CONDR*Ns in the 1940 US Census

Distribution of CONDR*Ns in the 1940 US Census (darker colors indicate more CONDR*Ns)

I've just finished indexing the CONDRANs, CONDRENs, CONDRINs and CONDRONs in the 1940 US census. The census contains over 1300 CONDR*Ns, located in over 500 households or institutions, across three quarters of the states of the union. (Remember there were only 48 states in 1940: Alaska and Hawaii didn't become states until 1959.)

 
In 1940, one in four CONDR*Ns (25%) lived in Pennsylvania, 11% in Texas and 10% in New York.

Almost two-thirds of the individuals counted were recorded as CONDRON, with CONDREN (20%) being the next most common, then CONDRAN (12%) and finally CONDRIN (5%).

The vast majority of CONDR*Ns in 1940 reported their birth place as being within the United States. Fewer than 4% reported being born in Ireland (Eire, Irish Free State and in one case Northern Ireland), and fewer than 2% were born in other European countries or Canada (mostly women who had married CONDR*Ns). This is in contrast with censuses in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, when far more CONDR*Ns were first-generation immigrants from Ireland: for example, in the 1910 census, nearly 10% of the CONDR*Ns in the US (about 125 people) had been born in Ireland.

The occupations of CONDR*Ns in the 1940 census reflected the changing times. While some 50 people reported working on the land as farmers or farm laborers, a similar number reported being a "clerk" (though that could mean a lot of things, from filing clerk to sales clerk). There were 10 salesmen and 7 managers, 18 teachers and 10 stenographers or typists. There were two movie-theater projectionists. There were also several owners or attendants at gas stations and several beauticians - occupations that probably wouldn't have existed (or at least wouldn't have been common) in earlier times. Quite a few also reported that they worked in Works Projects Administration (WPA) programs. The WPA, which was the largest agency in Franklin D. Roosevelt's New Deal, provided jobs to the unemployed during the depression of the 1930s: it existed from 1935 until 1943.

There are a number of sites where you can search the 1940 census (for free, I believe):
Official 1940 census site
FamilySearch.org
Ancestry.com
FindMyPast .

I am happy to answer search queries - email me at Condran [AT] one-name.org (replace the [AT] with an @) or at CondranONS [AT] gmail.com. I am also happy to try to provide further details about CONDR*Ns you have found in the 1940 census.

It has taken me several months to index the CONDR*Ns in the 1940 US census, so I am relieved that it will be four years before the 1950 US census is released in 2022 under the "72 year rule"!  The 1921 census of England & Wales will also be released in 2022, under the "100 year rule", so I expect I'll be very busy then!

CONDR*Ns of King's County (Offaly)

As I have said before, the CONDR*Ns perhaps originate from County Offaly (which was called King's County until 1922) in the midlands of Ireland. There are many CONDR*Ns (mostly CONDRON) in the county in the Griffith's Valuation of Ireland (mid 19th century) and in the 1901 and 1911 censuses.

It was only recently, however, when responding to a question about someone's King's County CONDRON ancestors, that I thought to map out where in Offaly the CONDR*Ns were distributed.

This county map shows the distribution of CONDR*Ns in the 1901 census for King's County.

Places with CONDR*N heads of household in the 1901 census

The small dots each indicate a townland with one household in which the head of household was a CONDR*N. The larger dots show townlands with more than one CONDR*N head of household, as follows: Clonfinlough and Glaskill (each have 4 such households), Pollagh (3 households). (A townland is a small geographical division of land used in Ireland. There are more than 1,100 townlands in Offaly.) The star denotes Tullamore, the county town, where there was also one CONDRON head of household.

The CONDR*Ns are pretty well spread about and don't have a single centre of concentration, though they are predominantly around Tullamore and in the west of the county.

The 1901 census is the earliest surviving census of the whole of Ireland. However a useful "census substitute" is the Griffith's Valuation of Ireland which recorded landowners and tenants in the mid 19th century. For King's County, the valuation was completed in July 1855, almost fifty years earlier than the 1901 census and almost ten years before universal civil registration of births, marriages and deaths began in 1864. Therefore the Griffith's Valuation is a useful early snapshot of where people lived.

Places with CONDR*Ns in the mid 19th century Griffiths valuation

This county map shows the distribution of CONDR*Ns in King's County in the Griffith's Valuation. Each small dot indicates one CONDR*N tenancy in that townland. The bigger dots indicate multiple CONDR*N tenancies, as follows: Glaskill (6 such tenancies), Clonfinlough (3 tenancies) and Fertaun (which almost merges with Glaskill on the map: 2 tenancies). There was one CONDRON tenant in Tullamore.

This shows that Glaskill (in Rahan & Lynally Roman Catholic parish) and Clonfinlough (in Clonmacnoise parish) were concentrations of CONDR*Ns in the mid 19th century as well as at the beginning of the 20th century. Although a few other place names are in common between the circa 1855 and 1901 distributions, most others are different although the overall geographical locations are similar. This is probably because the CONDR*Ns were generally tenant farmers, not land owners, and so by choice or - more likely - force of circumstance were more likely to move around than land owners would.


Comments and corrections welcome, either by leaving a comment below or by email to me: CONDRAN[AT]ONE-NAME.ORG .

Mikaela Shiffrin, ace skier ... and a Condron!

Mikaela Shiffrin in 2018
All image rights: Michael Probst/AP/Shutterstock

Congratulations to alpine skier Mikaela Shiffrin on winning two medals (gold and silver) at the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeonchang!

And, through her mother's side, Mikaela is a CONDRON!

Mikaela's gold medal in the Giant Slalom and silver medal in the Alpine Combined in Pyeongchang add to the gold medal she won four years ago in the Slalom at the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi. That win in Sochi made Mikaela the youngest slalom champion in the history of Olympic alpine skiing.

In addition, Mikaela is the reigning overall World Cup champion in women's alpine skiing and four-time World Cup champion in Slalom. To date she has 41 World Cup wins under her belt ... and all before her 23rd birthday!

CONDR*Ns worldwide are proud of you, Mikaela!

I wrote about Mikaela's CONDRON ancestry previously, in March 2013. Here's what I wrote back then:

Condrons claim slalom world champion!

Mikaela Shriffin in 2012 (courtesy wikipedia.com)

Mikaela Shiffrin is a member of the U.S. Ski Team and the new reigning World Cup and world champion in slalom. And she's a CONDRON. As is her elder brother, Taylor Shiffrin, who is also a skier.

Mikaela was born on March 13, 1995 (according to Wikipedia), in Vail, Colorado, to Jeff and Eileen (Condron) SHIFFRIN. Mikaela’s grandmother, Polly CONDRON, lives in Lanesborough, Massachusetts.

This CONDRON family has lived in Massachusetts since the 1870s. Mikaela’s great-great-great grandparents were Jeremiah and Mary CONDRON. Their son, James E. CONDRON (born about 1850 in Ireland), emigrated to the United States in 1871, and married Bridget NOONAN, daughter of Thomas and Bridget NOONAN, on November 5^th, 1874, in Westfield, Massachusetts. They had a son, Joseph Edward CONDRON, Mikaela’s great-grandfather, who was born in Westfield on May 7^th, 1876. James CONDRON died in Westfield in 1904.

