The Flood Family from Howth County Dublin
	The Flood family lived at 31 Sutton South, Howth, County Dublin. Husband and wife Valentine and Ann Sutton had six children, five sons and one daughter. Four of the sons joined the army, two never returned and another died in 1922 as a result of wounds he received in the War.

Francis Flood RAMC 11202 was an Ambulance Driver and served in Egypt, Le Mons and the Somme in France and Gallipoli in Turkey, he served with the 29th Division Motor Ambulance workshop. He transferred to the 7th Battalion Tank Corps as a driver it is also possible he served as a gunner, his service number in the tank Corps was 95328. He returned to Ireland after the War where he married Mary and raised a family of eight children. Sadly Francis died in the arms of his wife on the 4th of February 1956 aged 62.

Valentine Flood served with the 32nd Field Ambulance Royal Army Medical Corps service number 46780 in Gallipoli, he was a prisoner of war , he is remembered on the Angora Memorial Baghdad (North Gate) Cemetery, he died on the 21 of December 1916 aged 28. John Flood 77138 served as a Driver with the “A” Battery 74th Brigade Royal Field Artillery. He was killed in action in France just before the end of the War on the 19th of October 1918 and is buried in Carnieres Communal Cemetery Extension, Nord, France. He was 27 years old and was married and left a wife who lived in Dean’s Grange Terrace, Blackrock, County Dublin. James Flood served as a Lance Corporal with the 6th and 9th Battalions The Royal Irish Rifles service number 6/2522 and was discharged in 1916 due to injuries received in action, he lost two fingers and was gassed on the same night. He re-enlisted in 1918 joining the 10th Company Army Service Corps service number T/439104 where he served up until 1920 as Lance Corporal. James died, aged 31, in 1922 as a direct result of the wounds he received while serving with the Royal Irish Regiment.

William Rushby

Although Ireland was neutral during the Second World War one of the most dangerous occupations for anyone living in Ireland was an occupation which involved going to sea. Many Irishmen volunteered for the Allied navies and many more were involved in the Merchant Navy and many Irishmen died at sea as a result of hostile attacks by the German Navy and Air Force. William Rushby was serving aboard the Irish Lights Ship SS Isolda (Dublin) when, on the morning of the 19th of December 1940, the ship was attacked by a German Air Force plane. The plane dropped its first load of bombs severely damaging the ship before returning to bomb the ship a second time to ensure the ship was destroyed. The SS Isolda was part of the Irish Lights Fleet and as such was a ship of a neutral country. The Lighthouse Service was considered a neutral service and the SS Isolda had Lighthouse Service painted in six foot high letters on both sides of the hull and was also flying the Irish Ensign. The SS Isolda had sailed from Rosslare Harbour Wexford to bring Christmas supplies to the Barrels and Conningbeg lightships William Rushby was born in Grimsby in 1897 and had settled in Carriglea Gardens Dun Laoghaire where he was raising his family. He was 43 years old when he was killed and is remembered on the Tower Hill Memorial London. He is also remembered on his family’s headstone in Dean’s Grange Cemetery.

Six crew members including William Rushby lost their lives on the Isolda. Their names are recorded on the Tower Hill Memorial in London. Their names are also recorded on a memorial to honour those who lost their lives while serving on Irish Merchant Ships during the Second World War at City Quay Dublin.. The twenty foot high Wicklow granite monolith incorporates a two hundred year old anchor and contains the names of 149 mariners who lost their lives during the conflict. Other crew members killed in the sinking of the Isolda were: Patrick Dunne, Coxswain on the Isolda, aged 47 and the Son of Patrick and Mary Ann Dunne; husband of Sarah J. Dunne, of Ranelagh, Dublin, Irish Republic. William Holland, steward on board the Isolda, aged 58 husband of Anne Holland. Patrick Farrell, Seaman, aged 24, Son of Patrick and Anne Farrell, of Dun Laoghaire, Co. Dublin. James Joseph Hayden, Greaser on the Isolda, aged 38, Husband of Elizabeth Hayden, of Drumcondra, Dublin. Patrick Shortt, Greaser on board the Isolda, aged 44, Son of Patrick and Emely Shortt; husband of Kathleen Shortt, of Bray, Co. Wicklow.