The search for Patrick Wosser, of Dungarvan. Patrick Anthony Wosser was born in Parsley Lane Dungarvan on the 13th June in 1920. His father was John Wosser and his mother's maiden name was Helena Dwyer. Certainly, the Surname 'Wosser' is an unusual surname and not at all associated with Dungarvan town. However, his mother's name 'Dwyer' may strike a note with someone in the town. The family apparently did not stay long in Dungarvan after the year of his birth, and I could find no entries for that surname in the 1901/1911, census. We do know that his father was a fitter and it is quite probable that he may have come here to work with a particular Company, and later was transferred back to Dublin. This of course is pure supposition on my part. In a recent publication by Peter Roebuck & Mike Kilduff on 'The Salesian Cemetery at Shrigley' Manchester, a chapter deals with sad story of Patrick who -the author's say- "was one of those boys who made their way to Shrigley via an overnight ferry trip from Dublin to Liverpool. The Salesian Missionary College at Shrigley Park in Cheshire (near Macclesfield was a junior seminary run by the Salesians of Don Bosco. Before the Salesians in Ireland established their own novitiate at Ballinakill c.1940, Shrigley recruited very heavily in Ireland, South and North: the chief recruiter was a charismatic Maltese Salesian, Fr. Joseph Ciantar, who some people may still remember. Shrigley had many strong supporters and benefactors in Ireland during the 1930s, including the famous Alfie Byrne, Lord Mayor of Dublin, who visited the College on more than one occasion. Patrick crossed the Irish sea three times: once in August/September 1933 when he was first admitted to the College and enrolled in Lower Elements; again in July 1934 when he returned home for his only summer vacation from Shrigley; and finally in the following September when he returned to join Upper Elements. He died on 5 December 1934, of 'Acute Rheumatic carditis aged fourteen. The authors also say that there are very few traces of him in the Salesian archives and despite extended efforts, they have been unable to trace any of his relatives. They also write that they do not know how many brothers and/or sisters he had, but at his death he was described as the 'eldest son'. This clearly indicates that Patrick had siblings and that it is very likely that somewhere in Ireland there are surviving relatives. Patrick Wosser was the third boy to die at Shrigley during the 1930s and Peter & Mike have been unable to create a full profile of Patrick through lack of any solid evidence. Peter informed me that they exhausted all lines of enquiry prior to the launch of the book and that 'Sadly, of the boys buried there, Patrick Wosser was the only one with no relative to lay our flowers on his grave during the special service which we organised for the Re-Union weekend'. I would ask anyone who may have any information to please contact me. Patrick's address at the time of his death was 5, Petrie road , South Circular Road Dublin Eddie Cantwell, 058 42685 Or [email protected]