The Queens Own Royal West Kent Regiment

Private I J P O'Shea


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Private Ignatius John Patrick O'SHEA, L/6259, 1st Battalion,  Queens Own Royal West Kent Regiment, killed in action, Flanders France,  15th November 1914, age 33.

1882, born Worcester, Worcestershire, son of Joseph O'Shea, 22 Forest Road, Leicester.

Formerly served in 3rd Battalion, 3741, Reserve, Royal West Kent Regiment, from 28th June 1901 for 49 days. On enlistment 17 years & 11 months, height 5ft 2¼ inches, sallow complexion, blue eyes, brown hair, windmill anchor crossed flags my heart with cross, love crown anchor in wreath MH & LFA left forearm, pierced heart right forearm.

Enlisted 17th August 1901, New Cross, Kent, age 18 years & 1 month, height 5ft 2½ inches, weight 120lbs, sallow complexion, blue eyes, brown hair, windmill anchor crossed flags my heart with cross, love crown anchor in wreath MH & LFA left forearm, pierced heart right forearm. Formerly hotel porter.

Next of Kin (Uncle) - Augustine O'Shea, Wylds Lane, Worcester, Worcestershire.

Home 17th August 1901 to 13th May 1902; Malta 14th May 1902 to 3rd December 1902; Home 4th December 1902 to 5th April 1904; Malta 6th April 1904 to 3rd April 1906; Home 4th April 1906 to 29th August 1914; BEF 30th August 1914 to 15th November 1914.

17th August 1901, enlisted & posted Depot, Royal West Kent Regiment; 22nd November 1901, posted 1st Battalion, Royal West Kent Regiment; 7th / 8th February 1902, Shornecliffe, inattention on Parade, not complying with an order, 3 days confined to Barracks; 17th February 1902, Shornecliffe, late falling in on Parade at 7.30am, 4 days confined to Barracks; 25th February 1902, Shornecliffe, dirty when parading for recruits gymnasium at 8.30am, 5 days confined to Barracks; 22nd March 1902 to 1st April 1902, Shorncliffe, sore throat, climatic, mild; 14th May 1902, posted Malta; 11th July 1902, Malta, absent from Tattoo until apprehended by MFP in Strada San Anna about 10.30pm drunk, 8 days confined to Barracks; 11th August 1902 to 18th August 1902, Malta, S.C. Fever, mild, climatic; 28th November 1902 to 12th December 1902, SS Dominion, gonorrhoea; 4th December 1902, posted Depot, Royal West Kent Regiment; 16th February 1903, Shornecliffe, not complying with an order, 3 days confined to Barracks; 11th April 1903, Shornecliffe, being in possession of a dirty rifle, 5 days confined to Barracks; 11th April 1903 to 18th April 1903, Shorncliffe, boil; 12th August 1903, Salisbury, using obscene language in camp,  5 days confined to Barracks; 12th August 1903, Salisbury, refusing to peel potatoes when ordered to do so, when a defaulter, 12 days confined to Barracks; 7th September 1903, examined and found fit for Service in Ceylon; 26th March 1904, permitted to extend his Service to complete 8 years, good character; 7th April 1904, SS Soudan; 31st March 1905. Malta, insubordinate conduct towards an NCO, 168 hours imprisonment, with hard labour; 21st May 1905, Malta, improperly dressed when leaving Barracks, 4 days confined to Barracks; 28th June 1905, Malta, not getting out of bed when ordered to do so, 4 days confined to Barracks; 12th July 1905, Malta, having a rusty rifle at inspection, 7 days confined to Barracks; 23rd August 1905, Malta, absent from 6.30am Parade, until reporting himself at 7.15am, 7 days confined to Barracks; 8th September 1905, Malta, absent from Tattoo until 10.5pm, 5 days confined to Barracks; 24th September 1905, absent from Tattoo until 10.55pm, 7 days confined to Barracks; 14th October 1905, Malta, absent from Tattoo until 1.20am on 15th, 7 days confined to Barracks; 9th January to 5th February 1906, Military Hospital Valetta, Malta, hysteria, epileptic fits; 5th February 1906 to 19th March 1906, Military Hospital, Quetta Malta, hysteria; 1st April 1906, Royal Fleet Auxiliary Hospital Ship Maine, Portsmouth, patient had no fits on board; 4th April 1906, posted Depot, Royal West Kent Regiment; 1st April to 12th April 1906, Netley Hospital, no special treatment, convalescence; 5th October 1616 to 15 October 1906, Dover Hospital, under observation, no fits whilst in hospital; 28th December 1906, posted 1st Battalion, Royal West Kent Regiment; 29th December 1906, Dover, absent from 12pm 29th December 1906 until 7.55am on 30th, 5 days confined to Barracks, forfeits one days pay; 8th January 1907, Dover, absent from 8.45pm Parade, 7 days confined to Barracks, forfeits one days pay; 19th January 1907, Dover, absent from Tattoo until 10.5pm, dirty on Church Parade, 7 days confined to Barracks; 27th April 1907, Dover, having a rusty bayonet and dirty coat, 7 days confined to Barracks; 11th May 1907, Dover, absent from Tattoo until 7.10am, not returning to Barracks when ordered to do so, 10 days confined to Barracks, forfeits three days pay; 3rd August 1908, Camberley, absent from Tattoo until 10.17pm. 5 days confined to Barracks; 5th May 1909, Lydd, urinating on the floor in his Barrack room, 10 days confined to Barracks.

3rd November 1908, Christ Church, Hougham, Kent, married Caroline Amelia Vidler, of 16, Broad Street, Canterbury, Kent.

Children - Victor John Eric O'Shea, born 25th February 1909, Canterbury, Kent;

16th August 1909, transferred to Army Reserve, Section "B"; age 26 years & 1 month, height 5ft 3½ inches, sallow complexion, blue eyes, brown hair, windmill anchor crossed flags my heart with cross, love crown anchor in wreath MH & LFA left forearm, pierced heart right forearm, formerly hotel porter, intended place of residence, Margate College.


1911 Census - 9 Orange Street, Canterbury, Kent - John O'Shea, head, age 28, married, Agent, Singer Sewing Machines, worker, born Worcester Town; Caroline O'Shea, wife, age 23, married 2 years, 1 child, still alive, born Cheyne Court, near Rye, Sussex; Victor O'Shea, son, age 1, born Dover, Kent.


Children - Frederick George Bernard O'Shea, born 11th June 1911, Canterbury, Kent;

17th August 1913, re-engaged from Army Reserve for 4 years;

Children - Molly Caroline O'Shea, born 8th May 1914, Canterbury.

5th August 1914, mobilized; 6th August 1914, posted Depot, Royal West Kent Regiment; 30th August 1914, posted BEF & 1st Battalion, Royal West Kent Regiment.

1915 September, Canterbury Registration District, Caroline A O'Shea, married John A Anderson, 16 Broad Street, Canterbury. Kent.

21st May 1919, Statement of Relatives - Widow, Caroline Anderson, 16 Broad Street, Canterbury. Kent; Children - Victor John Eric O'Shea, 25th February 1909, 16 Broad Street, Canterbury. Kent; Frederick George O'Shea, 11th June 1911, 16 Broad Street, Canterbury. Kent; Molly Caroline O'Shea, 8th May 1914, 16 Broad Street, Canterbury. Kent; Father, Joseph O'Shea, 22 Forest Road, Leicester; Mother, dead; Sisters - Agnes; Nellie; address I do not now know.

Commemorated at Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial, Panel 45 and 47, Belgium.


This page was last updated on 18-Feb-2021.

Copyright © 2008 Janet & Richard Mason