Centenary of ballinderry doctors death in war
This week the Kilbarron-Terryglass Historical Society remembers the 100th anniversary of the passing of Dr John Joseph Esmonde of Drominagh, Ballinderry
Dr John Joseph Esmonde was born on January 27th 1862. He served as a captain in the Royal Army Medical Corps during the First World War. He died on April 17th 1915, aged 53 years, due to pneumonia caused by the strain of over-work.
He is remembered on the House of Commons memorial plaque as Capt John J Esmonde, an Irish MP who died serving in World War I. He was a member of parliament for Tipperary from 1910 to 1915.
His son Geoffrey was killed in action in 1916 and another son, Eugene was killed in action in 1942 in World War II. Eugene was awarded posthumously a Victoria Cross for his gallantry.
John Joseph Esmonde’s second son, Sir John Lymbrick Esmonde, also served in World War I with the Leinster Regiment and the Royal Dublin Fusiliers. He was awarded the Victory Medal and British War Medal and held the rank of captain. After his father's death, he won the by-election and he represented North Tipperary as a Member of Parliament between 1915-1918. He was also a TD for Wexford between 1937 – 1944 and again from 1948 – 1951. Sir John Lymbrick Esmonde was one of the few people who served as a Member of Parliament in the House of Commons as well as a TD of Dáil Éireann. He later became a barrister and senior counsel and died on July 6th 1958, aged 65 years.
Capt John Joseph is buried in the family vault in Terryglass New Cemetery.