Joseph CONDRON married Rose STEINER (daughter of Frederick and Catherine [Kate] Steiner) on September 29^th, 1904, in Pittsfield, Massachusetts. Joseph and Rose had five children: Raymond (1905), Mildred (1907), Rosa (1908), Frederick (1913) and Joseph E. (1919). Joseph junior, born June 14^th, 1919, married Pauline M. (Polly) TOWLE, and they had children Patrick, Anne-Marie, Eileen and Catherine.

I’m sure CONDR*Ns everywhere wish Mikaela continuing success on the ski slopes!

All the above information relating to living persons is available on the web, from wikipedia, media coverage of Mikaela's skiing successes, and the online obituary of Mikaela's grandfather Joseph in 2006. 

As usual, I welcome any corrections. If you know anything about Jeremiah and Mary CONDRON in Ireland, I'd love to know. Email condran [AT] one-name.org  or leave a comment below.

7045 Private Thomas Denis CONDRON (1900 - 1918)

The Battle of Amiens, which began on 8 August 1918, was the opening phase of the so-called Hundred Days Offensive by the Allied forces. With a rapid gain of territory and the capture of some 50,000 German soldiers, it has been said that the Battle of Amiens marked the end of trench warfare in World War I and ultimately led to the end of the war with the signing of the Armistice on 11 November 1918.

Central to the action at the Battle of Amiens was the Fourth Army under General Henry Rawlinson, comprising 19 divisions of British, Australian and Canadian troops. By 11am on the first day of the battle alone, the Australians and Canadians had managed to advance some 3 miles as they attacked eastwards to the south of the River Somme starting in the area around Villers-Bretonneux, and by the end of the day had opened a gap some 15 miles wide in the German lines. One of the five Australian divisions involved in the Battle of Amiens was the 4th Division, of which the 45th Battalion was part.

Private Thomas Denis CONDRON (service no. 7045) was killed in action in the Battle of Amiens on 17 August 1918. The war ended 12 weeks later.

Thomas Denis CONDRON was born on 5 November 1900 in Mungindi which straddles the state line between Queensland and New South Wales.  He was the son of James and Jane (née DONALDSON) CONDRON.  When he enlisted in the army in September 1917 he gave his age as 18 years and 7 months, though according to my records he would have been only 16 years and 10 months, and only 17 years old when he was killed. On enlisting, he gave his occupation as colliery driver.

Thomas Denis's parents James CONDRON and Jane DONALDSON were married in Moree, New South Wales, on 10 February 1885. The couple had nine children that I know of: Charles James (born 1886), Annie Kathleen (1890), Agnes Mary (1892), Ivy Eileen (1895), Amy Jane (1898), Thomas Denis (1900). John Victor (1903), Ethel Jessie (1906) and Arthur William (1908). In 1911, Jane CONDRON got herself and all of the above children (except Charles James) baptised, at St. Mary's, Bingara, New South Wales. It is not clear whether James and Jane were still together at this time; when Thomas Denis enlisted in 1917 he gave his next-of-kin as his mother, who was by then living in Islington, Newcastle, New South Wales. 

Thomas Denis CONDRON embarked on the troop ship H.M.A.T. Nestor at Melbourne on 28 February 1918, arrived in England on 20 April. After spending some time in Codford, Wiltshire - where Australian and New Zealand (ANZAC) troops were accommodated prior to being deployed to France - he finally arrived in France at the end of July 1918. According to a report filed by his commanding officer, Sgt. S. Horton, he was shot by a sniper at Rozieres (I assume modern-day Rosières-en-Santerre) and died there. The report of his comrade, Private W. Bowater, gives the following information: "I saw him hit by two machine gun bullets in the stomach, at Villers Brettoneaux. He was carried out to the dressing station and died there. He was buried at the back of Villers Brettoneaux with a lot of other Australians. I saw his grave and a cross was erected with his particulars thereon."

Thomas Denis CONDRON is buried in the Fouquescourt British Cemetery, in northern France.  

After the war, first his married sister Agnes Mary PARKER and then his mother wrote to the military authorities asking for a photograph of Thomas Denis CONDRON's grave. It appears that their request was fulfilled, in June 1922, according to an annotation in his military record. 
 
This concludes my series of blog posts on CONDR*Ns killed in the First World War. To see my other blog posts about CONDR*Ns killed in the First World War, click on "First World War" in the Labels list on the right of the blog web page. 

Thomas Denis CONDRON was the last CONDR*N to be killed before the end of the war on 11 November 2018. The Commonwealth War Graves Commission includes another man, Thomas CONDRON, among the war dead although he died in 1920. I will post about him on a future occasion. 

Comments and corrections welcome, either by leaving a comment below or by email to me: CONDRAN[AT]ONE-NAME.ORG .  

26919 Corporal Michael CONDRON (1897 - 1918)

The Battle of the Lys (7-29 April 1918), also known as the Lys Offensive or the Fourth Battle of Ypres, was part of the German 1918 Spring Offensive. The front for the German offensive ran north-south from about 6 miles east of Ypres in Belgium to about 6 miles east of Béthune in northern France (near the towns of La Bassée, Givenchy and Festubert). The southern part of the front, which was defended by British and Portuguese forces, was attacked by the German Sixth Army beginning with a bombardment on the evening of 7 April. German attacks took place at different points along the front in the following three weeks. 

On 18 April the German Sixth Army attacked in the southern sector towards Béthune. The records of the Loyal North Lancashire Regiment for 18 April at La Bassée Canal report:

"The Germans began an intense bombardment of the line at 04:15 hrs that morning, following that by advancing in attack at 08:00 hrs. The Germans were successful in gaining a foothold in the main Divisional line, before C and D Companies of the Loyal North Lancashire Regiment ejected them through vigorous counter-attack. The majority of the line being back in our possession by 11:00 hrs."

Corporal Michael CONDRON (service no. 26919) was killed in action at La Bassée Canal on 18 April 1918.

Michael CONDRON was born in Liverpool in 1897, the eldest child of Michael and Annie (née GILMOUR) CONDRON. He is recorded in the 1911 Census of England at 174 Liverpool Road, Great Crosby, living with his parents and five siblings, and one servant. In 1911 Michael was 13 years old and at school. When he enlisted in the Liverpool Regiment on 20 May 1915, he gave his age as 19 years old and his trade or calling as "seaman". After serving in the Liverpool Regiment and the Machine Gun Corps, he was transferred on 7 September 1916 into the 1st Battalion of the Loyal North Lancashire Regiment.

Michael's father, also called Michael CONDRON, was born in Liverpool in 1864 and died in 1913. In the 1911 Census his occupation was given as Master Contractor; at the time of his death he was a "ship scraper". (Following his death, probate on his estate was granted to Arthur STARK and James CAREW, ship scalers. James Carew's name will occur again shortly.) Michael (senior) married Annie GILMOUR from Edinburgh, though I do not know the date or place of their marriage. Apart from Michael, their children who survived infancy were: Janet (born 1901), Thomas (1903), James Joseph (1905), Eric Robert (1908), Theadora ("Dora", born 1910) and Harold (1912). All were born in or near Liverpool and their births registered in the West Derby Registration District.

