John J Harte from Ballinfull in north County Sligo was killed in combat in World War I in 1915.
Through the Lest Sligo Forgets Campaign his memory has been reconnected with his family in the United States.
Chris Isleib is the Director of Public Affairs, U.S. World War I Centennial Commission. On learning about the Lest Sligo Forgets Campaign, Chris gereously became a Name Benefactor for the memorial. He asked us to nominate a name from our list of 610 Sligo people who were killed in World War I.
At random we selected John J Harte from Ballinfull in North Sligo, son of James and Mary Harte (nee Boyle), of Breaghwy, Ballinfull, Co. Sligo, a member of the 2nd Bn Irish Guards.
A wonderful St Patrick’s Day link with a family of the Irish Diaspora in the US has unfolded from there.
Grave Registration Report for John J Harte of Ballinfull Co Sligo.
Having informed Chris Isleib of the name we attributed to his benefactor support, Chris decided he would do some research on John J Harte, to learn more about his story. Miraculously it has turned out John JHarte was a cousin of his own grandfather!
Chris most kindly shared these thoughts on this with us yesterday.
Chris Isleib, Director of Public Affairs, U.S. World War I Centennial Commission writes:
“I proudly offer support for your remembrance of the people from County Sligo who followed the awful drum 100 years ago. Their stories are important, and this memorial "Lest Sligo Forgets" deserves our greatest support.
As per our email discussion, I seem to be correct -- John Harte is my Second Great Uncle. He served with the Irish Guards in WWI, and was killed in combat in 1915. He is buried at the CWGC cemetery in Aubers Ridge, near Lille, France.
John Harte was the cousin of my grandfather, Michael Clancy Harte (O'Hart). Their fathers were brothers who grew up in the big, extended Harte/Hart/O'Hart family in the Grange area of County Sligo -- farmers in the townlands of Breaghwy, Ballinfull, Agharrow, Kiladoon, Rannatruffan, Ballygilgan, My grandfather's family would move to the nearby town of Garrison, County Fermanagh, in the 1880's, seeking opportunity -- but the opportunity would be limited, and the political oppression of the time pushed my grandfather to emigrate to the United States in 1910.
Michael Clancy O'Hart, emigrated to the U.S. from County Sligo/County Fermanagh area in 1910.
Chris Isleib, Director of Public Affairs, U.S. World War I Centennial Commission
Contd/-
“The story of the Irish people who served in uniform during WWI is very complicated. It reminds me of the stories of our own American Native-Americans, or our African-Americans, who served in the uniform in the American military during WWI.
These ethnic groups all suffered from fewer civil rights, diminished career opportunities, explicit discrimination in their service, etc. But, somehow, these people, in their desperate economic times, rightly or wrongly, saw their military service as something that could have positive ends. It could show who they were, how bravely they could fight, how legitimate they were as modern people in the dominant system, how tough/determined their race of human beings was. Further, the experience could give their families a modicum of financial support, in dark days that promised none.
I will never fully understand the full complexities of their service 100 years go, but I gained significant insight from a stunning autobiographical book written about the Irish who served during World War I. "THERE'S A DEVIL IN THE DRUM" by John Lucy, a Catholic from Dublin.
It is my great honor to help you to remember the men and women who played central roles in this significant historical period in our community. I look forward to the official dedication of this great memorial.”
Lest Sligo Forgets Steering Committee in acknowledgement writes;
We are most grateful to Chris Isleib and his family for becoming benefactors of the County Sligo World War I Memorial Garden, and for his reflections here.
It is our fervent hope that many people who engage with the process of realising this Memorial Garden in the coming months, will come to learn more about the role over 5000 young Sligo men played in World War I - and in many instances about that of their own ancestors numbered among them.
Six hundred and five of these young boys and men that we know of, like 24 year old John J Harte from Ballinfull, perished in that catastrophic global 1914-1918 conflict just over 100 years ago. Five innocent Sligo civilians died aboard the RMS Leinster.
It is time to remember them among us, as we will remember, commemorate and reflect upon all who played out their diversity of beliefs and convictions in seeking to forge a nascent Irish nation 100 years ago.
We are creating a County Sligo Memorial Garden where the terrible loss to our County brought about by World War I will be commemorated with dignity, peace and respect. It will be a place of remembrance, a place of quiet acknowledgement which may help us and future generations understand and reflect upon the complexities of our history.
LSF Committee / St Patricks Day 2019
Click on the link above to join our campaign.