Tribute Guest Book

Thomas Phillip Scott McElliott: Born 8th August 1918, Eire

Ever since the early days when i first created the website i have been in regular contact with Roger McElliott. This is a tribute on behalf of Roger to his father Thomas, who served with the 2nd Battalion Royal Ulster Rifles during WW2 and was with the regiment during the retreat from Dunkirk. Thomas' parents were from Knockane, Newcastle west, Limerick, Ireland. Like most veterans Thomas never spoke about his experience during the retreat from Dunkirk. They must have been terrible times for the men fighting their way back to the beaches. Thomas was also wounded whilst on active service. In 1942-43, Thomas served with the Reconnaisance Corps, during which he was involved in an awful accident. He suffered horrific head and leg injuries which left him with a fractured skull and eye socket. The injuries he suffered remained with him for the rest of his life. He died on the 15th March 1977. This tribute is dedicated to him.

Although many years have passed
Since those fatal days of war
My feeling of pride will never grow small.
To all the men and women that gave so much,
I only wish we could keep in touch.
War should not be glorified
But to all those who fell and fought so well
Did not do so in vain,
As i for one will always remember them.

I am trying to gather information regarding my great- grandfather ' Robert Haw ' who served with the 94th (Connaught Rangers ) from the 1880s to early 1900s. Can you give me any pointers where enlistment-demob records might be searched. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. I think your site is super and sometimes visit it just to listen to the music. Best wishes Des Smyth.

Leo,
I want to congratulate you on this great site. I am a warrant officer in de Belgian army. I have a link with Ireland because my uncle is buried their next to his sister who married an Irishman. I also do reenactment. I portray Irish Guards. I am a member of the Irish Guards Association, London Branch and a member of the Combined Irish Regiments Old Comrades Association. - Quis Separabit / Faugh-a-Ballagh.

Leo ( Middle ) sent me this picture of the Leinster Association attending the commemoration at Ledegem in 2008. This was an extremely important date for the Association and one of great pride and honour for them.

Captain Donal Buckley ( retired )
Dear Steve, i just dont know how i did not come across this site before now! words fail me. A fantastic tribute. Thank you. www.militaryheritagetours.com

Sent in by David Carty, from Sligo, and

Sincerely Dedicated to the Memory of

Johnny Smyth and his brother-in-law Bernie Higgins,

Two Brave Irish Lads who went off to Fight in Foreign Fields during World War 2

Johnny fought all the way from
the Normandy Beches to Germany
and being the only bull-dozer driver in the regiment he helped to fill in
the mass graves at
Belsen Concentration Camp.

Bernie came back from the war terribly shell-shocked.
The above photos shows Bernie when he joined up, and then how he had aged after serving in Burma and the fighting at the ' epic ' battle of Kohima. He helped the Padre after the battle, in picking up the bits and pieces of his fallen comrades.

 Steve, Congratulations on your excellent site. Regards Norman McNarry

( Click on the below image to see Norman's Irish battlefield tour company )