Michael's grandparents were Thomas and Jane (née MUIRHEAD) CONDRON. Thomas was born in Dublin in about 1834 and died in Liverpool in 1897. Thomas and Jane had four children that I know of: Michael (1864), Mary Jane (1867), Susannah (1870) and Elizabeth (1879). Thomas and Jane did not get married until 1894, at Holy Trinity Church in Liverpool. According to their marriage registry entry, Thomas's father was Michael CONDRON (deceased), formerly a land steward. 

When Michael CONDRON enlisted, he gave his next of kin as the above-mentioned James CAREW. Consequently, when he was killed in action, his British War Medal and Victory Medal, as well as memorial plaque and memorial scroll, were sent to James CAREW. Michael's service record shows that his mother Annie made an application in 1921 for these items to be returned to her. By that date, she had presumably remarried, as she gave her name as Annie McMAHON and her address as 57 Barracks, King Street, Aberdeen. 

According to Commonwealth War Graves Commission, Michael CONDRON is buried in the Post Office Rifles Cemetery, Festubert, in northern France. 
 
In addition to drawing on my usual sources, I am grateful to Paul McCormick and his web page about Michael CONDRON's service in the Loyal North Lancashire Regiment, from which the above quotation from the regiment's records is taken.

For other blog posts about CONDR*Ns in the First World War, click on "First World War" in the Labels list on the right of the blog web page. Comments and corrections welcome, either by leaving a comment below or by email to me: CONDRAN[AT]ONE-NAME.ORG .  

15901 Sergeant Thomas Arthur CONDRON (1898 - 1918)

Sergeant Thomas Arthur CONDRON (service no. 15901) was killed when he crashed his plane near Gainsborough, Lincolnshire, on 5 February 1918.

The Hull Daily Mail for Friday 8 Feburary 1918 reported:

AIRMAN KILLED IN LINCOLNSHIRE.
A fatal accident occurred to a young airman in Lincolnshire on Tuesday. He had just passed over one of the villages at a high altitude, and appeared to be making a good flight under ideal conditions. He then commenced to come down, and when within 100 ft. or less of the ground the biplane appeared to suddenly tilt sideways and crash to earth. A farm foreman, followed by another farm hand, found the unfortunate man with the engine on top of him. His injuries were serious, and he passed away in a few minutes without regaining consciousness. At the inquest it transpired that the deceased was a second-class mechanic, named T. Condron, of South Farnborough, Hants, and 19 years of age. The jury returned a verdict of Accidental death, and complimented the man Hird upon his praiseworthy conduct.

The Aldershot Military Gazette for Friday 15 February 1918 reported:

FARNBOROUGH AIRMAN'S DEATH AND FUNERAL.
The funeral of Sergeant Thomas Arthur Condron, 19, son of Mr. and Mrs. Condron, of Queen's Road, Farnborough, took place at the Military Cemetery on Saturday with full military honours, the bands of the R.F.C. and A.S.C. attending. Intimate companions of the deceased from Brooklands, Weybridge, acted as pall-bearers.

The young man met his death at Blyton, near Gainsborough, on Tuesday, 5th inst., whilst on his qualifying flight for his pilot's certificate. He was well known and respected in Farnborough, being a server at St. Mark's Church and a member of the Club, joining up in November, 1916. He was a very keen pupil, untiring in his work, promising and fearless and never failing to obtain an excellent report from his flight commanders. 

A TRIBUTE FROM HIS CAPTAIN.
The following is one of the many letters received by [the] deceased's parents, and shows the high appreciation and esteem in which he was held:-

61 Gordon Mansions 
Francis Street, W.C.1
7th Feb. 1918.

Dear Mrs. Condron- It was with very great regret that I learnt to-day of your son's fatal accident, and wish to express to you and your family my sincerest sympathy in your trouble. 

Your son was in my Flight. He was a very keen pupil and took a delight in doing whatever duty he was detailed for - he was always asking to go up, and his one aim was to get his wings as soon as possible. He was always a cheery youngster - it did one a lot of good to see his bright face, when feeling blue. I only wish I could have men like him around me always. I was very interested in him, and I am sure he would have turned out an excellent pilot. 

Had I been able, I should have liked to attend his funeral to-morrow, but unfortunately it is not possible; but I will be with you [in] spirit. 

Again assuring you of my sincerest sympathy. - I remain, sincerely yours,

F.E. SARGOOD, Capt.

The RAF Museum Storyvault has images of two handwritten Casualty Cards which give further details. They record his flight commander's remarks as follows: "On Feb. 5th 1918, at 11.45am I sent 2/am [2nd class air mechanic] T. Condron up on F.E.2.B A5612 [the type of aircraft]. The engine gave 1175 Revs. on the ground. He was up 1 Hr. and crashed 4 miles from Gainsboro'. He appears to have stalled the mach[ine] while attempting a forced landing, for reasons unknown." They also record the verdict of the Court of Inquiry, which seems to have occurred on Aug. 20th 1918: "The court having carefully considered the evidence are of the opinion that the acc[ident] was caused by 2/am Condron stalling his mach[ine] to avoid a tree when attempting to land in a field for some unknown cause."


Thomas Arthur CONDRON was born in 1898 and his birth was registered in the Hartley Wintney Registration District of Hampshire, England.  He was the fifth child born to Andrew and Jane Emily CONDRON. The 1911 census of England shows him, a schoolboy aged 12, living at Marlborough Lines, Aldershot, with his mother and three sisters. At the time of his death in 1918,  he was a 2nd-class air mechanic in the 199th (Night Training) Squadron of the Royal Flying Corps, though various records also indicate that he was a sergeant. Could he have had both ranks? Thomas Arthur CONDRON is buried in the Aldershot Military Cemetery (grave ref. AF 2089).

His parents were married at St. Catherine's Church, Dublin (Church of Ireland) on Dec 7th 1888. His mother's name when she married was Jane Emily CONDRON (born c.1871) , the daughter of Michael CONDRON who was a Colour Sergeant in the 5th Royal Dublin Fusiliers. Jane Emily was born in Meerut, India, according to the 1911 census. There is some confusion about Thomas's father's name. The marriage record indicates that his name was Andrew CONDRON or MOLLOY (born c.1870 in Dublin, died 1940 in Surrey, England), the son of Andrew MOLLOY. At the time, Andrew junior was a Drummer in the Royal Dublin Fusiliers. The marriage certificates of two of his daughters give his full name variously as Andrew Patrick Michal CONDRON and Andrew Arthur CONDRON.

Andrew and Jane Emily CONDRON had nine children: Florence Emily (born 1888), Michael Andrew (1890), Alice Violet (1895), Emily Christina (1896), Thomas Arthur (1898), Gladys Melita (1905), Mercia Alexandra (1907), Gertrude Jane (1910) and Constance Vera (1912). Their first four children were born in Dublin. As already noted, Thomas Arthur was born in England, as were Gertrude Jane and Constance Vera. Gladys Melita was born in Malta, and Mercia Alexandra was born in Alexandria, Egypt, presumably while Andrew was serving abroad with the military.


