...... a soldier is born
In army slang, 6218 Private John McManus was regarded as an old sweat within the ranks of the Connaught Rangers.
From the 1st Battalion’s attempt to relieve Ladysmith during the Anglo Boer War to the 6th (Service) Battalion’s doomed counter attack on Ronssoy Wood in the Great War, Private McManus was to serve in all.
In the beginning, October 4rth 1897, aged eighteen he travelled to Renmore Barracks, Galway Town, Ireland and enlisted into the Connaught Rangers Regular Army. A journey spanning 22 years the Rangers would take this lad from Ireland, England, South Africa, India to France.
His father William McManus a coachman by trade from Ballyjamesduff, Co Cavan, married Agnes Payne from Mohill, Co Leitrim. John was the eldest of a family of four having one brother William 1885 and two sisters Kathleen 1887 and Agnes 1889. Born in West Meath 1879, his early childhood was spent in the village of Mohill and the Lawderdale Estate were his father worked. His parents were devote church people, strict and disciplined. John received his education at the Church of Ireland Sunday and Primary School. After his primary education he found employment as a farm labourer in the local estates.
Conditions were harsh in the 1890’s, in the province of Connaught, agriculture was the main industry, the soild being naturally fertile and easily cultivated. However due to the social conditions at that time in the 1800’s mass emigration abroad had amajor impact in this part of rural Ireland. Many of the McManus family with a trade such as cabinet making emigrated to England and America.
Employment was seasonal as the main industry was agricultural. Wages were low and the future always uncertain. His father being an established coachman with the Lawderdales managed to gain employment for his son when there was demand for staff on the estate but it always temporary and as work became harder to find John would travel into other neighbouring counties offering his services to the farmers. Army records indicate that as a teenager John served with 5th (Roscommon Militia) Connaught Rangers in the Mohill area. His first sample of military life.
Tradgey struck the McManus household when John’s father, William died after sustaining injuries when handling a horse on the Lawderdale Estate. After his death the family moved from their workers cottage in the grounds of Lawderdale to Johns grandfather, John Payne, a retired RIC Sergeant who resided in Hill Street, Mohill.
John declined the offer and now that the Short Service Act was passed, a lad could “enjoy a six year picnic” at Her Majesty’s expense”. At times of hardship and unemployment the army offered a decent wage, adventure and a pension. He travelled to Renmore Barracks. The Regimental Depot of the Connaught Rnagers and took the Queens shilling.
It was common for those who enlisted into the Army to have come from the least skilled sections of the working class. The lower ranks of the Connaught Rangers comprised many casual labourers from the province. The majority of these men were regarded strong, healthy and more obedient that their slum bred counterparts in the big town and cities
His enlistment papers state that he joined as a soldier for Short Service – “seven years with the colours and five years in the Reserve. He gave his address as Hill Street, Mohill, Co.Leitrim. Gave age as 18 years. Gave date of birth as 1897. He declared his employment as a labourer. Martial Status as single. He was a small man standing - Height 5’ 4 Weight 126lbs ‘’ Girth 35 ½ ‘’Complexion – fresh, eyes – blue, hair - brown. He declared his faith as being, Protestant. His signatures are found throughout his service papers and he gave his next of kin as his mother.
October 5th 1897 after a medical examination he was “considered fit for service in the Rifle Brigade” and attested to the Connaughts.
Posted to the Renmore Depot in Galway on October 8th 1887, Private John McManus’s association with this Regiment had just commenced. It was not to be easy. Discipline was strict and barrack life uncompromising. The regular soldiers pay was 1s 3d daily before stoppages. In this part of Ireland the military wage to the labourer was significantly greater than a farm worker. This basic pay was compensated with accommodation, food, clothing, recreation time making the average soldier better off than the average working class person.
The depot at Galway was not for the faint hearted. It hardened a man quickly. It was a crowded, noisy, foulmouthed place especially after a few drinks. The NCO’s were vindictive and discipline was rigid in the new daily lives of the recruits. After retreat, the main gate was closed and all the men returning to the Depot from the twon had to pass through a small gate. Here they had to run the gauntlet of the Sergeant or Corporal on gate duty. Any soldier who arrived with a waiver in his walk was instantly pounced upon, run to the guard room and confronted with the Sergeant of the guard before being hustled away. This minor infraction of discipline which is on many a man service record extened to a fine, imrionment, confinement to barracks, deprivation of rank or punishment drill. This treatment drove many to desertation.
Following eleven weeks of basic military training at the Depot he was transferred to the 1st Btn of his regiment, then at Athlone Barracks on January 7th 1898. For the next 22 months he would remain there with only brief training operations conducted nearby or in England. Properly fed, good friendships, self respect, a sense of belonging, his life and loyalities were now centred on the barrack room, company and the regimental family.
