Friends of the Somme - Mid Ulster Branch  
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6794   Lance Corporal James McAleece
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Dated added: 30/12/2015   Last updated: 01/05/2020
Personal Details
Regiment/Service: 11th Battalion, Royal Irish Rifles (British Army)
Died: 01/07/1916 (Killed in Action)
Age:
Summary      
James McAleece was born in Stewartstown, County Tyrone. At the start of the War he was living at Ballyveney, Stewartstown. On the 1st July 1916 they were in the front line in readiness for the Somme Offensive. By the end of that day, 133 men of the 11th Royal Irish Rifles had been killed in action, including Lance Corporal McAleece.
Further Information
James McAleece was born in Stewartstown, County Tyrone. At the start of the War he was living at Ballyveney, Stewartstown.
He enlisted at Clandeboye with the 11th Battalion Royal Irish Rifles. The Battalion was raised in County Antrim from the Antrim Volunteers and trained at Clandeboye and Seaford.
Medal card
They arrived at Boulogne in October 1915 and the Battalion underwent further training, being posted to other more experienced units on the Western Front.
On the 1st July 1916 they were in the front line in readiness for the Somme Offensive.
By the end of that day, 133 men of the 11th Royal Irish Rifles had been killed in action, including Lance Corporal McAleece.
Lance Corporal James McAleece has no known grave and is commemorated on panel 15A-15B on the Thiepval Memorial, France.
James McAleece is commemorated on Stewartstown Cenotaph and on Donaghendry Church of Ireland Roll of Honour (as James McAleish), Stewartstown.
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Relevant Cookstown Area Locations
No Location Region Location Notes Longtitude Latitude
1 Ballyveeny, Ballyclog Stewartstown Census listing in Ballyveeny 54.608763 -6.642263
References and Links
No Link Reference Map Doc
1 1901 Census lists McAleece family 1901 census lists James as age 4 at house 13 in Ballyveeny, Ballyclog, Stewartstown
2 1911 Census lists McAleece family 1911 census does not list James as living with the family at house 6 in Ballyveeny, Ballyclog
3 Facebook page Photo of Lance Corporal James McAleece's inscription
4 National Archives UK Medal card can be purchased here (No 11/6794)
5 Private William McAleece Very probably the brother of Lance Corporal James McAleece
Cookstown District's War Dead Acknowledgements 2010-2023