Presentation of Leinster Regiment photographic album to Offaly Archives.

On December 3rd 2021, Dr. Christopher O'C Fitz-Simon presented an album of Leinster regiment photographs to the Offaly Archives on the centenary of the Leinsters' disbandment.

During the presentation Dr. Fitz-Simon was interviewed by military historian Stephen Callaghan about the album, and the career of his father, Lieutenant Colonel Christopher Fitz-Simon.

N.B. In the interview where C Fitzsimons says ‘maternal’ grandmother please note it is ‘paternal’, and ‘Italy’ should be ‘India’’.

Photograph album created by Lt. Col. M. O'Carroll Fitz-Simon, M.C. , who began his military career in Prince of Wales' Leinster Regiment, which was headquartered at Birr. The photographs document a peace-keeping mission the Leinsters undertook in Silesia (now part of Poland) from their departure at Dover on 31 May 1921, through Germany and to their destination of Oppeln (Opole in Poland today). Following the disbandment of the regiment in June 1922, Fitz-Simon joined the King's Own Regiment, Lancaster and the remaining photographs in the album depict scenes from missions in India and Burma. There is also a small number of photographs of people and houses in the Birr area including Whigsborough House, and the burnt out remains of Birr Barracks (following its destruction in the Civil War in July 1922).

See the full catalogue at offalyarchives.com