ALICE O’REILLY 1896–?

Before the War

Alice was born in Oct-Dec 1896 in Bawnboy district, Cavan, Leitrim, Ireland. In 1901 she was living in Drumeela, Newtowngore, Leitrim with her father Con, 50, a teacher, mother Anne, 46, brothers Philip, 20, Terence, 16, Joseph, 10, Michael, 8, sisters Annie, 14, and Bridget, 12. All the children are recorded as scholars.

In 1891 Alice, 14, was a scholar, still living in Drumeela with her father Constantine, teacher, mother Anne, brother Terence, farmer, and Joseph, student.

During the War

The following information about Alice O’Reilly has been extracted from transcribed Red Cross Voluntary Aid Detachment records, available at www.redcross.org.uk

Alice was 22 when she volunteered to serve as a V.A.D. with the Cavan 4 Detachment of the Red Cross in 1918. Her home address was given as Cappagh, Killeshandra, County Cavan. She was engaged as a clerk at Notts County War Hospital, Radcliffe on Trent on 13th August 1918, serving there until she was transferred to the Royal Herbert Hospital, Woolwich on 29th August 1919. She was still serving there when her Red Cross record card was completed on 26th September 1919. Notts County War Hospital closed in August 1919, reopening as an asylum on 11th November 1919.

After the War

It has not been possible to trace Alice’s whereabouts after the war, nor to determine whether she returned to Ireland. There are too many Alice O’Reillys in the available records to reach a definite conclusion.