In addition to my usual sources, I am grateful for information about Thomas Arthur CONDRON found at the Royal Air Force Commands, RAF Museum Storyvault and Sussex History Forum web sites.

For other blog posts about CONDR*Ns in the First World War, click on "First World War" in the Labels list on the right of the blog web page. Comments and corrections welcome, either by leaving a comment below or by email to me: CONDRAN[AT]ONE-NAME.ORG .

36779 Private Herbert CONDRON (1892 - 1917)

Even after the Battle of Passchendaele (3rd Battle of Ypres) ended on 10 November 1917, the two sides continued to conduct operations in the area and to inflict and suffer casualties. Bellevue, to the west of the village of Passchendaele, had been the site of terrible casualties suffered by New Zealand forces during the Battle of Passchendaele. On the night of the 2/3 December 1917 the 2nd Battalion of the Manchester Regiment was ordered to move to Belle Vue (Bellevue) in support of the 96th and 97th Infantry Brigades. At 7pm on 3 December the Germans shelled Bellevue very heavily killing 2 and wounding 4 others, according to the war diary of the battalion. Probably, Private Herbert CONDRON was one of those killed then.


Private Herbert CONDRON (service no. 36779) was killed in action on 3 December 1917 in West Flanders, Belgium.

Herbert CONDRON born in 1892 in Chorlton-on-Medlock, Manchester. He was the 11th child of Hugh and Elizabeth Emma (née JACKSON) CONDRON. In the 1911 UK census,  he is living at home in Chorlton with his parents, two brothers and five sisters, and his occupation is recorded as "boot finisher casual". His war record shows that he served in the 26th Manchester Regiment, 11th Manchester Regiment and 2nd Manchester Regiment.

Herbert’s father Hugh CONDRON was born in 1852 in Manchester, and died in Manchester in 1934. His occupation is described in various censuses as "packer". He married Elizabeth Emma JACKSON in Manchester in 1872. The couple had thirteen children: Mary Jane (born 1873), Susannah (1874), Joseph (1876), John (1877), Hugh (1880), Elizabeth Emma (1882), Emily (1886), William (1886), Annie (1889), Bertha (1891), Herbert (1892), James (1894) and Lillie (1896).

Herbert's grandfather was Patrick CONDRON. Patrick was born in Dublin in about 1818, and died in Manchester in 1889. He married Susannah MULLIN in Manchester in 1844 and the couple had at least six children: Thomas (born 1847), Mary Ann (1848), John (1850), Hugh (1852), Susannah (1856) and Lucy (1860).

Herbert CONDRON is memorialized on the Tyne Cot Memorial in Belgium.


For other blog posts about CONDR*Ns in the First World War, click on "First World War" in the Labels list on the right of the blog web page. Comments and corrections welcome, either by leaving a comment below or by email to me: CONDRAN[AT]ONE-NAME.ORG . 

 

3956 Rifleman Michael CONDRON (1895 - 1917)

Unfortunately I do not know the circumstances of Michael CONDRON’s death, except that he died on 2 December 1917 and his name appears on the Tyne Cot Memorial in West Flanders, Belgium. I think it likely that he was killed in action near Passchendaele. The Battle of Passchendaele (also known as the Third Battle of Ypres) took place between July and November 1917 for control of the ridges south and east of the city of Ypres. The Allied forces captured Passchendaele in November, and the official end of the battle was 10 November 1917. However, FirstWorldWar.com states that on the 2 December 1917 there was “further fighting north of Passchendaele”. I suspect that it was in this action that Michael CONDRON was killed.

Rifleman Michael CONDRON (service no. 3956) was killed in action on 2 December 1917 in West Flanders, Belgium.

Michael Joseph CONDRON was born in 1895 in the Dublin City. He was the son of Patrick and Bridget (née MURTAGH) CONDRON. In the 1911 census he is living in his parent’s household in Summerhill, Mountjoy, Dublin, and his occupation is recorded as a “vanboy” delivering mineral water. The family was likely in a difficult financial situation: both his father and elder brother are recorded as being unemployed, while his other siblings are recorded as being at school; so Michael’s would have been the only salary coming into the household. Michael enlisted in the Royal Irish Rifles at Clonmel, Co. Tipperary. At some point he was awarded the Military Medal. At the time of his death in 1917 he was in the 1^st Battalion, attached to the 25^th Trench Mortar Battery.

Michael’s father Patrick CONDRON was born in about 1870. He married Bridget MURTAGH at St. Nicholas’s Roman Catholic Church, Dublin, on 9 February 1890. At the time of his marriage, Patrick’s occupation was “tobacco labourer”. His occupation is recorded in the 1901 and 1911 censuses respectively as “factory labourer” and “general labourer unemployed”. Patrick and Bridget had eight children: Margaret (born 1890), William Patrick (1892), Michael Joseph (1895), Patrick (1896), Terence Joseph (1899), Joseph (1901), Mary Jane (1904) and Christopher Joseph (1906).

Michael’s grandfather was William CONDRON. I know nothing of him except that, on Patrick CONDRON’s marriage certificate in 1890, William’s occupation is recorded as “shoemaker”.

Michael CONDRON is memorialized on the Tyne Cot Memorial in Belgium.

For other blog posts about CONDR*Ns in the First World War, click on "First World War" in the Labels list on the right of the blog web page. Comments and corrections welcome, either by leaving a comment below or by email to me: CONDRAN[AT]ONE-NAME.ORG .  I would particularly welcome further information about Michael CONDRON's war service and where he died.

3045 Private Humphrey CONDRAN (1893 - 1917)

The Battle of Messines was an offensive conducted by the British Second Army against the Germans near the village of Messines in West Flanders, Belgium. The objective was to capture the Messines-Wytschaete Ridge to the south of Ypres, which was in German possession and which threatened the south flank of the Allies-held Ypres salient. In preparation for the attack, British sappers dug tunnels and laid mines under the German front lines. The battle started early on the morning of 4 June 1917, the mines were detonated, British artillery began a creeping barrage of fire against the German defenses, and British tanks and infantry troops (including Australian and New Zealand forces) began the assault on the front lines.
The assault secured its objectives in the first twelve hours, and in the following days a German counter-offensive was resisted. The battle is generally reckoned to have been a tactical and operational success for the Allies. Nonetheless, by the end of battle on 14 June, casualties on each side amounted to about 25,000 men. The Allied losses included nearly 5,000 New Zealand casualties and 6,000 Australian casualties.
The Battle of Messines was a prelude to the much larger Third Battle of Ypres, which began the following month.

Private Humphrey N. A. CONDRAN (service no. 3045) was killed in action on 9 June 1917 in the Battle of Messines.

Humphrey Neville Austin CONDRAN (his second name is variously recorded as Neville, Netherval and Netwille) was born in Bundarra, New South Wales, in 1893, the sixth child of Thomas Henry and Ellen Winifred (née O’HERAN or O’HERAU) CONDRAN. Humphrey ("Humpsy") was a stock inspector at the time he enlisted in the Australian Infantry, 25^th Battalion. He left Australia on the ship HMAT Itonus on 30 December 1915. At the time of his death, he was serving in the 47^th Batallion. Sergeant White of 47^th Battalion C Company reported, “Condran and Randall were both in my section XII platoon and were with Pte. T. Hara killed outright whilst on the advance at Messines going over to Owl Trench. They were killed by one shell and the pioneers buried them where they fell and erected crosses. I saw them killed.”

