Current Information:

Born-Aldgate

Ferme Buterne Military Cemetery, Houplines, France

On 10th March, 1915, the 2nd Leinster battalion of 17 Brigade, 6th Division moved into trenches at Epinette near Armentières where they remained until relieved on 19th March. The battalion diary does not provide details of casualties during their stay here so the circumstances of the death of Valentine Mulkern on 11th March are not known. The attrition rate among British soldiers on the Western Front was on average 300 each day and 60% of these were as a result of shellfire. When not involved in an actual battle it was either shell fire or a sniper’s bullet that caused most deaths and injuries.