5998780 Pte Francis William Shepherd 1st Bn. Essex Regiment

1901 Oct 2. Born Victoria Park, Middlesex

1920 May 15. Enlisted Warley, Essex.

1921 May 14 Died of wounds age 18. Son of Clara Matilda and the late Mr. Shepherd, of 138 Oakdale Rd., Leytonstone.

In a Witness Statement. Peter Kearney, section commander of ASU Cork no. 3 Brigade said that on 14 May 1921 he together with Tom Barry, Sean Leahane, Mick Crowley, Billy O'Sullivan took part in this attack. They travelled to Bandon in a car driven by Leahane, and it has a Lewis gun mounted on the windscreen. Police reports say that at 17.55 a burst of Lewis gunfire was fired at a group of soldiers playing football in a field beside their barracks in the Grammar School, Devonshire Sq, Bandon. Private Shepherd was a member of the armed perimeter guard, there to protect the players in case of attack. The guard opened fire. Shepherd died, and the attackers drove off along the main Dunmanway Road and later set fire to the car. Two civilians were injured in cross fire, Cornelius Looney and Patrick Walsh. Looney later died of his wounds that night.

Tom Barry also writes about it in Guerilla Days. He adds that the Lewis Gun had been captured at Crossbarry

Buried at Manor Park Cemetery, Essex

Cpl Ernest Frank Seccombe, who fired at the attackers on the football game, was transferred to the 2nd Bn in Malta/Turkey according to his family. 5998798 Act. Cpl. E.F. Seccombe (Awarded for action against the IRA at a football match at Bandon) L.G. 29/7/21. The King has been graciously pleased to approve of the award of the Medal of the Military Division of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire to the undermentioned in recognition of gallant conduct in the performance of military duties. No. 5998798 A. Cpl. Ernest Frank Seccombe.

 

British Soldiers died in Ireland