Humphrey’s father Thomas Henry CONDRAN was born in 1854, and died in 1911 in Murwillumbah, NSW. He was a policeman. He married Ellen Winifred O’HERAN in Maitland, NSW, in 1876. The couple had twelve children: Frederick (born 1877), Edwin Thomas (1878), Albert Clarence Clive (1880), Gertrude Jessie (1885), Pearl (1891), Humphrey Neville Austin (1893), Louis Osric (1895), Evelyn (1899), Dulcie (1902), Alma (1904), Victor (1908) and Roma Jean (1909).

Humphrey’s grandfather was Michael CONDRAN, who settled in Australia from Ireland. See CONDRANs in New South Wales.  

Humphrey CONDRAN is memorialized on the Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial in Belgium.


For other blog posts about CONDR*Ns in the First World War, click on "First World War" in the Labels list on the right of the blog web page. Comments and corrections welcome, either by leaving a comment below or by email to me: CONDRAN[AT]ONE-NAME.ORG . 

 

1914: one hundred years on

Exactly one hundred years ago today, on June 28th 1914, Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria was assassinated in Sarajevo by Yugoslav nationalist Gavrilo Princip. It was an event that quickly precipitated the start of the First World War (1914-1918).

I shall be taking a short summer break from my series of blog posts commemorating the 17 CONDR*Ns who gave their lives serving in that war. I have seven more still to write about.

On a happier note, I see from my database that there were 30 CONDR*Ns born in the British Isles in 1914: 15 in Ireland, 11 in England, 3 in Scotland and 1 in Wales. Of these, two were CONDRENs (one each in Northumberland and in County Kilkenny) and 28 were CONDRONs. The greatest concentration was in Dublin, with two born in Dublin North and three in Dublin South. The most popular boys' name was James (3) and the most popular girls' name was Margaret (3). Other names included Cecil, Herbert, Hubert, Irene, Ivy, Jessie and Olive.

24941 Private Thomas CONDRON (1880 – 1917)

On 9 April 1917 the British armies in northern France embarked on what they hoped would be the decisive, final campaign of the war. On that date, British forces (including Canadian and Australian forces) attacked the German defensive lines to begin the Battle of Arras.

The shaded area shows the ground gained during the Battle of Arras. Courtesy of www.1914-1918.net .

The first day was a great success for the Allies. The Canadians attacked and captured a large part of Vimy ridge. Elsewhere, almost the whole of the German first-line front was captured. In particular, the 4^th Division of the Third Army pushed forward and captured Fampoux, about 3 miles to the east of Arras.

The early successes were not sustained. From 10 April onwards, the Allies came up against renewed German resistance, and initially the artillery of the Third Army was too far back to support its infantry. Tanks were deployed but were too few in number to be effective. The 1^st Battalion of the Royal Irish Fusiliers, with a fighting strength of 20 officers and 617 men, was part of the 4^th Division. The Battalion’s war diary notes that 11 April was a snowy morning. On that day, the Battalion was to push forward from a point north of Fampoux in an advance of over 2000 yards. However, the troops came under heavy fire and suffered severely. The Battalion lost 11 officers and 307 men in the action.

By the time the battle officially ended, the British had made significant advances but had failed to make the decisive breakthrough.

Private Thomas CONDRON (service 24941) died on 11 April 1917 in the Battle of Arras.

Thomas CONDRON was born in Dublin in about 1880 (possibly early 1881), the fourth child of Thomas and Anne (née WHELAN) CONDRON. In the 1911 census of Ireland, Thomas is recorded as a coal labourer and is living at home in Dublin with his widowed father, one brother and a married sister. Thomas moved to Scotland and married Susan COURTNEY in 1914 in Glasgow. The couple had three children: Thomas (born 1914), Michael (1915) and James Patrick (1917). Thomas joined the Royal Irish Fusiliers and was subsequently transferred to the 1^st Battalion.

Thomas’s father was Thomas CONDRON, born in about 1853 in County Wexford. Thomas (senior) married Anne WHELAN in 1873 in the registration district of Gorey. The couple had seven children: Anne (1873) who married Patrick MITTEN, Michael (1876), Julia (1878) who married Denis McGRATH, Thomas (1880), Mary (1884) who married Michael CONNOLLY, Peter (1888) and Sarah (1891). Thomas (senior) was listed as a general labourer in the 1901 census and a brewery labourer in the 1911 census.

Thomas CONDRON is buried in Brown’s Copse Cemetery, Roeux, in northern France.

(Note that the Commonwealth War Graves Commission has him wrongly listed as J. CONDRON and has his date of death as 16 April, though other sources give 11 April).

For other blog posts about CONDR*Ns in the First World War, click on "First World War" in the Labels list on the right of the blog web page. Comments and corrections welcome, either by leaving a comment below or by email to me: CONDRAN[AT]ONE-NAME.ORG .

3046 Private Hugh CONDRON (1890 – 1916)

For my earlier postings about the Battle of the Somme, including the Battle of Pozières, click here.

Private Hugh CONDRON (service no. 3046) was killed in action on 18 August 1916 in the fight for Pozières during the Battle of the Somme.

Hugh Hume CONDRON was born in Boorhaman, Victoria, Australia, in 1890. He was the son of John CONDRON and Anne Maria WRIGHT.  He married Maud Agnes HAMILL in 1912. The couple had three children: Harold, Alan Thomas and Gladys Evelyn. Hugh enlisted on Jul 27, 1915, in Melbourne. After first being assigned to the 4th Depot Battalion, he was eventually transferred to the 8th Battalion, Australian Infantry (Australian Imperial Force - AIF).

Hugh's father was John CONDRON, who was born about 1835 and died in 1908 in Wangaratta, Victoria. John married Anne Maria WRIGHT in 1864 and the couple had a number of children, including Isabela (born 1871), Elizabeth (1873), William (1876), Robert (1879), George (1881), Henry (1884), James (1887), Hugh Hume (1890) and Harold Reginald (1893). All of the above children were born in Wangaratta, Victoria, except for Isabella who was born in Oxley, Victoria. According to one of my correspondents, the couple also had children Mary Agnus (1866) and John Thomas (1869), both born in Oxley. The report of John CONDRON's death in the Albury Banner and Wodonga Express (November 20, 1908) states, "Mr. John Condron, aged 73 years, died at his residence in Templeton Street. The deceased served as a gunner in the Indian mutiny." The Indian mutiny  took place in 1857.

Hugh's grandparents were Thomas and Elizabeth CONDRON. According to various online family trees, this couple are the same Thomas and Eliza (née McGOVERN) CONDRON who migrated from Co. Cavan, Ireland, and about whom I have blogged previously.

Hugh CONDRON is memorialized on the Villers-Bretonneux Memorial, in northern France.

