My Story
My Story is currently under construction..
Please visit this page again soon to read more about my experience during the project and to learn about our trip to the Somme.
Here is Sergeant Michael and his brother Private Patrick Dunne in uniform posing for a photo with Patrick's wife. Most likely pre - war.
Michael lived in Mullingar before the war, along with his mother, father and his siblings, most notably Patrick and Bernard who also served in the army.
Michael joined the British Army before the outbreak of war in 1914
He joined up in Mullingar as a private in the Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers. He was part of the original BEF that was sent across to aid Belgium and France against the German Onslaught.
Michael was sent to fight against the Ottoman Empire in 1915 for the Dardanelles Invasion. While he was there, he was awarded the Medal of Honour for throwing himself on a grenade to save his comrades.
After the failed Invasion Michael was returned to Allied lines.
By the time of the Somme assault, Michael was a Sergeant in the Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers.
Michael at the Somme
Michael was a Sergeant by the time of the Somme Offensive. On the first day of the attack Michael was gunned down. After a brief engagement a retreat was sounded, while leading his men to safety Michael was killed by a machine gunner. He shared his fate with thousands of men
A picture of the 2nd Battalion Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers, chatting, eating and having a smoke 3 days before that ghastly attack. Michael is probably somewhere among them, little did he know that 3 days forward he would die fighting the Elite German LandsWehr. I'd say these poor men are terrified.
The 11th Inniskillings and the 14th Rifles charge through their own defences, to face the vicious German Maxim Machine Gun. Michael died in a futile assault just like this.
Michaels Grave
Patricks Grave
Please visit this page again soon to read more about my experience during the project and to learn about our trip to the Somme.