Private Edward Cyrus John Stratton

Private Edward Cyrus John Stratton (aged about 18) of the 17th Lancers Regiment (Ballincollig)

Date of incident: 13 June 1920

Sources: CE, 15 June 1920; FJ, 15 June 1920; Donaldson (2003), 64; D’Arcy (2008), 28; Commonwealth War Graves Commission;

http://www.cairogang.com/soldiers-killed/list-1921.html; http://www.cairogang.com/soldiers-killed/stratton/stratton.html (accessed 1 Aug. 2014).

Note: Stratton and others at the Ballincollig Military Barracks were preparing their equipment to go out on night patrol when another soldier’s rifle went off accidentally and wounded Stratton fatally in the abdomen. ‘At the inquest it was said [that] he had practically no musketry drill and knew very little about rifles at all.’ See CE, 15 June 1920. The fatal bullet-wound was inflicted by Private Stephens, who was ‘somewhat to blame for what occurred—an accident’. See Donaldson (2003), 64. Private Stratton was buried in the Ballincollig Military Cemetery. See D’Arcy (2004), 28.