In army slang, 6218 Private John McManus was regarded as an old sweat within the ranks of the Connaught Rangers.
From the 1st Battalion’s attempt to relieve Ladysmith during the Anglo Boer War to the 6th (Service) Battalion’s doomed counter attack on Ronssoy Wood in the Great War, Private McManus was to serve in all.
In the beginning, October 4rth 1897, aged eighteen he travelled to Renmore Barracks, Galway Town, Ireland and enlisted into the Connaught Rangers Regular Army. A journey spanning 22 years the Rangers would take this lad from Ireland, England, South Africa, India to France.
His father William McManus a coachman by trade from Ballyjamesduff, Co Cavan, married Agnes Payne from Mohill, Co Leitrim. John was the eldest of a family of four having one brother William 1885 and two sisters Kathleen 1887 and Agnes 1889. Born in West Meath 1879, his early childhood was spent in the village of Mohill and the Lawderdale Estate were his father worked. His parents were devote church people, strict and disciplined. John received his education at the Church of Ireland Sunday and Primary School. After his primary education he found employment as a farm labourer in the local estates.
Conditions were harsh in the 1890’s, in the province of Connaught, agriculture was the main industry, the soild being naturally fertile and easily cultivated. However due to the social conditions at that time in the 1800’s mass emigration abroad had amajor impact in this part of rural Ireland. Many of the McManus family with a trade such as cabinet making emigrated to England and America.
Employment was seasonal as the main industry was agricultural. Wages were low and the future always uncertain. His father being an established coachman with the Lawderdales managed to gain employment for his son when there was demand for staff on the estate but it always temporary and as work became harder to find John would travel into other neighbouring counties offering his services to the farmers. Army records indicate that as a teenager John served with 5th (Roscommon Militia) Connaught Rangers in the Mohill area. His first sample of military life.
Tradgey struck the McManus household when John’s father, William died after sustaining injuries when handling a horse on the Lawderdale Estate. After his death the family moved from their workers cottage in the grounds of Lawderdale to Johns grandfather, John Payne, a retired RIC Sergeant who resided in Hill Street, Mohill.
John declined the offer and now that the Short Service Act was passed, a lad could “enjoy a six year picnic” at Her Majesty’s expense”. At times of hardship and unemployment the army offered a decent wage, adventure and a pension. He travelled to Renmore Barracks. The Regimental Depot of the Connaught Rnagers and took the Queens shilling.
It was common for those who enlisted into the Army to have come from the least skilled sections of the working class. The lower ranks of the Connaught Rangers comprised many casual labourers from the province. The majority of these men were regarded strong, healthy and more obedient that their slum bred counterparts in the big town and cities
His enlistment papers state that he joined as a soldier for Short Service – “seven years with the colours and five years in the Reserve. He gave his address as Hill Street, Mohill, Co.Leitrim. Gave age as 18 years. Gave date of birth as 1897. He declared his employment as a labourer. Martial Status as single. He was a small man standing - Height 5’ 4 Weight 126lbs ‘’ Girth 35 ½ ‘’Complexion – fresh, eyes – blue, hair - brown. He declared his faith as being, Protestant. His signatures are found throughout his service papers and he gave his next of kin as his mother.
October 5th 1897 after a medical examination he was “considered fit for service in the Rifle Brigade” and attested to the Connaughts.
Posted to the Renmore Depot in Galway on October 8th 1887, Private John McManus’s association with this Regiment had just commenced. It was not to be easy. Discipline was strict and barrack life uncompromising. The regular soldiers pay was 1s 3d daily before stoppages. In this part of Ireland the military wage to the labourer was significantly greater than a farm worker. This basic pay was compensated with accommodation, food, clothing, recreation time making the average soldier better off than the average working class person.
The depot at Galway was not for the faint hearted. It hardened a man quickly. It was a crowded, noisy, foulmouthed place especially after a few drinks. The NCO’s were vindictive and discipline was rigid in the new daily lives of the recruits. After retreat, the main gate was closed and all the men returning to the Depot from the twon had to pass through a small gate. Here they had to run the gauntlet of the Sergeant or Corporal on gate duty. Any soldier who arrived with a waiver in his walk was instantly pounced upon, run to the guard room and confronted with the Sergeant of the guard before being hustled away. This minor infraction of discipline which is on many a man service record extened to a fine, imrionment, confinement to barracks, deprivation of rank or punishment drill. This treatment drove many to desertation.
Following eleven weeks of basic military training at the Depot he was transferred to the 1st Btn of his regiment, then at Athlone Barracks on January 7th 1898. For the next 22 months he would remain there with only brief training operations conducted nearby or in England. Properly fed, good friendships, self respect, a sense of belonging, his life and loyalities were now centred on the barrack room, company and the regimental family.
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