For other blog posts about CONDR*Ns in the First World War, click on "First World War" in the Labels list on the right of the blog web page. Comments and corrections welcome, either by leaving a comment below or by email to me: CONDRAN[AT]ONE-NAME.ORG .  I would particularly like to receive firm evidence that John CONDRON is indeed the son of Thomas and Eliza (née McGOVERN) CONDRON.

4/8173 Private Arthur CONDRON (1897 – 1916)

I wrote in my last blog post about the first weeks of the Battle of the Somme. After the initial phase, the offensive evolved into a series of battles for prominent towns, woods and high grounds. Significant amongst these were the Battle of Delville Wood (14 July – 3 September 1916) and the Battle of Pozieres (23 July – 7 August 1916).

The Battle of Delville Wood, which involved an Allied offensive and German counter-offensive, was one of the last examples of close hand-to-hand infantry fighting on the Western Front. Casualties were high on both sides. Notable is the heroic action of the South African 1^st Infantry Brigade, which suffered 80% casualties but held the wood. Amongst the British troops involved in the battle were the 3^rd Division of the Fourth Army under General Rawlinson, including the West Yorkshire Regiment.

The Battle of Pozières involved the 1^st Australian Division (Australian Imperial Force) as well as British troops. The fortified village of Pozières was captured by the Australian forces early in the battle, and the village was held against heavy German bombardment in the days that followed. The Australians lost as many men in the Battle of Pozières as in the whole of the Gallipoli campaign.

The Somme offensive was also notable for the first deployment of tanks on the battlefield by the British. Tanks were used in the battles of Flers-Courcelette, Morval and Thiepval Ridge.

The Battle of the Somme continued through September and October until the middle of November. Particularly in the latter stages of the battle, the Allied forces made what by then seemed significant advances. But overall, the gains by the Allies amounted to advancing the front line by a few miles. The total combined casualties on both sides in the battle, though still debated, undoubtedly amounted to more than one million men, including three hundred thousand killed. In human lives, it was one of the costliest battles in history.

Private Arthur CONDRON (service no. 4/8173) died on 18 August 1916 in the Battle of the Somme.

Arthur CONDRON was born in Leeds in 1897, the third child of Thomas and Mary Ann (née THAXTER) CONDRON. In the 1911 UK census, Arthur is recorded as a steam hammer driver and is living at home with his parents, brother and two sisters. Arthur enlisted in the West Yorkshire Regiment (“Prince of Wales’s Own”) in Leeds and, at the time of his death, was serving in its 12^th Battalion.

Arthur’s father Thomas CONDRON was born in Aldershot in 1858: his birth is registered as Thomas CONDRAN in the registration district of Farnham in the second quarter of that year. In the 1871 census he is recorded as a valet in Portsea, near Portsmouth. In 1877 he enlisted for a 12-year term of duty in the British Army, at which time his occupation was recorded as seaman, and he served in India (1877-78, 1880-85, 1887-89), Afghanistan (1878-1880) and Burma (1885-87). Thomas was discharged from the army in 1889, and married Mary Ann THAXTER on 2 June 1890 at St. George’s church, Leeds. The couple had four children: Thomas Francis (born 1891), Elsie Margaret (1894), Arthur (1897) and Gladys (1901). All four children were baptised at Christchurch, Leeds. Thomas is recorded as an inspector of telegraph messages (1891), town postman (1911) and attendant (1920): he died in 1938, and Mary Ann died the following year.

Arthur’s grandfather was also a Thomas CONDRON, and according to Arthur’s parents' marriage certificate, Thomas CONDRON senior was a tailor.

Arthur CONDRON is memorialized on the Thiepval Memorial in northern France.

For other blog posts about CONDR*Ns in the First World War, click on "First World War" in the Labels list on the right of the blog web page. Comments and corrections welcome, either by leaving a comment below or by email to me: CONDRAN[AT]ONE-NAME.ORG

A/7579 Private Patrick CONDRON (1894 - 1916)

The Battle of the Somme (1 July – 18 November 1916) still has a particular resonance, especially in the United Kingdom. It was one of the costliest battles of the First World War in human lives, with more than one million casualties and more than 300,000 killed or missing. On the first day alone, British forces suffered 57,000 casualties including more than 19,000 men killed.   

The location of the Somme offensive in northern France was chosen in large part because it was planned as a join French-British action where the forces of the two allies were both engaged on the front line. It was not ideal militarily, since the German front line was strong there and commanded the high ground. British Commander-in-Chief General Haig would have preferred to mount an attack further north in Belgium. In fact, the Somme offensive was largely a British military action because the German offensive of 1916 against Verdun drew French efforts away to defend against that.

The area of the Battle of the Somme, showing the Allied front line on 1 July 1916 (solid line) and on 19 November (dashed line). Image courtesy of Cruttenden Connections.

The initial battle plan was founded in the optimistic conceit that the bombardment of the German lines by Allied artillery would cut the barbed-wire defences and leave no-one alive in the opposing trenches, meaning that the infantry troops of the British Fourth Army would be able to cross no-mans land and take the German trenches unopposed. In fact, many German troops saw out a week of artillery bombardment sheltering in dug-outs. Thus on the fateful morning of 1 July 1916, as the British infantry advanced from their trenches at 7.30am and walked across no-mans land, they were assailed by machine-gun fire from the German front line. The British battalions advanced at a slow walk, wave after wave in slow formation, their rifles held aslant in front of them with bayonets upwards. By the end of the day, many of the battalions (initially one thousand men strong) were left with hardly one hundred men.

Although the British barely made any advance around Thiepval, on the left and right flanks they had greater success. The British commanders were slow to capitalize on those successes in the coming days, but General Rawlinson leading the Fourth Army subsequently formed a plan to break through the German defences on the right in the area of Longueval. Advancing under cover of darkness after a brief artillery bombardment, the British troops started an assault early on 14 July against the Bazentin Ridge, and eventually captured Longueval on 18 July. The 33^rd Division, including the 1^st Battalion of the Cameronians (Scottish Rifles), were part of that action and the attack on High Wood on 20 July.

I shall write more of the Battle of the Somme in my next posting.

Private Patrick CONDRON (service no. A/7579) was killed in action on 20 July 1916 in the Battle of the Somme.

Patrick CONDRON was born in Queen’s County, Ireland, in late 1894, and baptised in Doonane Roman Catholic parish. His parents were Michael and Catherine (née KELLY) CONDRON. He moved with his family to Scotland, where he is listed in the 1901 census for New Monkland, Lanarkshire. In the 1911 census he is a coal miner (hewer) living in New Monkland with his father, two brothers and four sisters. Patrick enlisted in Maryborough, Queen’s County, with the Leinster Regiment (service no. 3157). At the time of his death he was serving in the 1^st Battalion of the Cameronians (Scottish Rifles).

Michael CONDRON and Catherine (Kate) KELLY married on 22 October 1893 in Mayo church in the parish of Doonane, Queen’s County, Ireland. Michael is recorded as a miner in the 1901 Scottish census and as a coal miner (hewer) in the 1911 census. Catherine, who was born in about 1874, died in the first months of 1911. The couple had the following children: Patrick (1894), Mary (1896), Elizabeth (1898) and Bridget (1900), all born in Ireland; and Catherine, John and Michael, all born in New Monkland, Scotland.

