Uploaded September 2026 | Updated September 2026, 3 hours ago
One of the New Ross men who fought in WW2
Here is a 12 minute chat I recorded on Friday with Kevin Mernagh in New Ross where he talks about his brother Tommy who at the age of 17, joined the British Army and went off to fight in WW2.
Kevin is a very clear storyteller and it's great to have these stories recorded and these men remembered. Some serious content here with accounts of him fighting in North Africa and Italy and also about his Cheshire Regiment liberating the Bergen-Belsen concentration camp in April 1945. And in typical fashion, these men returned after the war and kept their heads down and their stories to themselves.
I recorded a good few more chats with Kevin but said I'll share this first with ye. This Oral History project is being supported by Wexford County Council and was initiated by Cllr. John Dwyer who asked me to do it. If you have stories to tell and from New Ross - reach out to me. Thanks Kevin and thanks Tommy.
An Overview of the Video
1. Tommy: A Brother and Wartime Soldier — 00:00
Kevin introduces his brother Tommy, describing his service in the British Army during WWII, from North Africa through Sicily, Italy and Germany. He also reflects on Tommy’s character and his pride in him.
2. From North Africa to the Battlefields of Italy — 00:55
Kevin recounts Tommy joining the army at just 17, his experiences in North Africa, El Alamein, Sicily and the difficult Salerno landings. He describes how Tommy later suffered a serious fall that left him partially disabled.
3. The Horrors of War and Liberation — 04:00
The interview moves into Tommy’s memories of the war, including the liberation of Bergen-Belsen, witnessing terrible suffering and narrowly surviving being discovered while wounded. Kevin explains how Tommy rarely spoke about these experiences.
4. Coming Home and a Family of Servicemen — 07:00
Kevin describes Tommy’s return to New Ross, his work in the mines and local garages, and the accident that changed his life. He also discusses the wider family’s military service, including brothers who served in the RAF and as paratroopers.
5. Family, Food and Tommy’s Legacy — 09:40
The final section focuses on Tommy’s quiet relationship with his wartime past, his role caring for their mother, his career as an army-trained chef, and how his name and memory continue through the family. Kevin closes by expressing his enduring pride and gratitude.
One of the New Ross men who fought in WW2
Here is a 12 minute chat I recorded on Friday with Kevin Mernagh in New Ross where he talks about his brother Tommy who at the age of 17, joined the British Army and went off to fight in WW2.
Kevin is a very clear storyteller and it's great to have these stories recorded and these men remembered. Some serious content here with accounts of him fighting in North Africa and Italy and also about his Cheshire Regiment liberating the Bergen-Belsen concentration camp in April 1945. And in typical fashion, these men returned after the war and kept their heads down and their stories to themselves.
I recorded a good few more chats with Kevin but said I'll share this first with ye. This Oral History project is being supported by Wexford County Council and was initiated by Cllr. John Dwyer who asked me to do it. If you have stories to tell and from New Ross - reach out to me. Thanks Kevin and thanks Tommy.
An Overview of the Video
1. Tommy: A Brother and Wartime Soldier — 00:00
Kevin introduces his brother Tommy, describing his service in the British Army during WWII, from North Africa through Sicily, Italy and Germany. He also reflects on Tommy’s character and his pride in him.
2. From North Africa to the Battlefields of Italy — 00:55
Kevin recounts Tommy joining the army at just 17, his experiences in North Africa, El Alamein, Sicily and the difficult Salerno landings. He describes how Tommy later suffered a serious fall that left him partially disabled.
3. The Horrors of War and Liberation — 04:00
The interview moves into Tommy’s memories of the war, including the liberation of Bergen-Belsen, witnessing terrible suffering and narrowly surviving being discovered while wounded. Kevin explains how Tommy rarely spoke about these experiences.
4. Coming Home and a Family of Servicemen — 07:00
Kevin describes Tommy’s return to New Ross, his work in the mines and local garages, and the accident that changed his life. He also discusses the wider family’s military service, including brothers who served in the RAF and as paratroopers.
5. Family, Food and Tommy’s Legacy — 09:40
The final section focuses on Tommy’s quiet relationship with his wartime past, his role caring for their mother, his career as an army-trained chef, and how his name and memory continue through the family. Kevin closes by expressing his enduring pride and gratitude.
