Additional Information
The Battalion arrived at Le Havre on the 20/12/1914. Charles arrived on the 06/04/1915. Charles is listed as CUNNIENE on his Medal Index Card, his Service Medal and Award Rolls, his Ireland Casualties WW1, his Pension Record and CULLINAIN on the Stewarts and Lloyds Roll of Honour (see photos). The correct family name is CULLINAN. A huge thank you to Keir and everyone at the Clare Peace Park Committee for the Clare Memorial photos and the following information. Charles Cullinan : Born in Ennis, Co. Clare, died of wounds on the 07/05/1915 age 41, during the Second Battle of Ypres, 22nd April - 25th May 1915). 1st Battalion Leinster Regiment, 82nd Brigade in 27th Division. Grave in Belgium. Also known as Charles Cunnienne. Son of Patrick and Ann Cullinan. The Second Battle of Ypres, 22nd April - 25th May 1915 began in April 1915 when the Germans released poison gas into the Allied lines north of Ypres. This was the first time gas had been used by either side and the violence of the attack forced an Allied withdrawal and a shortening of the line of defence. The 1st Battalion Leinster Regiment arrived at Ypres on 02/04/1915. Hill 60 was strategically important and was captured by the British. They suffered heavy casualties when the Germans shelled the town. The Germans launched their offensive on the 22th of April. The British were forced to retreat. The Battalion was heavily involved in the preparation of the new line. On the 5th May they were gassed. The Germans retook Hill 60. SEE PHOTOS x 10 FOR THE BATTALION WAR DIARY 6th MARCH - 7th MAY 1915. About his brother John - John Cullinan : Ennis, died of wounds on the 18/05/1915 age 35 at Rue Du Bois in the Battle of Aubers Ridge, Royal Munster Fusiliers 2nd Battalion, Grave in France. He was the son of Patrick and Annie Cullinan. The British bombardment began at 5 a.m., the Munsters then pressing forward with extraordinary bravery, German fire sweeping No-Mans-Land, some Munsters audaciously charging ahead through the German lines, briefly waving a green flag on its breastwork, then moving beyond until cut off by the British artillery bombardment that followed, which killed many sheltering in shell craters. By 11 a.m. the 2nd Royal Munster Fusiliers were withdrawn with only 3 officers and 200 men remaining, having lost 19 and 370 respectively. It was one of only two Battalions to reach the German lines. But suffered the Regiment's highest loss of any one day of the war, 11 officers and 140 men killed in action. Charles' father Patrick also received news of the death of his son, John, who was in the Munsters, in the late fighting. He had been home on leave wounded, about three months previously. Charles is also remembered in the St. Augustine's Parish (book) Roll of Honour. See photos for Charles' Medal Index Card, his CWGC Grave Registration x 2, his listing in the Ireland Casualties WW1, his Service Medal and Award Rolls x 2, his Army Register of Soldiers Effects, his Pension Records x 2, Divisional Cemetery and the Leinster Regiment Cap Badge. Also see photos for Charles' brother John's Pension Records x 4, brother Peter's Pension Record, John's Medal Index Card, his CWGC Grave Registration x 2, his Headstone Report x 2, his Army Register of Soldiers Effects, his Service Medal and Award Rolls, Wimereux Communal Cemetery and the Royal Munster Fusiliers Cap Badge. Finally, see photos for Charles listed on the British Tube Works panel on the Stewarts and Lloyds Roll of Honour plaque x 2, the Stewarts and Lloyds Roll of Honour plaque, see photos x 12 for the 27th Division Order of Battle (the Division he was with when he died) and 5 photos kindly donated by Keir McNamara (The Clare Peace Park Memorial was erected in 2016).
