IT IS now acceptable for former members of the British army to discuss openly their involvement in the second World War, and commemorate Irish people who, “for whatever reason” joined the allies and died in that war.
That is the opinion of the president of the British Legion in Ireland, David O’Morchoe who spoke yesterday at the handing over of a roll of honour of the names of more than 7,500 people from this island who were killed in the conflict that began 70 years ago.
The roll was presented by Dr Yvonne McEwen from the University of Edinburgh’s Centre for the Study of the Two World Wars, to Dr Charles Benson, keeper of early printed books and special collections, at Trinity College Dublin yesterday afternoon.
Dr Benson said the roll would greatly assist the “very popular” study of the second World War. The challenge in that study for Irish people was to consider “did we let a good cause down” by remaining officially neutral, he said. Stressing that his was a personal opinion, he asked: was it “less than heroic” to not take part “in a more meaningful way in the nearest thing to a just war?”
Dr McEwen said the roll was long overdue. She spearheaded the research for the roll, which is believed to be the most accurate assessment of the Irish dead.
“This is the first time ever in Ireland that the men and women who fought will be identified with their name, age, rank and regiment or branch where they served,” she said. “Men from North and South fought together on the battlefield of the world with no distinction as to who was who and they need to be commemorated together.”
A copy of the roll will be on display at Trinity College.
