Graveside ceremony in west Mayo in memory of distinguished war hero

A short commemorative graveside wreath laying and remembrance service has taken place in St. Catherine’s Churchyard Cemetery in Newport.

This marked the 80th anniversary of the death of one of Ireland's greatest ever war time aviators, the legendary Major Thomas Falcon Hazel.

Thomas was a native of Cashel, Connemara, and he died and was buried in Newport.

The ceremony was brilliantly organised and movingly delivered by Michael Feeney, MBE, secretary of the Mayo Peace Park, Garden of Remembrance, in association with Newport man John Loftus.

The Reverend Suzanne Cousins, Rector of the Aughavale Parishes of Westport, Dugort, Castlebar and Turlough, attended the ceremony and read the lessons and led the ceremony off with appropriate prayers.

The world-famous author Robert Jocelyn, who has recently written and published a best-selling book about the life and times of Major Hazel, was in attendance and he delivered a fitting account of his life and times. He was accompanied by his wife Anne.

The highly respected historian, author and worldwide military tour guide retired Irish Defence Force Officer Captain Donal Buckley, a veteran of numerous Irish United Nations peace keeping operations, rendered a repeat of the eulogy given by the late Major Noel Coglan at the original grave rededication in 2018. Major Noel Coglan was the man who generously paid for the original grave restoration work.

Frank Brien of the Royal Air Force Republic of Ireland Branch was in attendance to pay respects. He laid a wreath on behalf of the RAF Association.

Many members from the Mayo Branch of the Organisation of National Ex-Service men and women were in attendance.

Stephen McLaughlin and members of the Mayo Peace Park committee attended. The chairman of the Connaught Rangers Association, Sergeant PJ Maloney, was in attendance to represent the association and take an active part in the proceedings.

There was a large attendance of interested individuals in attendance from Connemara and around County Mayo.

Elma Brazel of the Newport Historical Society was in attendance.

A message of support and thanks was read from the curator of the Enniskillen Museum, Maeve Cadden, and John Moylette laid a poppy wreath on behalf of the Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers and the museum.

Mr. Moylette is a well-known ONE member, a former reserve soldier. He is a well-known local photographer and he was on hand to record the historic event events for posterity.

The incredible career, history and exploits of Major Thomas Falcon Hazel were recalled in the eulogy and speeches. Thomas had served with the Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers Regiment in some of the most horrific and bloodiest of military battles during the early part of World War One while serving on the Western Front.

His regiment set sail for Flanders and arrived in time to be part of the unspeakable First Battle of Ypres. Thomas played a part in subsequent battles at Loos, Aubers Ridge, Festubert and the Somme. They were terrible battles and so many young men’s lives were wasted. They were no more than fodder to the guns as they were slaughtered on a daily basis.

Thomas F. Hazel must have decided that enough was enough and he applied to join the new embryonic Royal Flying Corps.

His application was accepted as it seems that they were anxious to recruit suitable candidates and volunteers to train as pilots. He went on to become an all-time flying ace and legendary hero. He was one of the few original pilots who survived the war - indeed on one horrific occasion he was shot down.

The planes in operation at that time were relatively new and experimental. They were described as hazardous flying kites, so it was a very dangerous occupation to take on.

Over half of the Royal Flying Corps casualties occurred during the initial training period. The quality of instruction was poor enough at that time and it was said to be ill-coordinated and woefully unstructured.

Incredibly, there was no instruction on how to handle the dreaded ‘Spin’ - this was not available until later in 1916. The planes they flew were renowned for stalling at the slightest provocation.

The airfields at that time were often poorly chosen death traps, with an average death fatality of one per week. The underpowered Avro’s planes were renowned for their capacity to stall at the slightest provocation. They were used as intermediate trainers despite their obvious unsuitability for that role.

Thomas did survive a serious crash in 1917 when he was flying a stable but somewhat obsolete Nieuwpoort Scout aircraft with No. 1 Squadron RFC. He served as Flight Commander with 24th Squadron during that period.

According to the eulogy presented at his grave rededication in 2018, by the late Major Noel Coghlan, Thomas accounted for one captured aircraft, he destroyed over 18 German aircraft and he shot down ten observation balloons. To really put that into perspective a balloon was rated equal to 2/3 kills as they were defended from the ground and in the air.

Thomas was awarded the Military Cross, the Distinguished Service Order, a distinction that was rarely awarded to a junior officer. His substantive rank was that of Captain at that particular time. He was awarded the DFC, the distinguished flying cross. When the Royal Flying Corps was eventually amalgamated into the Royal Air Force, he swapped his Captain's pips for a Flight Commander's Rings.

He retired from the Royal Air Force with the rank of Squadron Leader in 1927. During World War Two, he took command of D. Company 24th Tettenhall Battalion of the South Staffordshire, Home Guard and thereby recovered his military rank.

Those who gathered at his graveside to rededicate his newly found and restored grave back in 2018 were astonished to learn about him and those who gathered to mark the 80th anniversary of his death at the relatively tender young age of 54 years of age were equally proud to pay their respect to the legendary and extraordinary soldier and airman.

The ceremony also remembered Major Hazel’s grandfather Captain William Buckley V.C, who is noted on the headstone, although he died and was buried in Maderia.

In Ireland we did not really understand the heroism of the Irish World War volunteers as they served under different flags on foreign battlefield.

Attitudes have change over recent years and men like Thomas Falcon Hazel are now receiving the respect that was long overdue to them in their own homeland.

May he rest in peace in the tranquil setting of St. Catherine’s Churchyard Cemetery, Newport.

Former Mayo Person of the Year, Michael Feeney, MBE, recently published his latest book, the very highly regarded and recommended ‘Historic Mayo’ - a limited edition, 525 page, very well produced hardback epic production.

It relates previously unknown articles and stories about Mayo born men and women who served and died in the world wars.

Contact Michael directly via mayomemorialpeacepark@gmail.com.

It is a must for anyone with a genuine interest in local history.

The book is still available directly from the author or from McLoughlin’s Book Shop, Westport, at the Castlebar Book Shop or in what was formerly Eason’s Shops in Castlebar and Ballina while stocks last.

When it’s gone its gone, it won’t be reproduced and it is already becoming a valuable collector’s item.