Bernard McGivern

On the 25/07/1913 Bernard enlisted in the 3rd Battalion (Special Reserve) Yorkshire Regiment (7769) in Middlesbrough, Yorkshire. When the family were living in Stockton Bernard enlisted in the 2nd Battalion Yorkshire Regiment (10327) on the 27/10/1913 claiming to be 18 but at only 16 he was discharged on the 10/03/1914 for misstating his age (see Service Record 2). At the outbreak of war he enlisted in the Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers under the name Bernard O'Hare (see CWGC Grave Registration, name on Arras Memorial and Pension Records. This was his mothers maiden name) and was Killed in Action along with 43 men of his Battalion at Arras. The Arras offensive (Battle of Arras), 9th April -16th June 1917 : Once again the British are called upon to launch an attack in support to a larger French offensive : the Battles of the Chemin des Dames and the hills of Champagne. The opening Battle of Vimy and the First Battle of the Scarpe are very encouraging, but once again the offensive - often known as the Battle of Arras - bogs down into an attritional slog. Final attempts to outflank the German lines at Bullecourt prove terribly costly. In March 1915 the 1st Battalion sailed, going via Egypt, and landed at Cape Helles, Gallipoli, on the 25/04/1915. In January 1916 they evacuated from Gallipoli to Egypt. On the 18/03/1916 they landed at Marseilles for service in France. They were part of the 87th Brigade, 29th Division. Bernard is also remembered in the St. Augustine's Parish (book) Roll of Honour. See photos for Bernard's Medal Index Card, his Newspaper clippings x 2, his Army Register of Soldiers Effects, his Service Medal and Award Rolls, his CWGC Grave Registration, his name on the Arras Memorial Panel List, the Arras Memorial, his name on the Arras Memorial, his Service Records x 6, Bernard's fathers Pension Records x 2 , Bernard's Pension Records x 2, Bernard's previous Regiment the Yorkshire Regiment Cap Badge and Bernard and his father's Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers Cap Badge. Finally, Bernard's name listed on the Ireland Casualties WW1 (under the name O'Hare and wrongly listed as falling on the 01/07/1916).