Patrick Arthur's Story.
Patrick was the son of Edward and Isabella Byrne, of 133 Breck Road, Wallasey. He attended St. Alban’s Church in Liscard.
News Report
Wallasey Corporal Killed
The sad intelligence has been received of the death of Corporal Patrick Arthur Byrne (R.A.M.C.), who was killed on April 22, while attempting to rescue one of the wounded under shrapnel fire. The brave soldier, who was 24 years of age, was educated at St. Francis Xavier’s College, Liverpool, and afterwards matriculated at the Liverpool University for medicine, and commenced his career with Mr. E.G. Welton, chemist, Wallasey. He joined the R.A.M.C. before the war broke out in France. HE attended St. Alban’s Church, Mill Lane, Liscard, and was an active member of the Young Men’s Debating Society. He was the oldest son of Mr. and Mrs. E. Byrne, “Ellerton Villa,” 133, Breck Road, Wallasey.
Lieut.Col. R.E. Greenless (R.A.M.C.) writes: -
Dear Mr. Byrne
It is with deep regret that I write to tell you of your son, Lance-Corpl. Byrne’s death from wounds on 22-4-17. He was helping to clear the line with his section of bearers and was, I believe, in the trench when he either heard a shout out, thought he saw a man hit by a shell which landed nearby. I cannot find out which is the correct story. It does not really matter as the essential fact is that Lance-Corporal Byrne thought that someone was wounded and with his usual disregard of personal danger rushed out into the open to help, and in so doing was hit by a second shell, which closely followed the first. He was hit in the head, thigh, and arms, and I am glad to say that Capt. Connolly tells me that he became unconscious almost directly and that he can have suffered very little pain. I should just like to say how much was thought of Corpl. Byrne’s courage by myself and the unit as a whole. It was for absolute disregard of personal danger and some splendid work at Guillemont that he was promoted immediately after I joined the unit in July last. Since then he has frequently shown the same spirit, and on this occasion he practically gave his life away to help another man whom he thought was wounded, as everyone accustomed to clearing the line knows that that the Germans seldom or never send a single shell, and that it is always safer to wait for a second before leaving cover. May I say again how deeply I sympathise with you in your loss which is felt by all in the unit though in a lesser degree.”
By the early 1920s when the War Graves Commission were gathering data, Edward and Isabella gave their address as Kilmacow, Waterford.