OCR Text |
Show i4. Irish Patriot Who Died For Humanity II rfHEN word came a few weeks fl 1 ago that the name of Major William Redmond had been added to the long list of the war's awful toll, there was many a heartache heart-ache in this city. It will be remembered remem-bered that the gallant Irish soldier and statesman visited in Salt Lake some fifteen years ago and was royally roy-ally entertained by P. J. Moran, Joseph Jo-seph Geoghegan and others. He was accompanied by Mrs. Redmond and their presence here was made the occasion oc-casion for one of the most notable social e,vents in the history of the city. The accompanying illustration, which was assembled from two separate sep-arate photographs appearing in recent re-cent numbers of the Illustrated Lon-don Lon-don News, shows Major Redmond in uniform and his grave in a French convent garden. The major was a younger brother of John Redmond, the famous Irish leader in Parliament. Like his illustrious brother, he was also a member of the House of Commons, Com-mons, representing East Clare in that body for upwards of thirty years. He was a typical Irishman, full of fire and wit, courageous, chivalrous and extremely popular with the men of all political parties. When the war broke out, Major Redmond, although then in his fifties, decided to enlist and forthwith joined the famous Irish brigade. The true type of the man is revealed in the following statement to a friend of his object in donning the uniform: "I am far too old to be a soldier, but I intend to do my duty for whatever w IwM life remains in me to show that Ireland Ire-land at least is true to her treaties." What finer sentiment could any man eJipress? What nobler attributes could civilization demand of any people? peo-ple? Major Redmond readily distinguished distinguish-ed himself in the field for his fine soldiering and his supreme courage under fire. He fell mortally wounded while leading the Irish attack on Wytschaete Wood, the charge that resulted re-sulted in a splendid victory for his troops. He was taken to an Ulster Division field hospital but never regained re-gained consciousness. Death came to him a few hours later. His death was universally mourned by the members of the Irish brigade, as well as by countless thousands throughout the empire. His body was taken to the little village of Loecre, some distance in the rear of the battle line, and buried in the quiet retreat of the private pri-vate garden of the convent there. Near the grave stands a statute and grotto in honor of Our Lady of Lourdes. The funeral service was conducted M jointly by the chaplains of the Irish .1 Division and the Ulster Division of 1 the famous brigade, and the grave H was decorated with flowers picked by H the children of the village. As a last M mark of tribute to the dead soldier, a !H squad from the Ulster division fired a jJ fareweH volley over his grave. What ll a wonderful testimonial to the char- H acter of the man, that his countrymen M should forget all differences and come M together in common sorrow before his M |