| Joseph Sloan was a son of George and Elizabeth Sloan. George Sloan and Elizabeth Wilson were married on 10th November 1857 in the district of Cookstown.
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| Joseph Sloan was born on 21st May 1881 at Grange, Cookstown. He was the youngest of at least six known children.
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| Known family: George Sloan, Elizabeth Sloan, Unknown female (born 13th January 1864), Thomas Sloan (born 28th July 1870), Ellen Sloan (born 20th May), George Sloan (born 8th July 1876), Joseph Sloan (born 21st May 1881).
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| The 1901 census has a possible listing of Joseph as age 20, living with sister at house 87 in Church St, Cookstown. He was a carter.
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| Around 1904, when he was 23, he left for Scotland and worked in Coatbridge.
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| Joseph Sloan joined the Royal Scottish Fusiliers and was on the Reserve.
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| 1914
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| Joseph Sloan was called up when war was declared. His regiment left Scotland for the continent about 10th September 1914.
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| Private Joseph Sloan was in the fighting line almost continuously until he was wounded on 21st October 1914.
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| Private Sloan was moved to Cork Military Hospital a week later,
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| His sister, Mrs Cheevers, of Tullycoll, Cookstown, had a number of letters from the Chaplain of the hospital, Reverend J H Murphy, telling her of Joseph’s condition.
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| Private Joseph Sloan was serving with the D Company, 2nd Battalion of the Royal Scots Fusiliers when he died of wounds at Cork Military on Monday 2nd November 1914. He was 33 years old
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| Reverend J H Murphy conducted the funeral service on 3rd November 1914.
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| Private Sloane was not married and left two sisters, one of whom was Mrs Cheevers, and one brother.
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| News of his death from wounds was received with shock in Coatbridge where he was fondly remembered. He was an active member of East United Free Church and was well known and held in high esteem in Coatbridge where he was a prominent player with Summerlee Britannia Football Club.
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| From the Mid Ulster Mail dated 14th November 1914:
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| SLOANE – 2nd November, at the Military Hospital, Cork, the result of wounds received in France on 21st October, Joseph Sloane, 5867, Private, D company, Royal Scottish Fusiliers, Interred in Cork
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Now the labourer’s task is over
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Now the battle day has passed
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Now upon the farther shore
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Lands the voyager at last
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Father, in Thy gracious keeping
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Leave me now Thy servant sleeping.
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| From the Mid Ulster Mail dated 14th November 1914: Private Joseph Sloane
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| Joseph Sloane was born in Grange, Cookstown about 1882. About ten years ago he left for Scotland and worked in Coatbridge. He joined the Royal Scottish Fusiliers some years ago and was on the Reserve, and was called up when war was declared. His regiment left Scotland for the Continent about 10th September, and he was in the fighting line almost continuously till he was wounded on 21st October, and he arrived in Cork a week later, and was tended in the Military Hospital there until his death on 2nd November. His sister, Mrs Cheevers, Tullycoll, Cookstown, had several letters from the Presbyterian chaplain, Rev J H Murphy, D.D., as to the patient’s condition during the time he was in Cork. Dr Murphy conducted the funeral service on 3rd November. Private Sloane was unmarried and leaves two sisters (one of whom is married) and one brother.
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| 1915
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| From the Mid Ulster Mail dated 6th November 1915:
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| SLOAN – In fond and loving memory of my dear brother, Private Thomas Sloan, No 5867, Royal Scots Fusiliers, who died of wounds received in France on 2nd November 1914.
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At rest all battles over, the weary marching done,
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Brave to the last, to his God he passed, and the victor’s crown has won.
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Bereaved of a home here on earth, he died in a distant land,
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A loving mother waits in heaven, to take him by the hand.
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| Inserted by his sorrowing sister and brother-in-law, Mrs Annie and Thomas Chambers, Tullycall, Cookstown.
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| 1916
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| From the Mid Ulster Mail dated Saturday 4th November 1916:
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| SLOAN – In loving memory of my dear brother, Private Joseph Sloan, who received wounds in France, and died in Cork Military Hospital on 2nd November 1914.
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‘Oh dear brother, your battle is over;
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Your duty on earth is done;
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You fought for liberty and honour
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And the prize of life you won.
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At your country’s call you answered;
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Nor feared to meet the foe,
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My King and country need me
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And we would not say ‘Don’t Go’
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So now though our hearts are breaking,
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And our tears of anguish flow,
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We say with pride, ‘For his King he died,’
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Who would not have it so?’
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| Inserted by his loving sister and brother-in-law, Mr and Mrs Cheevers, Tullycoll, Cookstown
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| Private Joseph Sloan is buried in Cork Military Cemetery Park and is commemorated on the Screen Wall.
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| Private Joseph Sloan is also commemorated on the Coatbridge Memorial.
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| Joseph Sloan is commemorated locally on Cookstown Cenotaph and on St Luran’s Church of Ireland Roll of Honour, Derryloran, Cookstown.
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| The CWGC record Private Joseph Sloan as the son of George and Eliza Sloan of Cookstown, County Tyrone
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