Listen: How a Derry soldier's family were cast out after the war

Jun 29, 2016, 06:40 AM

Thomas Young was an orphan from Rosemount who was sent away to join the army. When the First World War broke out he encouraged other young local men to enlist, even helping them to train in nearby fields. Every one of them was killed at the Somme, leaving the area bereft. Thomas's wife Elizabeth was left a widow with six children to raise, and was ostracised by her neighbours who blamed her husband for leading the others to their deaths. Their granddaughter Lily O'Hagan still lives in Rosemount, and she's been telling our reporter Freya McClements about her grandparents.