During the initial years of researching military burials in Birr, the burials of young men whose profession was listed as pensioner, were of particular interest to me. One burial that caught my attention was Denis Sheehan, an army pensioner, who died at the age of 35. Recently coming across his Queen’s South Africa medal disk has been the mechanism for a deeper dive on finding out about his short life.

Denis Sheehan was born in the military barracks, Crinkill on 6 July 1881. He was the son of Private Denis Sheehan and Maria Sheehan (Nee McGann). Denis, a Cork native was serving in the 2nd Battalion, Leinster Regiment. Denis and Maria had married in St Brendan’s Roman Catholic Church, Birr on 8 October 1879. Maria was the daughter of Thomas McGann and had lived on Cumberland Square.
Growing up Denis never attended school, despite the Irish Education Act of 1892 requiring mandatory attendance of children between the ages of 6 and 14, this was exempt for rural areas. Despite Denis’ brothers being registered in St Brendan’s National School in December 1899, neither of them ever attended a day of school.
Following in his father’s footsteps Denis enlisted in the Leinster Regiment at Birr on 6 November 1895. Upon enlisting he was recorded as being 14 years and 4 months old. Despite being fairly young, 14-year-olds were allowed to join the army, once they had their father’s consent. Denis was recorded as being 4 foot 8 ½ inches tall, with blue coloured eyes and fair hair.
Appointed as a boy soldier, he joined the 1st Battalion, at Tipperary. He served at home until 1898 when he went to Canada until 1900. The 1st Battalion, Leinster Regiment were the last battalion of the British Army to garrison Canada. Following this, Denis had 4 months of home service before being sent to South Africa to fight in the Second Anglo Boer War which had broken out in October 1899.
While Denis was on active service in South Africa the 1901 census records the Sheehan family living in Crinkill at number 25, Barrack Street. Denis, with wife Mary (despite name being Maria on marriage certificate) and children Mary, Charles, George, Florence and Emily.

During Drummer Sheehan’s time in South Africa, he was slightly wounded in the hand at Bethlehem on 10 March 1902. He was sent home later in September 1902. For his service in the campaign, he received the Queen’s South Africa medal with the clasps ‘Cape Colony’, ‘Orange Free State’ and ‘Transvaal’, and the King’s South Africa medal with the clasps ‘South Africa 1901’ and ‘South Africa 1902’.
Further service included home service until 1904, then service in South Africa until 1906, and 1 year and 10 months in Mauritius. Finally, with service in India from October 1907 until January 1911, when Private Sheehan was discharged from the army as medically unit for further service. He took his discharge at Netley, Hampshire, where he was recorded as being 5 foot 9 inches tall. Denis’ intended place of residence was given as Crinkill. He was also noted as having a good character and that he was in the battalion drums for several years.
The 1911 census record Denis as living at number 9, Barrack Street, Crinkill. Also recorded are Denis, Maria, and siblings Florence and Emily.
With the outbreak of war in August 1914, Denis Sheehan (senior) reenlisted in the Leinster Regiment, being based in Birr Barracks. Brothers Charles and George, who had been serving with the Leinster Regiment since around 1906, were sent to France with the 2nd Battalion. Charles later being killed in action on 16 March 1916. Denis remained at home, and later died on 14 July 1916 as a result from phthitis. He was interred in Clonoghill Cemetery.
His obituary was written up in The Leinster Reporter on 29 July 1916
“MILITARY FUNERAL
On Sunday, the 16th inst., the remains of the late Corpl. Denis Sheehan, 2nd Leinsters, were interred at Clonoghill cemetery with full military honours. His father, Mr. Denis Sheehan, was a veteran of life-long service, on pension, rejoined since the outbreak of war, and is now attached to the military head-quarters depot at Crinkle, Birr. The deceased corporal was 34 years of age, had 14 years service, three of which were in the South African War, and was retired on pension, and in ill-health. The family is essentially a military one, the father and three sons being soldiers; of the two brothers of the deceased, Sergt. Charles of the 2nd Leinsters, was killed in action in France on 15th March last, and Private George is now in the 1st Batt. at Salonika. During his period of invalid retirement, which has ended with his demise, Corporal Sheehan was a highly respected resident of Crinkle, and very greatly esteemed by his many friends and acquaintances, both civil and military. He was of the true military type, with a certain manly bearing and calm cheerfulness during the days of weakness and broken health, which he bore without complaint, or thought of it. The funeral cortege was attended by the regimental band, and a firing party, and a large concourse of soldiers and civilians. Major O’Connor was in command of the military. The chief mourners were: Mr. Denis Sheehan, father; Mary Agnes and Florence Beatrice, sisters.
Mr. and Mrs. Sheehan and family wish to return their sincere thanks to the officers, non-commissioned officers and men of the Depot of the Leinster Regiment for their kindness, and also their thanks to their many civilians friends who attended the funeral.”
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