asked if i was irish

[O'Callaghan]

Mike,

Just a slight addition to your comments: you are quite correct in your statement that up until 1922, with the establishment of the Free State, there were a number of Southern Irish regiments that served in the British Army, such as the Dublin & Munister Fusiliers, the Connaught Rangers, etc., as well as Northern Irish units -- during the First World War, the moderate nationalist John Redmond attempted to organize volunteer units for service in France, which became the 16th Division, while the Unionists served in the 36th (Ulster) Division, including a number of Orangemen.

I'll stop now and "toe the line" regarding this discussion.

T.

My grandfather (on the English side of my family!) was attached to the 16th Division, being in the West Ham Battalion of the Royal Artillery at the time. West Ham is in London, for the geographically challenged.