There’s an interesting WWII war grave in the grounds of the Brass Cock church- or offically St. Thomas’s Church, on the Dunmore Road, Waterford.

What sets it apart, is that it is for a young woman – a Wren, Margaret Marion Clarke.

Margaret, pet name Peggy, was serving in 1941 aboard HMS Caroline (1914), which is now a visitor attraction and museum in Belfast docklands, but at the time was being used as a floating office and administration centre. It was effectively the Northern Ireland control centre of the Royal Navy during the war.

According to Wikipedia 

From 1939 until 1945, during the Second World War, Caroline served as the Royal Navy’s headquarters in Belfast Harbour, which was used as a home base by many of the warships escorting Atlantic and Arctic convoys, including Captain-class frigates of the 3rd Escort Group.  As Belfast developed into a major naval base during the Second World War, its headquarters outgrew the confines of HMS Caroline herself and occupied different establishments in various parts of the city. Eventually several thousand ratings were wearing Caroline cap tallies. The first such establishment was set up in the Belfast Custom House. Later, Belfast Castle was taken over and included a radio station. There were depth charge pistol and Hedgehog repair workshops associated with HMS Caroline, some of which would have been on the quays beside her berth in Milewater Basin.

Presumably the 18 year old Waterford girl was working as a clerk or other administration function. The role of the Women’s Royal Navy Service (the “Wrens”) was wide and varied of course.

Again, according to Wikipedia

The Women’s Royal Naval Service (WRNS; popularly and officially known as the Wrens) was the women’s branch of the United Kingdom’s Royal Navy. First formed in 1917 for the First World War, it was disbanded in 1919, then revived in 1939 at the beginning of the Second World War, remaining active until integrated into the Royal Navy in 1993. WRNS included cooks, clerks, wireless telegraphists, radar plotters, weapons analysts, range assessors, electricians, air mechanics, ground transport vehicle drivers and motorcycle dispatch riders.

Specifically in WWII

The WRNS had an expanded list of allowable activities, including flying transport planes. At its peak in 1944 it had 75,000 active servicewomen. During the war 102 WRNS members were killed in action and 22 wounded in action.[3] One of the slogans used in recruitment posters was “Join the Wrens and free a man for the Fleet”….Wrens were prominent as support staff at the Government Code and Cypher School at Bletchley Park; they were the direct operators of the bombes and Colossus used to break Axis codes and cyphers.

Local historian and teacher, Joe Falvey told me previously that she had returned home to Waterford, very unwell and subsquently died and was buried at the family plot in Ballinakill.

I’ve since located her obituary and it makes for sad reading, but also highlights that the family were no stranger to service and her father was actually serving in the RN at the time. I’m including the entire piece which was on the front page of Waterford Standard – Saturday 01 February 1941

OBITUARY Miss Margaret M. Clarke

It is with very deep regret that record the death of Miss Margaret Marion (Peggy) Clarke, which took place at the Co. and City Infirmary, Waterford, on Tuesday night, after an illness contracted on active service with the Women’s Royal Naval Service. She was only 18 years old. She was educated at Bishop Foy School, Waterford, and enlisted in the Woman’s Royal Naval Service only a few months ago; she was attached to H.M.S. Caroline.

She was third daughter of Lieut, and Mrs. J. H. Clarke, Ballinakill House, Waterford. Lieut. Clarke saw service in the Great War, and at the outbreak of the present hostilities was again enlisted. Mrs. Clarke’s only brother, Mr. Robt. Newport Dobbyn, was killed on active service in 1916, at the age of 23 years. Lieut. Clarke obtained special leave to be at his daughter’s bedside.

The remains were removed from the Infirmary to St. Thomas’s Church, Ballinakill, on Wednesday afternoon. The coffin was of unpolished oak with nickle silver mountings. The inscription on the breast-plate was: “Margaret Marion (Peggv) Clarke. Fell Asleep, 28 January 1941, aged 18 years. It was removed on an open bier. A Guard of Honour was provided by the Waterford Company of the Boy Scouts, and Girl Guides in uniform acted as pall bearers. The Headmaster, staff, boarders and day pupils of Bishop Foy School walked in the procession. There was a very large attendance of all classes and creeds.

On arrival at Ballinakill on Wednesday, the remains were received by the Dean of Waterford and Rev. H. R. McAdoo.

Interment took place on Thursday at Ballinakill Churchyard, after a Service conducted by the Dean of Waterford, and Rev, H. R. McAdoo. The grave was lined with moss and evergreens.

The chief mourners were; Lieut. J. H. Clarke (father). Misses Patsy and Grace Clarke (sisters), Capt. and Mrs. D. P. Hall (uncle and aunt), Mr. E. Acton Gibbon.

Beautiful wreaths were received from the following;

‘To our darling Peggy, from us all”

“To darling Peggy with love, from Mummy and Daddy.”

“Love from Grace.”

“Peggy, with Mummy’s love.”

“From Grannie and Winne, with love.”

“From Uncle Bill and Ellie. with deepest sympathy.”

“With very loving remembrance of dear Peggy, from Auntie Strangman.”

“With love from Aunt Irish, Uncle Percy, Robin and Desmond.”

“With love and deepest sympathy, from Nellie and Acton Gibbon.”

“With love from Aphra.”

“In loving remembrance from the Earls. Granstown.”

“With love and deepest sympathy, from the Jephson family.”

“In lasting memory of Peggy from her chums at Foys.”

“In loving remembrance from Mr. and Mrs. Harris, the Harris Boys, and Ernest Lovell.”

“In deepest sympathy from the Teaching Staff, Bishop Foy School, Waterford.”

“With all love and sympathy from Enid Bright, Kilcop.”

“With deepest sympathy, from Mr. and Mrs. Rossmore Odlum and Elizabeth.”

“In affectionate remembrance, T. and E. Cleary.”

“Deepest sympathy. Tom Turner.”

“In remembrance from the Mc- Grath family, Knockboy.”

“With all my love, deep regret and sympathy, from Mrs. H. Oliver de Bromhead.”

“Sincerest sympathy, from Mrs. Rice and family.”

“With deepest regret and much sympathy from Mrs. Edgar White.”

“With deepest sympathy and in loving memory of Peggy. Mr. and Mrs. Purcell-FitzGerald. and Patrick Purcell-FitzGerald, The Island.”

“In remembrance of Peggy, Jenny and Mabel.”

“With sympathy. Mr. and Mrs. White and family.”

“From Mrs. McCoy. May and Florence. Leoville.”

“With loving memory from Miss White, Holmacre.”

’’With sincere regret and sympathy from Lady Anderson, Mrs. Carew, Cynthia, Baby,, and all at Ballydavid.”

“From Ferdinando and Boodie, The Island, with love.”

So spare a thought for a young life cut short, and a brave life too. She left the Suir to do her piece in the defeat of the Nazis, who knows how that courage would have helped shape Waterford had she survived.