Nostalgia
A 100 Year Anniversary
By Kieran Downes
24, Nov 2017 - 18:52

Michael Wallace was from Knockmore, County Mayo. His father and mother worked at Coolcronan House, Foxford. Michael, 23 years old, died of his wounds at Bourlon Wood on November 27, 1917, in the battle of Cambrai in northern France. His identity tag survives which indicates a comrade found his dead body, collected the identity tag and notified HQ of his death ("comrades evidence"). A German counter-attack on the same day reclaimed Bourlon Wood and resulted in his body not being recovered.

Michael Wallace's parents preserved his memory by mounting his identity tag in a silver frame. His parents also posted in some paper(s) a request for information on their missing son. His name is engraved on the World War I memorials in Ballina and Castlebar, and on the Cambrai Memorial, Louveral, Nord France.

Michael was a brother of the late Jack Wallace of Foxford, and a first cousin of the late Willie, Dan, John and Josie Downes (Mrs. Tim McDonagh) of Castlebar.

https://irelandandthegreatwarblog.wordpress.com/2017/03/02/private-michael-joseph-wallace/