The two Sligo men who lost their lives on Armistice Day.

Simone Hickey, MA Historical and Heritage Studies writes:

When the bells tolled at 11 minutes past 11 on the 11th day of the 11th month in 1918 the Great War officially ended. However, it was not the end of the death toll. In the days, weeks, months and years to come, thousands more would die as a direct result of the Great War.

Patrick Murray

Patrick Murray was born 8 March 1896 in Doocastle Co. Sligo. He emigrated to America, working as a porter in Sears Roebuck, a large department store in Chicago, Illinois. He received his naturalisation card in June 1918 making him eligible for draft. He was sent overseas as a Private First Class in the 124th Machine Gun Battalion, 33rd American Infantry Division. Just two hours before the cessation of fighting on 11 November, Patrick was hit by a sniper’s bullet and died.

Michael Kilduff

Michael was a son of farmer Michael Kilduff and his wife Mary, of Doonally, Ballygawley, Co. Sligo. When Michael turned 18, he travelled to Boyle and enlisted into the Irish Guards. On completion of his training Michael was posted to France. During the following three years Michael took part in many of the worst battles of the conflict.

In Autumn 1918, Michael was wounded and was transferred ‘home’ to Catherham Guard’s Depot Hospital in Surrey, UK. Michael died there on 11 November 1918, the last day of the Great War. His remains were repatriated to Ireland where he was laid to rest in Kilross Cemetery Co. Sligo.

The toll of dead and injured on the Western Front, for that day, the day that brought peace, was 11,000.

Take a look back at the 100th Anniversary commemoration of Armistice Day in Sligo on November 11th 2018, through the photography of Steven Rogers and Tommy Weir.