Over 200,000 Irishmen fought in the First World War, which began 100 years ago on July 28, 1914. Lawrence Burke, a native of Clogher, Shanballymore, was one of those who fought for the British Army as a member of the Royal Munster Fusiliers.

Born in May, 1878, Lawrence first enlisted with the Munster’s in 1899, and undertook basic training in Ballymullen Barracks in Tralee, Co Kerry. As part of the 2nd battalion he was posted to India, before they were ordered to South Africa to take part in the closing stages of the Boer War in December, 1901. He was awarded the Queens South Africa Medal with two date clasps for 1901 and ’02.

Transferred to the Reserve’s in December, 1907, the following year he took up a job as postman in Cork. When the Great War broke out in July, 1914, Lawrence was called up to serve and on August 13th, he was deployed to France. He took part in the famous stand of the Munster’s at Fesmy, when they were cut off and surrounded by the Germans. The order to ‘retire at once’, issued to the 1st Guards Brigade around Fesmy was not received by the 2nd Royal Munster Fusiliers.

The battle came to a head at Etreux when, surrounded by enemy numbers five or six times their own and after a savage battle lasting several hours, the Munsters were taken captive by the Germans. Lawrence, among the survivors, was sent to Limburg prisoner-of-war camp, where he spent the following four years.

Years later, at the age of 94, he recalled one particular tale from his time there - the meeting of Rodger Casement, who had visited the camp on a mission to raise an Irish Brigade from prisoners to fight with the Germans. Lawrence decried Casement as a ‘rather austere looking gentleman, with civilian clothes’, and on recognising him, introduced himself and shook his hand.

When the war was over he made his way back to England and then on to Bantry where he returned to his duties as a postman. He died there in 1976, aged 98.

Lawrence received the prestigious 1914 (Mons) Star medal, plus British War and Victory medals. Lawrence's nephew is David Roche who is now residing in Fermoy. David was born in the same house as Lawrence in Shanballymore and is a United Nations army veteran, having fought in the Congo and Cyprus.

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