A Mullingar student is appealing for assistance from the public, as he prepares to represent his school and county in an upcoming history expedition on World War One.
A self-confessed history enthusiast, 15-year-old Mullingar Community College student Bailey Patchell has a particular fondness for war history. “Anything to do with war history, chances are I can talk to you about it. I’ve been a history fanatic since I was very young. My shelves at home are filled with books ranging from the Roman period to tThe Gulf War.”
It is with his liking for war history that Bailey is busy putting the final pieces of a project, together. The project, called “Adopt a WWI Soldier,” will see one student from every county in Ireland study the life of a solider from their area who fought in the First World War.
Under the guidance of his history teacher, Simon Tighe, Bailey is studying the life of a Private Dunne from Number 5 Barrack Street, who served in the Somme. With a huge array of work and study put into his subject, Bailey is missing all but one detail – the first name of Private Dunne. “After researching the project in local libraries, I discovered that there were numerous Private Dunnes who served in the same regiment of the same Irish unit! I’m appealing to the family of any Dunnes who served the First World War to provide any further information they might have.” Along with his vast array of project work, Bailey also discovered that the name of Private Dunne’s mother was Margaret Dunne. “It’s proving a difficult task so hopefully I’ll find some luck,” said an eager Bailey, who is set to travel to Belgium and France in June with the other 31 students on a World War One expedition, ‘The Somme Battlefield Trip’. During the visit, each student will visit either the grave or monument in the Somme region to honour the memory of his/her soldier. The trip will also include a visit to the European Parliament.
“It will be surreal to be walking in some of the most historical war sites in the world, especially studying them to such extent in school,” enthused Bailey.
Originally from Tallaght, Mullingar has been Bailey’s home since he was 9. His family, he says, has a history steeped in military history. “I’d great uncles who died in both the First and Second World War. One of these died during the Battle of the Somme around 1916 while serving as part of the Irish regiment. Another great uncle died near Callais.”
With his Leaving Cert taking place in 2016, young Bailey, already planning his future career, has his after-school life planned with military precision. “I’ve an interest in entering the military and going on to become an officer cadet in the Irish army. I’d also love to do a couple of tours abroad and teach ancient or classical history in university.”