Patrick CONDRON’s grandfather was also a Michael CONDRON. It seems likely that Patrick’s father Michael was baptised in Doonane in 1870. In that case, Patrick’s grandmother was Mary KEATING. Michael CONDRON and Mary KEATING married in Doonane in 1857. They had a number of children, including Mary (1858), John (1859), Michael (1870), Alicia (1872), James (1874), John (1876), Catherine (1878) and Bernard (1882). Michael CONDRON senior was a farmer, according to Michael CONDRON junior’s marriage certificate.

Patrick CONDRON is buried in the London Cemetery and Extension, Longueval, northern France.

The London Cemetery and Extension, Longueval (courtesy http://www.cwgc.org)

For other blog posts about CONDR*Ns in the First World War, click on "First World War" in the Labels list on the right of the blog web page. Comments and corrections welcome, either by leaving a comment below or by email to me: CONDRAN[AT]ONE-NAME.ORG

4525 Corporal Frank CONDRON (1894 - 1915)

The Battle of Loos took place on the Western Front between 25 September 1915 and 14 October 1915. It was part of a larger plan by the French and British to break through the German defensive lines and take a major offensive action which would also give some relief to Russia, which was embattled with Germany on the Eastern Front.

Amongst the western Allies at this time, France had superior numbers of men and artillery in the field, and the British Expeditionary Force was very much the junior partner. When Commander-in-Chief Joffre proposed the plan, British commander Sir John French had little choice but to comply. Joffre contended that the British attack would “find particularly favourable ground between Loos and La Bassée”. When the Commander of First Army, Sir Douglas Haig, inspected the area, he reported back to Sir John that the ground was quite unsuited to a large attack. Sir John French, under strong pressure from Joffre, ignored Haig’s advice. The attack (“the Big Push”) around Loos, north of the mining town of Lens, went ahead, with the British First Army and the French Tenth Army to their south attacking eastwards against the entrenched German Sixth Army.

The German trench defences consisted of a front line and a second line. British bombardment of the German lines started on 21 September and continued until the ground assault began on 25 September. The Battle of Loos was the first occasion that the British used chlorine gas as a weapon. The Germans had used it earlier in 1915 first against the Russians and then in April and May on the Western Front. However, delivery of the gas depended on wind direction, and on this occasion it probably impacted the British troops as much as the intended targets. At 06:30 on 25 September, British infantry units moved out from their front lines and advanced across no-man’s land. Casualties were severe as the advancing troops came under heavy fire, though in places the British did achieve their first objective of taking the German front trenches. Troops involved on that first day included the 2nd Battalion of the Border Regiment, which as part of 7th Division formed part of I Corps of the British First Army. They were engaged in the attack near Hulluch, to the north-east of Loos.

The early successes could not be capitalized upon. Two divisions of reserve troops, which Haig had requested to be stationed close to the front line for quick deployment, were instead stationed 16 miles behind the front. The reserves were therefore not able to join battle until the afternoon of 25 September and the opportunity to push the attack on had been lost. Strong resistance in the German second line had brought the attack to a halt. The Big Push had broken into the German positions, but not through them.

The British suffered 60,000 casualties in the Battle of Loos including over 2,000 officers. Nearly 8,000 British troops died. The Scottish Divisions (9th and 15th Divisions) suffered particularly heavy casualties.  By the end of the year, Sir John French had resigned and Sir Douglas Haig had been appointed Commander-in-Chief of the British Expeditionary Force.


Acting Corporal Frank CONDRON (service no. 4525) was killed in action on 25 September 1915 in the Battle of Loos, northern France.

Francis John (Frank) CONDRON was born in 1894 in the West Derby registration district of Liverpool. He was the son of Francis Patrick and Mary Ellen (née HAY) CONDRON. In the 1911 census of England and Wales, Frank is living in Salford with his parents and seven younger siblings (four brothers and three sisters): his occupation is given as “cart lad” on the railway. Frank joined the Border Regiment and served in its 2nd Battalion.

Francis Patrick CONDRON and Mary Ellen HAY married in 1893 in the West Derby registration district of Liverpool. Francis’s occupation is given as “furniture porter” in the 1901 census and as “ships boiler scaler” in 1911. The couple had at least nine children: Francis John (born 1894) and Robert (1896) born in Liverpool; Lilian Winifred (1898), Thomas Baden P. (1900, possibly died 1902) and William Daniel (1901) all born in Colwyn Bay; Mary Jane (1903) born in Liverpool; and Michael (1905), Thomas (1907) and Amelia (1910, died 1912) all born in Salford.

Frank CONDRON’s grandfather was Francis CONDRON, who was born in Dublin in about 1842 and died in Salford in 1921. Francis was a color sergeant in the army, as recorded in the censuses for 1871 and 1881. Francis married Ellen BOURKE in Limerick in 1863, and the couple had at least seven children: Anne (born 1864 in Limerick), Amelia Emily (born in about 1866 in the East Indies), John Joseph (born 1869 in Chatham), Francis Patrick (born 1871 in Aldershot), Thomas Michael (boon 1874 in Devonport), Albert Edward (born 1877 in Newport, Monmouthshire) and William Henry (born 1882 in Liverpool).

Frank CONDRON is memorialized on the Loos Memorial, Pas de Calais, northern France.

For other blog posts about CONDR*Ns in the First World War, click on "First World War" in the Labels list on the right of the blog web page. Comments and corrections welcome, either by leaving a comment below or by email to me: CONDRAN[AT]ONE-NAME.ORG

3015 Private Lawrence CONDREN (1877 - 1915)

I have written previously about the Gallipoli campaign from its beginning through June 1915. In July 1915, the British government decided to send a further five divisions of troops to strengthen the seven divisions already on the Gallipoli peninsula. The land forces commander, Sir Ian Hamilton, planned an operation to  sever the middle of the peninsula with attacks from both Anzac Cove and Sulva Bay, five miles to the north of Anzac. Troops landed at Sulva Bay on 6 August and initially took the Turkish forces by surprise, but the offensive failed and the Allied forces found themselves pinned down. New Australian troops landed at Anzac in August and September. But soon the autumn rains came, and in London the British government began to explore withdrawing Allied forces from Gallipoli. Hamilton opposed the withdrawal plan, and was promptly replaced as commander by Sir Charles Munro. Lord Kitchener visited the peninsula in November and decided that evacuation was inevitable. Troops were withdrawn from Anzac and Sulva in mid-December 1915, and the last Allied troops were withdrawn from Helles on the night of 8 January 1916. The Gallipoli campaign was over.

In his History of the First World War, Liddell Hart writes, “Thus the curtain rang down on a sound and far-sighted conception, marred by a chain of errors in execution almost unrivalled even in British history.”

Estimates of the total casualties in the Gallipoli campaign vary, but one source estimates that the Allied casualties (excluding those due to illness) were 56,700 dead (including nearly 9,000 Australians and over 2,700 New Zealanders) and 123,600 wounded. The numbers of casualties amongst the Turkish troops were similar.

