Lib Dem Blogger Stephen Glenn writes here about the MPs who went to fight in World War One – and died during military service.
“At midnight Berlin time when the deadline for the Germans to respond passed there were young men in Westminster who were MPs who knew that their duty was to return to their regiments and take up arms. The following is a list of the young men who were Members of Parliament* from all parties who fought and died in World War I…”
In amongst the Liberal and Conservative names there are also some Irish MPs, such as Dr John Joseph Esmonde, who seems a intriguing person indeed. His uncle was a baronet, he himself was a physician and an Irish Parliamentary Party MP for North Tipperary from 1910-1915. The political group he belonged to was interested in home rule rather than independence. His political involvement didn’t stop him from serving in the Royal Army Medical Corps, where , according to Wikipedia
“Esmonde died on 17 April 1915 from “pneumonia and heart failure consequent on the strain of overwork” while serving as Captain in the Royal Army Medical Corps”
Incidentally Esmonde had four sons, one of whom died serving in WW1, and another died serving in WW2, receiving a posthumous Victoria Cross in 1942..