John Faulkner was the eldest son of William and Sarah Jane Faulkner. He was born in the Cookstown area on 5th October 1896. He was the eldest of seven children, six surviving. The family lived in Coolkeeghan, Cookstown. His father was a farmer. At the outbreak of the First World War John Faulkner enlisted at Randalstown, County Antrim, and was trained at Finner Camp, Ballyshannon, County Donegal. Rifleman John Faulkner was serving with the 14th Battalion of the Royal Irish Rifles when he was killed in action in his first major engagement, on the first day of the Battle of the Somme on Saturday 1st July 1916.
Further Information
John Faulkner was the eldest son of William and Sarah Jane Faulkner. William Faulkner married Sarah Speers on 16th January 1896 in the district of Cookstown.
John Faulkner was born in the Cookstown area on 5th October 1896. He was the eldest of seven children, six surviving.
The 1901 census lists John as age 4, living with the family at house 1 in Coolkeeghan, Tullaghoge, County Tyrone. His father was a farmer.
Family: William Faulkner, Sarah Jane Faulkner, John Faulkner (born 5th October 1896), Thomas George William Faulkner (born 26th March 1898), Harriet Faulkner (born 30th November 1899, died 17th September 1903, aged 3), Mary Faulkner (born 25th August 1901), Kathleen Sarah Faulkner (born 30th November 1902), William Faulkner (born 10th June 1904), Evelyn Hazel Faulkner (born 10th December 1906).
The 1911 census lists John as age 14 at house 3 in Coolkeegan, Cookstown, County Tyrone. John was still at school.
John’s mother, Sarah Jane Faulkner, died 28th October 1912
At the outbreak of the First World War John Faulkner enlisted at Randalstown, County Antrim, and was trained at Finner Camp, Ballyshannon, County Donegal.
The 14th Battalion of the Royal Irish Rifles went to France in October 1915 as part of the 36th Ulster Division.
Rifleman John Faulkner was serving with the 14th Battalion of the Royal Irish Rifles when he was killed in action in his first major engagement, on the first day of the Battle of the Somme on Saturday 1st July 1916.
Rifleman John Faulkner has no known grave and he is commemorated on panel 15A-15B on the Thiepval Memorial in France.
Rifleman John Faulkner is commemorated locally on Cookstown Cenotaph and on Second Presbyterian Church Roll of Honour.
Rifleman John Faulkner is also commemorated locally on the family plot in Cookstown New Cemetery. The inscription reads:
William Faulkner, Coolkeighan -
In memory of his wife, Sarah Jane, died 28th October 1912
Also their daughter, Harriet, died 17th September 1903
And their son John, killed in action in France 1st July 1916.
Also the above named William Faulkner, died 19th May 1940.
And also their daughter Mary, died 28th April 1967.
The CWGC record Rifleman John Faulkner as the son of William Faulkner of Coolkeeghan, Cookstown, County Tyrone.
