Ancestor Details

Name of Ancestor: Michael Roche

Ancestor's date of birth: 28/08/1867

Ancestor's date of death: 10/07/1919

Cause of Death: Heart Disease

Service Number: 70475

Colony or State of enlistment: Not Applicable, Place of Enlistment: Comnel Ireland

Unit: Royal Regiment of Artillery, 3^rd Battalion Royal Irish Regiment

Rank attained in Boer War: CPL, Date Effective: Detail not provided

Highest Rank attained (if served after war): SGT, Date Effective: Detail not provided

Murray Page: Not applicable did not serve in an Australian unit

Contingent: Not Applicable

Ship: Detail not provided

Memorial details: Detail not provided

Decorations: QSA with clasps. Long Service, Good Conduct and Life Saving, Victory and British War Medals.

Personal Characteristics: Good Character, height: 1.6 m, weight: 56.3 kg

Reasons to go and fight: Employment

Details of service in war: Driefontein, Cape Colony, Diamond Hill, Johnnesburg.

Service and life after the Boer War: In January 1889 Michael,now 21, joined the British Army in the Irish City of Comnel. He had previously served with the 3rd Battalion of the Royal Irish Regiment. This Regiment was formed in 1684 and renamed in 1881 as part of the Childers Reforms. At the time Michael joined the Army he was a labourer, not married. Next of kin where his parents Martin and Jane, however their address was not known and his Aunty Eliza Stone living in John Street Wexford was listed. For his war efforts, Michael was promoted to the rank of sergeant and awarded three medals, a Queen's SA Medal Long Service Medal, Good Conduct Medal and a Life Saving Medal. War broke out across Europe in 1914 and in June 1916 at the age of 46, Michael re-enlisted in the British Army at Poona, this time in the second Dorset Regiment.

CLICK HERE to view Sergeant Roche's record of service.

Descendant Details

Name of Descendant: David Roche, Annandale NSW
Relationship to Ancestor: Great Grandson

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