Waterford in County Waterford, Munster, Ireland — Irish South-West ((Éire) North Atlantic Ocean)
John Condon Memorial
Photographed by Ian Lefkowitz, May 16, 2026
1. John Condon Memorial Marker
John Condon lived in Wheelbarrow Lane, off Ballybricken, in Waterford City. Enlisting as a private, John was posted to the 2nd Battalion, Royal Irish Regiment and sent to Flanders in December 1914. On the 24th May 1915 during the 2nd Battle of Ypres Private John Condon, 6322, was killed in action on Bellevarde Ridge.Known as the ‘Boy Soldier’, his grave stone in Poelkapelle Cemetery, Belgium records his age as 14 when he was killed and his is one of the most visited Allied war graves in Europe. The Commonwealth War Graves Commission archives record that John Condon was the “youngest known battle casualty of the war.”
“So here, while the mad guns curse overhead,
And tired men sigh, with mud for couch and floor,
Know that we fools, now with the foolish dead,
Died not for flag, nor king, nor emperor,
But for a dream, born in a herdsman’s shed,
And for the secret scripture of the poor.”
— Tom Kettle
In remembrance of the men, women and children of Waterford who lost their lives as a result of armed conflict at home and abroad.
I gcuimhne orthu siúd go léir ó phort Láirge, idir fhir, mhná agus pháistí, a fuair bás i gcogaí in Éirinn agus i gcéin
Topics. This memorial is listed in this topic list: War, World I.
Location. 52° 15.605′ N, 7° 6.477′ W. Memorial is in Waterford, Munster, in County Waterford. It is at the intersection of Cathedral Square and Henrietta Street, on the left when traveling west on Cathedral Square. Touch for map. Memorial is at or near this postal address: 2 Cathedral Square, Waterford, Munster, Ireland. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this memorial is in the Ancient East. Globally, it is on the Atlantic Ocean, in the North Atlantic Region, in Europe, on the Island of Ireland, on the Celtic Fringe, in the European
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Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Madness and Loss in WWI (here, next to this marker); John Roberts (a few steps from this marker); Chairman's Arch (a few steps from this marker); Raymond T. Chandler (within shouting distance of this marker); God’s People’s House (within shouting distance of this marker); Lewis Chess Set (within shouting distance of this marker); The Marriage That Changed History (within shouting distance of this marker); Seán Ó hEathirn / John J Hearne (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Waterford.
Also see . . . John Condon (British Army soldier) (Wikipedia).
Pte. John Condon (5 October 1897 – 24 May 1915) was an Irish soldier born in Waterford City.[1] He was mistakenly believed to have been the youngest Allied soldier killed during the First World War, at the age of 14 years; he lied about his age and he claimed to be 18 years old when he signed up to join the army in 1913. He was killed(Submitted on June 23, 2026, by Ian Lefkowitz of New York, New York.)in action in a gas attack during the Second Battle of Ypres in 1915 and his body was not recovered for another ten years...It is now believed from a birth certificate, census, war diaries and other records that John Condon would have been 17 years old at the recorded date of his death and that the wrong individual is named on the grave.Photographed by Ian Lefkowitz, May 16, 20262. John Condon MemorialThe memorial to Private John Condon stands at the end of Cathedral Square. Several sections of the memorial are inscribed.
Photographed by Ian Lefkowitz, May 16, 2026
3. John Condon Memorial
This poem is inscribed in the memorial.
Photographed by Ian Lefkowitz, May 16, 2026
4. John Condon Memorial
The memorial is located adjacent to Christ Church Cathedral.
Credits. This page was last revised on June 23, 2026. It was originally submitted on June 23, 2026, by Ian Lefkowitz of New York, New York. This page has been viewed 15 times since then. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on June 23, 2026, by Ian Lefkowitz of New York, New York. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.
