Daniel Joseph Sheehan

Daniel Joseph Sheehan, Lieutenant (14 November 1894 Ireland - 10 May 1917) was born in Tralee Ireland as eldest of three sons of Captain D. D. Sheehan, MP , all of whom served on the Western Front during World War I.

Biography

Hiis biography as recorded in the British War Office publication "Soldiers Died in the Great War" :

Early years

He was educated at Christian College, Cork, and Mount St. Joseph's College, Roscrea, Co. Tipperary. He played for Munster two years in the Senior College Inter-Provintial Rugby Championships and was considered the best three-quarter back in Ireland. He joined the Devitt and Moore's Ocean Training Ship "Medway" as a Cadet in 1912, winning first prize for Navigation and General Seamanship. He transferred to H.M.S. "Hibernia" as midshipman, R.N.R., for training with a view to a permanent commission in the Royal Navy.

Great War

After serving with the 3rd Battle Squadron in the North Sea, on the outbreak of World War I in 1914-15, he was transferred to the Naval Air Service, obtaining his aviator's certificate in 1915. He was wounded while flying in Belgium, and, being regarded as unfit for further service with the Naval Air Force, received permission to transfer to the Royal Flying Corps. He was engaged for a time as Instructor at Oxford, England, then went on active service again.

Death

He met his death on 10 May 1917, when on a scouting expedition, a superior body of German aircraft engaged the British battle-plane, and Lieut. Sheehan and another officer were killed. He managed to land the damaged plane in an open field, near Noyelles, before he died in the cockpit. His superior officer wrote: 'he was loved by all and was by nature absolutely devoid of fear'.

He was buried at the Commonwealth Cabaret-Rouge Cemetery (grave plot 16, row N16) at Souchez (14 km. nw. of Arras, sw. of Lille), France.

The Anglo-Irish poet William Butler Yeats wrote the inspired symbolic poem entitled: .

Michael Joseph Sheehan

Daniel Sheehan's other two brothers were: Lieut. Martin Joseph Sheehan killed in October 1918 and his younger brother Lieut. Michael Joseph Sheehan who in 1915 aged 16, was the youngest commissioned officer on the Western Front.

Michael Joseph Sheehan (1899-1975) was born in Skibbereen, co. Cork Ireland. He left St. Finbarr's College, Farranferris Cork to join the 7th Leinster Regiment on 20 April 1915. He was transferred 25 September 1915 to the Royal Munster Fusiliers as Second Lieutenant. Promoted First Lieutenant 1 July 1917. He was wounded twice. After the war he embarked 18 September 1919 for the British Indian Army receiving his commission as Captain 20 October 1920. (Records National Archives Kew London)

In World War II he attained the rank of Brigadier General and was awarded the OBE, CBE for his engagement in the Burma Campaign.