Wexford.

Patrick Murphy: Private 15161 47th Battalion, Machine Gun Corps, executed on Thursday, Sept. 12, 1918. Believed to be from Dublin.