Private Michael Desmond.
9352 1st Leinster Regiment (Royal Canadians).
Killed in action 15th March 1915, aged 22.
Michael was born and baptised on the 25th July 1892 in Maryborough, Laois, Ireland, the son of William Desmond and Bridget Kerry. In the 1901 Irish census the family were living on Lysters Lane Maryborough. William 40, Bridget 28, Michael 8 ,Mary 4 and Rachel Desmond 70.
The family were still living in the same place at the time of the 1911 census; William 50, Bridget 40, Michael 19, Maggie 18, Mary 14, Bridget 9, Nellie2 and John 1. They must have moved to Burnley between 1911 and the outbreak of the war.
Michael is commemorated on the Menin Gate Memorial, Belgium: Panel 44. Son of William and Bridget Desmond, of 7, Thompson St., Burnley