Charles George Lord was a son of Thomas and Mary E. Lord of Loy Street, Cookstown. Although he lived in Cookstown, he enlisted while he was in Dublin. By the early summer of 1916 the 7th Leinsters were near Mazingarbhe and it was here that Charles was killed. He was the only casualty in his Battalion on that day and is buried in Philosophe British Military, Cemetery. Mazingarbhe, France.
Further Information
Charles George Lord was the second son of Thomas and Mary Ellen Lord (nee Kennedy). They were married in the district of Moyle on 17th October 1876.
Charles was born on 10th March 1881 in Clogher. Rose Lord, the eldest sibling was born in Ballycastle on 9th April 1878.
Family: Thomas Lord, Mary Ellen Lord, Rose Lord (born 9th April 1878), Edward Lord (born 10th April 1879), Charles G Lord (born 10th March 1881), Thomas P Lord (born 3rd August 1882), Harriet Ellen Lord (born 14th January 1885), Elizabeth Lord (born 30th October 1887, died 3rd July 1888).
The 1901 census lists Charles G. age 20, living with the family at house 56 in Queen Street, Clonmel, West Urban, Tipperary. Thomas Lord, his father, was an Inspector with the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children, the N.S.P.C.C.
Charles Lord joined the Royal Irish Constabulary (R.I.C.) in 1903, and spent ten years with them, principally in Belfast.
The 1911 census does not list Charles as living with the family at house 29 in Loy Street, Cookstown. His father is described as ‘Pensioner Sergeant R I C’. The police station was building 48 on Loy Street.
In 1912, he acquitted himself very heroically in a gallant attempt to save life at a fire at Castleton Gardens, and in acknowledgement of his work on the occasion he received the medal of the Royal Humane Society.
From the Royal Irish Constabulary Magazine dated March 1912:
Constables Charles G. Lord and Michael Crawley, Antrim Road, Belfast, who have been presented with bronze medals and the sum of two guineas each by the Society for The Protection of Life from Fire for their gallantry in attempting at the risk of their lives to rescue an old man named Stewart Nixon, who was being burned to death at 17 Castleton Gardens, Belfast, on the 15th of November last. The Constables have also been awarded Second Class Favourable Records by their own Authorities for bravery on the occasion. Unfortunately, Mr Nixon received burns from which he subsequently succumbed.
At the Belfast Summonds Court on the 14th February, Constables Charles Lord and Michael Crawley were made the recipients of the S.P.L.F, For their gallantry on the occasion of a fire which occurred on the 15th November, 1911 at 17 Castleton Gardens. It will be remembered how, when it was reported there was an old man named Stewart Nixon in the burning building, these two Constables, at great personal risk, rushed to the rescue, one to make the attempt by the staircase-which was already well alight-and the other to attempt by means of a ladder. In handing over the medals, Mr Garrett Nagle, R.M., said he was very pleased indeed to be intermediary for presenting the medals in recognition of their gallantry on the occasion in question, when Mr Nixon unfortunately lost his life. That calamity, however, was not due to any lack of resource on their part, Constable Lord called out the Fire Brigade, and made a gallant attempt to enter the building by means of the staircase, then in a mass of flames, and in his efforts was overcome by the smoke, and received an injury to his hand, Constable Crawley made two heroic attempts to effect an entrance from outside by means of a ladder, The ladder on the first occasion broke, and he fell to the ground. Nothing daunted, he again fixed the ladder in position, but it again broke, and in his fall the Constable got his hand injured. Such gallantry, said Mr Nagle, reflected great credit on the officers, and, indeed, on the entire Force to which they belonged; men who never failed to face danger when a life was at stake. District Inspector Ross, on behalf of the officers, thanked his worship for presenting the medals to the men, and for his kind remarks.
Although he was recorded as living in Cookstown, Charles Lord enlisted in Dublin and was granted a second-lieutenancy with the 7th Battalion of the Leinster Regiment in March 1915.
The 7th Leinsters were formed at Fermoy in October 1914, went to Blackdown in September of 1915.
From the Belfast Newsletter dated 17th March 1915: Commission for Constable Lord
A very popular member of the local police force stationed in Antrim Road Barracks, Constable Charles G Lord, has been granted a second-lieutenancy in connection with the 7th Leinster Regiment. Born in the county of Tyrone, this energetic young officer joined the constabulary in 1903, and has been serving in Belfast for just past eight years. He has always enjoyed the confidence of his superiors, and on more than one occasion received their compliments for his assiduity and cleverness. About two years ago he acquitted himself very heroically in a gallant attempt to save life at a fire at Castleton Gardens, and in acknowledgement of his work on the occasion he received the medal of the Royal Humane Society. Tonight, in honour of his volunteering for the war, he is to be entertained by his comrades and friends in the Antrim Road district at a dance, where they intend to make him the recipient of a suitable memento of his stay in Belfast.
From the Mid Ulster Mail dated 27th March 1915:
Constable Charles George Lord, the only surviving son of ex-Sergeant Lord, Cookstown, has obtained a commission in the 7th Leinster Regiment. Lieutenant Lord is about 29 years of age, and joined the Royal Irish Constabulary while under twenty. He was first stationed in County Kilkenny, but about eight years ago, at his own request, he was transferred to Belfast, where in the Antrim Road barracks he was very popular with is comrades, and had the confidence and frequent commendations of his superiors. About two years ago, for heroic conduct, in attempting to save life at a fire in Castleton Gardens, he was awarded the medal of the Royal Humane Society and £2. He volunteered three times for the Irish Guards, but was unsuccessful in the ballot, so, not to be denied, he made application for a commission and received favourable consideration. He has gone for military training to the Kenworth Camp, County Cork. On St Patrick’s night, his comrades and friends in the Antrim Road district, Belfast, entertained him at a dance, where he received, in addition to many good wishes for his future success, a suitable memento of his stay in the city.
Lance Corporal Charles George Lord landed with his regiment at Le Havre on 18th December 1915.
Lance Corporal Charles Lord was wounded in the arm in April 1916, but was back in the trenches at the end of May.
By the early summer of 1916 the battalion were near Mazingarbe and it was here that Lance Corporal Lord was killed.
Lance Corporal Charles George Lord was killed by the bursting of a shell on 2nd June 1916. He was 35 years old.
From the Mid Ulster Mail dated Saturday 10th June 1916:
News has just been received, unofficially, that Charles G Lord, son of ex-Sergeant Thomas Lord, Loy Street, Cookstown, was killed by the bursting of a shell on 1st June 1916. He enlisted in the 7th Leinsters about March 1915, having had ten years’ service in the R.I.C., principally in Belfast, and went to France in December, with the rank of Lance Corporal. He was wounded in the arm about two months ago, and went back to the trenches about the end of May. The news was communicated by a comrade of the deceased to a niece of Mrs Lord in County Down. Much sympathy is expressed with Mr and Mrs Lord.
He was the only casualty in his Battalion on that day and is buried in Philosophe British Cemetery. Mazingarbe, France.
Charles George Lord is commemorated on Cookstown Cenotaph.
The CWGC record Lance Corporal Charles Lord as the son of Thomas and Mary E. Lord of Loy Street, Cookstown, Co. Tyrone.
