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Victoria Cross | UK | VIEW SOURCE |
James Somers was born in the civil parish of Drumlane, County Cavan, on the 12th of June 1894.
As a young man, Somers enlisted in the British military forces. He was posted with the 1st Battalion, Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers. On the 12th of June 1894, Somers was posted as a Sergeant in Gallipoli, Turkey. He stayed back alone after a number of his troops had retreated from the heavy bombing. He waited until a party delivered a number of bombs. Upon receiving the delivery, Somers took it upon himself to climb into the Turkish trench and bomb the enemy soldiers. He also ran into the open and held back the enemy with his bombs, all the while under heavy enemy fire.
For his actions on that day, Somers was awarded the prestigious Victoria Cross.
Somers died on the Western Front on the 7th of May 1918. He was 24 years old. He was buried with full military honours Modreeny Church of Ireland cemetery.
| Additional Information | ||
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| Date of Birth | 12th Jun 1894 | VIEW SOURCE |
| Date of Death | 7th May 1918 | VIEW SOURCE |
He was 23 years old when he died at his parents home on may 7th 1918.the info above isn't completely accurate, he was discharged medically from the army. His lungs were badly damaged in a training accident while instructing new recruits .He died due his gas-mask failing .his lungs were already damaged from gassing in France
