Tess McTiernan has submitted the following:
Daniel Cassidy, son of Peter and Elizabeth, was born in 1891 into a large family in Dipton, County Durham. In 1911, Daniel, his widowed mother and one of his brothers, was living in a Lodging House in Dipton. Both brothers were working as coke fillers. At the time of his enlistment Daniel was living at Front Street, Dipton.
The 26th (3rd Tyneside Irish) Battalion, Northumberland Fusiliers was a Pals Battalion, raised at Newcastle, by the Lord Mayor and City. After initial training near home they joined the 103rd Brigade, 34th Division around Ripon and after further training they moved to Salisbury Plain on 28 August 1915 for final training and firing practice.
On 3 January 1916 embarkation orders arrived; by 15 January the Division had crossed the Channel and was concentrated at La Crosse, east of Omer.
Training was undertaken: route marches, musketry and inspections of one form or another were the order of the day. On the 17th February 1916 the 26th took over a line as a battalion for the first time, relieving the 25th Battalion. Patrols were sent out to inspect the wire and work commenced repairing damaged trenches.
0730 hrs 1 July 1916 Daniel was one of many killed in action down the open slopes of the TARA-USNA ridge as they advanced against well dug-in German machine guns. He was 27 years old and was awarded the British War Medal and Victory Medal.
Remembered with Honour
Daniel Cassidy is remembered in Dipton on D46.06 and in Leadgate L65.01
