5th Battalion, Royal Irish Regiment (British Army)
Died:
16/08/1915 (Killed in Action)
Age:
33
Summary
Frederick James Dunn was born in Windsor, England about 1882. Previous to moving to Dungannon, Frederick had served four years with the 1st (Volunteer) Battalion Royal Berks Regiment in England. He was married to Edith Mary Dunn. Frederick Dunn had been estate carpenter to the Earl of Ranfurly for over three years. He had also been a section leader in the Dungannon Battalion U.V.F. At the outbreak of war, in August 1914, he joined joining the 6th Inniskillings. He later was transferred to the 5th Battalion Royal Irish Regiment (Pioneers). Corporal Frederick J Dunn was killed in action at Gallipoli on 16 August 1915.
Further Information
Frederick James Dunn was born in Windsor, England about 1882.
Previous to moving to Dungannon, Frederick had served four years with the 1st (Volunteer) Battalion Royal Berks Regiment in England.
Frederick married Edith Mary Fuller. They had several children.
Known family: Frederick James Dunn, Edith Mary Dunn, William Benjamin Dunn (born 23rd January 1908, Windsor). Eleanor Norah Dunn (born 19th August 1909, Windsor), Thomas Patrick Dunn (born 14th April 1911), Mary Maureen Dunn (born 14th February 1913, Dungannon), Edith Alice Dunn (born 15th November 1914, Dungannon).
The 1911 English census list the family as living at Carpenter's Lodge, St Leonard's Lodge, Clewer Green, Windsor Frederick was an estate carpenter.
Around 1911, Frederick Dunn became estate carpenter to the Earl of Ranfurly in Dungannon.
He became a section leader in the Dungannon Battalion U.V.F.
Fred was one of the pioneer members of the Dungannon Workers Union, No 1 Branch.
At the outbreak of war, he volunteered in August 1914, joining the 6th Inniskillings.
He later was transferred to the 5th Battalion Royal Irish Regiment (Pioneers).
Private Dunn arrived in Gallipoli with the Royal Irish Regiment on 8th July 1915.
Corporal Frederick J Dunn was killed in action at Gallipoli on 16th August 1915. He was 33 years old.
From the Belfast Newsletter dated 2nd September 1915:
Lieutenant T E N Byrne, 5th Battalion Royal Irish Regiment (Pioneers), has written Mrs Dunn, The Park, Dungannon, informing her that her husband, Corporal Frederick J Dunn, of that battalion, has been killed in action at Gallipoli, and stating that he had been killed instantaneously. He had carried on his work cheerily to the last, and had behaved as all would have wished him to do. Corporal Dunn, who leaves behind a widow and several small children, had been estate carpenter to the Earl of Ranfurly for over three years. He had been a section leader in the Dungannon Battalion U.V.F, and had volunteered with the Dungannon contingent on 26th August 1914, which joined the 6th Battalion Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers. He afterwards transferred to his present regiment. He had had four years' service in the 1st (Volunteer) Battalion Royal Berks Regiment in England, of which country he was a native.
From the Tyrone Courier dated 9th September 1915:
Lieutenant T.E.N. Byrne, 5th Battalion Royal Irish Regiment (Pioneers), has written Mrs Dunn, The Park, Dungannon, informing her that her husband, Corporal Frederick J Dunn, of that battalion, has been killed in action at Gallipoli. Corporal Dunn had been estate carpenter to the Earl of Ranfurly for over three years. He had been a section leader in the Dungannon Battalion U.V.F, and had volunteered in August 1914, and joined the 6th Inniskillings but he afterwards transferred to his late regiment. He had had four years service in the 1st (Volunteer) Battalion Royal Berks Regiment in England, of which country he was a native.
From the Belfast Newsletter dated 9th September 1915:
Corporal Fred J Dunne, The Park, Dungannon, who was killed in action with the Royal Irish Regiment in the Gallipoli Peninsula, was one of the pioneer members of the Dungannon Workers Union, No 1 Branch. At a meeting of the branch on Tuesday evening, Mr Eugene McGurk presiding, a resolution of sympathy with the deceased soldier's widow and family was adopted.
From the Mid Ulster Mail dated 11th September 1915: Corporal F J Dunn
Much express was expressed in Dungannon on Wednesday when it became known that Corporal Frederick J Dunn, 5th Battalion Royal Irish Regiment (Pioneers), had been killed in action during the recent Gallipoli operations. The sad news was conveyed in the following letter to his young widow, written by Lieutenant T E N Byrne of the same battalion:-
‘Dear Mrs Dunn, as your husband’s officer, I must write and offer you my sympathy in your great loss. It may comfort you to know that he was killed instantly and there was no suffering. He carried on his work cheerily to the last, and behaved as you would have wished him to. Sincerely yours, Lieutenant T E N Byrne.’
Corporal Dunn, who leaves a widow and several small children, had been estate carpenter to the Earl of Ranfurly for over three years. He had been a section leader in the Dungannon Battalion of the Ulster Volunteer Force, and had volunteered with the Dungannon contingent on 26th August 1914, to join the 6th Battalion Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers, but he was afterwards transferred to his present regiment. He had had four years’ service in the 1st (Volunteer) Battalion Royal Berks Regiment in England, of which country he was a native.
From the Mid Ulster Mail dated 18th September 1915: Corporal F J Dunn, Dungannon
Through the kindness of The Countess of Ranfurly, a memorial service in connection with the death of Corporal Fred J Dunne, 5th Battalion Royal Irish Regiment, who was killed in action at the Gallipoli Peninsula on 16th August, was held in the dining room of Northland House, Dungannon on Friday. Corporal Dunn had been the estate carpenter for the Earl of Ranfurly, and had been an efficient section leader in the Dungannon Battalion U.V.F. prior to volunteering on the outbreak of the present war.
The service, which was conducted by Rev Canon McEndoo, M.A., was attended by the household staff and demesne employees and their families, and the deceased’s widow and children were also present. The hymn, ‘O God our help in ages past’ and the special hymn ‘Loving shepherd of Thy sheep’ were sung and prayers from the Burial Service and the 15th chapter of 1st Corinthians were read. An address was given by Rev F S Morrow, B.A., from the words of the Burial Service – ‘In the midst of life we are in death’, in which he eloquently referred to Corporal Dunn having given his life for his country.
Newspaper reports suggest his wife Edith was living at The Park, Dungannon at the time of his death.
Private Frederick J Dunn has no known grave and is commemorated on the Helles Memorial at Gallipoli in Turkey.
Private Dunn is commemorated locally on Dungannon War Memorial and on the WWI Roll of Honour in St Anne's Church Of Ireland in Dungannon.
The CWGC record his wife as having moved back to live at 1 Manor Terrace, Clewer Green, Windsor.
The CWGC record his wife as having moved back to live at 1 Manor Terrace, Clewer Green, Windsor.