Private Lawrence CONDREN (service no. 3015) was killed in action on 15 August 1915 in Gallipoli. Lawrence CONDREN was born in 1877 in Cardiff, Wales, and was christened on 12 September of that year at St. David’s Roman Catholic church. He was the son of David and Sarah (nee ROSSER) CONDREN.

David CONDREN (born 1850, died 1916) married Sarah ROSSER (born about 1849, died 1909) in Cardiff in 1870. David was a ships’ rigger. The couple had a number of children in Cardiff, including Rosavena (born 1872), Mary Jane (1875), Lawrence or Laurence (1877), William (1883) and Arthur (1890). Other children could be David, Albert and Violet.

Lawrence’s grandfather was William CONDREN (born about 1824), who married Jane NEWTON in 1849 at St. Mary the Virgin’s church, Cardiff. I have written previously about this family.

Lawrence CONDREN joined the Royal Munster Fusiliers, and served in “C” Company, 6^th Battalion. He was killed in action on the Gallipoli peninsula on 15 August 1915. He is memorialized on the Helles Memorial, Turkey.

For other blog posts about CONDR*Ns in the First World War, click on "First World War" in the Labels list on the right of the blog web page. Comments and corrections welcome, either by leaving a comment below or by email to me: CONDRAN[AT]ONE-NAME.ORG

9249 Private John CONDRON (1898 - 1915)

I wrote previously about the beginning of the Gallipoli campaign (see here). The Allies had missed what opportunity there might initially have been on 25-26 April to make rapid advances inland from the less well-defended landing beaches. Now, with the Turkish defenders reinforced, the campaign became one of trench warfare, much like on the Western Front. The conditions as experienced by the ordinary soldier are well described in the original diaries of Private Horace Bruckshaw (Royal Marine LightInfantry).

In the following weeks, the Allied troops who had landed at Cape Helles made painfully slow advances up the tip of the peninsula. The 1^st Battalion Royal Dublin Fusiliers (the “1^st Dublins”) suffered such grave losses between 25 April and 30 April that they were reduced to a single officer and 374 men (from an initial strength of 25 officers and over 900 men). The numbers of casualties were so great that on 30 April the 1^st Dublins and the 1^st Battalion Munster Fusiliers, who had also suffered enormous casualties, were amalgamated. The composite battalion became known as the “Dubsters”. On 19 May, some reinforcements arrived and the 1^st Dublins were reconstituted as a separate unit.

The Allies slowly advanced on Krithia, a small town on the slopes of Achi Baba. Private Bruckshaw described Krithia as looking “very quaint and picturesque from our front line of trenches”. But he went on to explain, “I have not yet had the privilege of seeing it from a nearer point owing to the strenuous resistance of the Turks”. The Irish troops were very much in the midst of the action. Another witness  recounts in late May: “We got to the spot at Achi Baba where the Munsters and the Dublin Fusiliers, during a gallant advance, had been enfiladed by machine-gun fire, and literally mown down. From the trench we had occupied we could see the men lying just as they had fallen, while trying to take cover. There they were, on the open ground, absolutely riddled with bullets … .” A witness account for 21 June reads, “I passed in The Gully what remained of the Dublin Fusiliers, less than a company”.

Private John CONDRON (service no. 9249) was killed in action on 15 June 1915 in Gallipoli. John CONDRON was born in 1898, south of Dublin. He was the son of John and Mary (née WALSHE) CONDRON. John is described as a “labourer” in the 1911 census for Edmondstown village, Whitechurch, Dublin, where he is living with his parents, four brothers and two sisters. Subsequently he joined up in the 1^st Battalion Royal Dublin Fusiliers.

John’s father, also John CONDRON (born about 1853), married Mary WALSH(E) (born about 1870) on 14 November 1892, south of Dublin. The couple had at least ten children, of whom I know of eight: Michael Joseph (born 1893), Bridget Mary (1895), Mary Teresa (1896), John (1898), Patrick (1901), James (1905), William (1907) and Susan (1910).

John senior is described as a labourer in the 1901 and 1911 censuses. I believe that Mary WALSHE was probably his second wife, and that he previously married a Margaret CROTTY in 1885. That couple had a daughter, Margaret Mary, born in 1886. This child as well as Bridget Mary and Mary Teresa were all baptised at Bohernabreena church, south-west of Dublin.

John CONDRON was killed in action on the Gallipoli peninsula on 15 June 1915, aged 16, and is buried in the Twelve Tree Copse Cemetery, Turkey.

For other blog posts about CONDR*Ns in the First World War, click on "First World War" in the Labels list on the right of the blog web page. Comments and corrections welcome, either by leaving a comment below or by email to me: CONDRAN[AT]ONE-NAME.ORG

7401 Private Martin CONDRON (1889 - 1915)

I wrote last time about the Gallipoli Campaign. For more details of the origins and first days of that campaign, click here.

Private Martin CONDRON (service no. 7401) was killed in action on 26 April 1915 at Cape Helles, Gallipoli. Martin Andrew CONDRON was born on 26 November 1889, at Newarthill Bridge, near Holytown, Lanarkshire, in Scotland. He was the son of Patrick and Mary (née LAWLOR) CONDRON.

Martin came from a long line of coal miners. His father died in the Holytown registration district when Martin was 7 years old, and his mother remarried in 1899, to a James O’NEILL. In the 1901 census for Holytown, Martin is living with his mother and stepfather, two sisters and a half-sister. Two years later, when Martin was 13, his mother died. In the 1911 census for Prestonpans, near Edinburgh, Martin is boarding in the household of a Michael Corrie and his occupation is given as “coal miner – hewer”. It was in Prestonpans that Martin enlisted in the 1^st Battalion, King’s Own Scottish Borderers.

Martin’s parents, Patrick CONDRON and Mary LAWLOR, were married in Cleland, Lanarkshire, on 30 October 1886. Patrick’s occupation is given as coal miner, both in the 1881 census and on his marriage certificate. The couple had three children: Martin Andrew (1889), Maria (1895) and Catherine (1897).

His grandfather, Patrick CONDRON, was born in about 1837, probably in Ireland. He married Maria GORMLY on 21 February 1859, in Linlithgow, Scotland. The couple had at least two children: Mary (born 1859) and Martin’s father Patrick (1861).

Martin’s great-grandparents were Patrick CONRAN and Dorothia (alternatively Dora, Dolly) BYRNE. Patrick was a coal miner in Doonane, Queen’s County, Ireland, and the couple were married there in 1816. Patrick died sometime before 1859; his widow, Dolly, died in Shotts, Lanarkshire, in 1874. (Her maiden name is recorded as BURNS, more familiar than BYRNE in Scotland.) Several of their children moved to Scotland and lived in the mining community of Shotts.

The 1^st Battalion, King’s Own Scottish Borderers, sailed from Avonmouth, England, on 18 March 1915 and landed at Cape Helles on Gallipoli on 25 April 1915. Martin CONDRON was killed in action there on 26 April 1915, and is memorialized on the Helles Memorial, Turkey.

For other blog posts about CONDR*Ns in the First World War, click on "First World War" in the Labels list on the right of the blog web page. Comments and corrections welcome, either by leaving a comment below or by email to me: CONDRAN[AT]ONE-NAME.ORG