James Somers

James Somers VC was born on 12 June 1894 in Belturbet, County Cavan, the son of Robert and Charlotte Somers. His father served as sexton of the local Protestant church, and the family later settled in Cloughjordan, County Tipperary. Before becoming a soldier, James worked as a footman at Bantry House. He joined the Special Reserve of the Royal Munster Fusiliers on 14 January 1913 and subsequently entered regular service. By the outbreak of the First World War he was serving with the Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers. [1,2]

Somers went to France with the 2nd Battalion in August 1914. Wounded during that year's fighting, he returned to Britain to recover. Accounts differ over the exact circumstances of this wound, so the frequently repeated claim that it occurred at Mons should be treated cautiously. He subsequently joined the 1st Battalion for the Gallipoli campaign in 1915. His regimental number was 10512. [2,3,4]

On the night of 1–2 July 1915, during the fighting around Gully Ravine, Somers helped recover a trench lost to Ottoman troops. Working with the party led by Captain Gerald O'Sullivan, he fought with hand grenades at close quarters. The official VC citation describes how he remained after other troops withdrew, entered the enemy trench when fresh grenades arrived, and then exposed himself to heavy fire while attacking the enemy's flank. He repeatedly fetched more grenades and helped hold the position until a barricade could be built. This is a summary of the citation, published on 1 September 1915 in the supplement to The London Gazette of 31 August, issue 29281, page 8700. The VC and GC Association identifies him as a corporal during the action, promoted to sergeant on 2 July; the citation uses his later rank. [2,3]

The award brought Somers a public welcome in Ireland. George V presented his Victoria Cross at Buckingham Palace on 14 October 1915. He returned to the Western Front in 1916, but his health deteriorated after gas exposure. On 1 April 1917 he transferred to the Army Service Corps, receiving the number M/39117. He died at his parents' home in Cloughjordan on 7 May 1918, before the war ended. Reports associate his death with lung damage; the family instead described an accidental gas exposure while he was instructing recruits. The precise circumstances remain uncertain. [1,2,4]

Somers was buried with military honours in Modreeny Church of Ireland Churchyard, County Tipperary. A blue plaque was unveiled at Belturbet Church of Ireland on 2 July 2015, a century after his VC action. His story connects an ordinary pre-war working life with exceptional courage and the lasting human cost of the war. [1,5]

Sources: [1] Victoria Cross Online: https://victoriacrossonline.co.uk/james-somers-vc/ [2] VC and GC Association: https://vcgca.org/our-people/profile/346/James--SOMERS [3] Gallipoli Association: https://www.gallipoli-association.org/on-this-day/july/02/ [4] Commonwealth War Graves Commission: https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/casualty-details/2744102/james-somers/ [5] Ulster History Circle: https://ulsterhistorycircle.org.uk/james-somers-vc-1894-1918/