Bernard Donaghey - Burnley FC Thiepval Memorial

[Flixtonclaret1]

Was out in France last week tracing the war journey of a soldier from my wife’s side of the family at the Battle of The Somme. Whist there the historian - who knew I was a Burnley fan - had this surprise which enabled me to honour a former Clarets player.

https://youtu.be/iChDMT0I0_A?si=XEAgYSt2-pbRsEDV

Hope the link works?

[ClaretTony]

The clip in the video that shows his two goals for us against Leicester Fosse has been grabbed from a very good website.

https://www.uptheclarets.com/fixtures-r ... 08-results

[Bullabill]

Absolutely brilliant. Brought a tear to my eye. Well done to all concerned.

[mdd2]

Ditto
Been to the Somme and at certain points on the line the distance between trenches was not much
The real tear jerker for me was Tynecot cemetery from 1917 Passchendaele campaign and 11900 Commonwealth graves
Also last post at Menin Gate brought me to tears. And poor Bernard like so many never found.

[Buxtonclaret]

Great post, Flixton.

[crundale]

Wonderful post.

[claretonthecoast1882]

Brilliant to see, top effort

[claret3561]

Agree with everything MDD says tynecot and the menin gate for the last post is something everyone should see, I defy anyone to not shed a tear. When I've visited I'm always amazed by the amount of school visits from around the world, yet I've never seen British school's there. It's almost like we've forgotten how much they gave for us.

[Folkestoneclaret]

Schools do go to Menen Gate and Passchendaele but subsequent to the toxicity of Brexit it's that much more difficult and expensive. And schools travel in general has got more difficult to operate now there are onerous risk assessment requirements. There was a Scout group there last time I attended. Plus the Morriston Orpheus Choir. Broken Brothers. Mansions of the Lord. Brings tears to my eyes just thinking about it.

[Hendrickxz]

Just as an interesting aside, the Thiepval Memorial brick sections are actually constructed in Accrington Brick, so I seem to remember.

[Bfc]

flixtonclaret1, well done from me as well. A very good video. Right up my street watching that.

[ac99]

Been a couple of times accompanying kids from BRGS. By far and away the best school trips I've ever been on. Seeing the grave of the youngest British soldier killed at Ypres stood with 100 kids of a similar age is very impactful. Thiepval, Tyne Cot, Lochnagar crater, Ulster Memorial tower, Newfoundland Park, Menin Gate and so many more. The most amazing thing we did was go to the Accrington Pals monument which is in a wood on the edge of a farmers field (Sheffield Memorial Park). Just about 100 metres away in the centre of the field is the cemetery (Queen's Cemetery, Pusieux) where most of the Accrington Pals are buried. The teacher gave each kid a card with a name of a soldier, a little bit of info about them and a number. The kids lined up on the edge of the field which was where the trench started and the teacher blew a whistle. Everyone started walking forwards towards the cemetery. The whistle was blown every 5 seconds and the number on the card was how many whistle blows you survived. Out of the 100 that started, only 2 got to the cemetery. The kids were very quiet after that one. The most amazing experience and one that really sparked an interest in history for me

[mdd2]

Agree with everything MDD says tynecot and the menin gate for the last post is something everyone should see, I defy anyone to not shed a tear. When I've visited I'm always amazed by the amount of school visits from around the world, yet I've never seen British school's there. It's almost like we've forgotten how much they gave for us.

When i was there, Poynton School were in attendance. (Poynton is near Stockport for those not knowing)

[Flixtonclaret1]

Was out in France last week tracing the war journey of a soldier from my wife’s side of the family at the Battle of The Somme. Whist there the historian - who knew I was a Burnley fan - had this surprise which enabled me to honour a former Clarets player.

https://youtu.be/iChDMT0I0_A?si=XEAgYSt2-pbRsEDV

Hope the link works?

Bump.

As we approach the 1st July it’s only right that we remember a former Burnley player who sadly lost his life on 1st July 1916.


Private Bernard Donaghey
2289 1st Royal Enniskillen Fusiliers

Signed for us in July 1907 - scored 2 goals in 5 games also played 3 games for Manchester United.

Also played for
Glentoran / Belfast Celtic / Hibernian / Derry Celtic and Dumbarton.

They will not grow old
As we that are left grow old
Age will not weary them
No the years condemn
At the going down of the Sun
and in the morning

We will remember them.

[Bullabill]

Bump.

As we approach the 1st July it’s only right that we remember a former Burnley player who sadly lost his life on 1st July 1916.


Private Bernard Donaghey
2289 1st Royal Enniskillen Fusiliers

Signed for us in July 1907 - scored 2 goals in 5 games also played 3 games for Manchester United.

Also played for
Glentoran / Belfast Celtic / Hibernian / Derry Celtic and Dumbarton.

They will not grow old
As we that are left grow old
Age will not weary them
Nor the years condemn
At the going down of the Sun
and in the morning

We will remember them.

Amen

[Hanoverusaclaret]

My late father (a Burnley fan for most of his 75 years) was a devoted researcher of WWI history. He ran an exhibition for Gargrave area soldiers killed in action, searching out their graves (or names on memorials like Thiepval) and photographing the site and the stories behind their deaths.
We took a trip together in 2015 and visited the grave of one great uncle in Poperinge (near Ypres) and found another's on the Thiepval Memorial. We also visited the Accrington Pals memorial and other places of local significance. It was an amazing trip that'll never forget.
The Belgium people were amazingly welcoming and the service at the Menin Gate in Ypres was mind-blowing. He would have loved this thread!

[Territorial]

Interesting thread, which I chanced upon while searching for something else (as you do).

Anyhow, there is some more info on Bernard (apparently known as "Barney") on this Northern Ireland Football Blog:
https://nifootball.blogspot.com/2008/06 ... aghey.html

Note that that blog has 4 links providing additional information.

[Flixtonclaret1]

Interesting thread, which I chanced upon while searching for something else (as you do).

Anyhow, there is some more info on Bernard (apparently known as "Barney") on this Northern Ireland Football Blog:
https://nifootball.blogspot.com/2008/06 ... aghey.html

Note that that blog has 4 links providing additional information.

Excellent - T
Great info and appreciate your post.

I have been campaigning (unsuccessfully) for Burnley FC to recognise this date and the player we lost. Next year will be the 110th anniversary so I’m hoping that the club can do the right thing and make reference in 2026. Given all the sales of Bene & Hot at TM and the towns link to WW1 that the clubs marketing genius’ could make a humble gesture and put something on the clubs official channels. They have seen my YouTube video (from above) and I’ve linked them with the historian that filmed it so that it could be edited down into a bite size clip, but they have not taken up the opportunity sadly this year.

Hoping for a positive outcome in 2026.

[durhamclaret]

Great film Flixton, RIP Bernard.