Belfast Boys: How Unionists and Nationalists Fought and Died Together in the First World War - Comments

Was wondering about other Irish Regiments and their records. My uncle Tom served in the Irish Guards and my great Uncle John served in the Munster Fuseliers. Both survived the Great War John returned to Ireland and farmec on a land grant near Kells in Co. Meath Tom married and settled down in England. I have a copy of the Irish times front page listing Irish killed and wounded and both Tom & John are listed. Tom would never wear the Poppy as he maintained the british never gave recognition to all the Irish who died in thea war. Regards Tom Burke Cooles Dromcollogher Co. Cork ROI

Actually I wasn't aware of a popular mythology that there was a higher proportion of 'loyalist' recruits than nationalist...in fact the 'myth' that I'm most aware of is the opposite, that throughout Ireland there was a higher proportion of the nationalist community represented amongst recruits to the British Army at this time. I am looking forward to reading Grayson's book, not least because my own Great Grandfather fought with the Connaught Rangers. Our own family 'myth' is that men like him joined up (at least in part) because they hoped that their contribution would meet with a favourable response from the British after the war was over. In essence, that they too were fighting for the cause of (eventual) Irish freedom.