Friends of the Somme - Mid Ulster Branch  
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22764   Private John Timoney
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Dated added: 30/12/2015   Last updated: 01/05/2020
Personal Details
Regiment/Service: 2nd Battalion, Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers (British Army)
Died: 11/07/1916 (Killed in Action)
Age: 17
Summary      
John Timoney was a son of Edward and Brigid Timoney. John was born about 1899. The 1901 census lists John as age 2 living with the family at house 7 in Loy Street, Cookstown. His father was a labourer. John Timoney enlisted with the Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers in Londonderry in 1914. It is believed he enlisted in Londonderry because he would have been just 15 years old at that time and therefore underage. His elder brother Edward had already enlisted. Private John Timoney was killed in action on 11th July 1916 near Ovillers-la-Boiselle.
Further Information
John Timoney was a son of Edward and Brigid Timoney. Edward Timoney married Bridget Quinn on 16th November 1884 in Cookstown.
John Timoney was born about 1899 in Cookstown.
The 1901 census lists John as age 2 living with the family at house 7 in Loy Street, Cookstown. His father was a general labourer.
Family: Edward Timoney, Bridget Timoney, Mary Timoney (born 28th October 1885), Patrick Alphonsus Timoney (born about 1886), Joseph Edward Timoney (born 19th September 1890), James Timoney (born about 10th April 1893), Thomas Timoney (born about 1896), George Timoney (born about 1899), John Timoney (born about 1899), Arthur Timoney (born about 1900).
Loy Street, Cookstown
The 1911 census lists John as age 12 living with the family at house 16 in Loy Street, Cookstown. John was still at school. His father and his elder brothers worked as garden labourers.
John Timoney enlisted with the Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers in Londonderry in 1914. It is believed he enlisted in Londonderry because he would have been just 15 years old at that time and therefore underage. His elder brother Edward had already enlisted.
Medal card
From the Mid Ulster Mail dated 20th November 1915: MARRIAGES (sister of John Timoney)
McATAMNEY – TIMONEY – 16th November, with nuptial mass at St Mary’s R.C. Church, Lavey, by Rev Michael O’Neill, P.P., assisted by Rev Paul McKenna, C.C., Edward John, second son of John McAtamney, Moyogall, to Mary Teresa, only daughter of Edward Timoney, Cookstown.
On the 9th July 1916, the 2nd Battalion Inniskillings were temporarily attached to the 14th Infantry Brigade and marched to Ovillers-la-Boiselle. Their objective was to take a series of enemy trenches nearby, which they captured. The Inniskillings spent the next day strengthening their positions. On the night of the 10th July they were ordered to further exploit these positions by pushing the Germans out of a forward trench. Hand to hand fighting ensued, with many casualties before accomplishing this task. Over the next two days, the 2nd Inniskilling had captured and consolidated their objective, but at a loss of 55 other ranks dying of wounds or killed in action, between 9th and 15th July.
Private John Timoney was swerving with the 2nd Battalion of the Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers when he was killed in action on 11th July 1916 near Ovillers-la-Boiselle.
From the Mid Ulster Mail dated Saturday 12th August 1916:
Newspaper Report
Private J Timoney, officially reported killed, was the son of Edward Timoney, Loy Street, and joined about two years ago. He was in the Irish Brigade.
Private J Timoney has no known grave and is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial to the Missing of the Somme in France.
Lance Sergeant Edward Joseph Timoney was an elder brother of John. Edward survived the war but died whilst still in service in India on 17th September 1920.
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Relevant Cookstown Area Locations
No Location Region Location Notes Longtitude Latitude
1 Loy Street, Cookstown Cookstown Central Parents lived at Loy Street, Cookstown 54.642824 -6.744747
References and Links
No Link Reference Map Doc
1 1901 Census lists Timoney family 1901 census lists John as age 2 at house 7 in Loy Street, Cookstown
2 1911 Census lists Timoney family 1911 census lists John as age 12 at house 16 in Loy Street, Cookstown
3 Lance Sergeant Edward Joseph Timoney Brother of Private John Timoney
4 National Archives UK Medal card can be purchased here
Cookstown District's War Dead Acknowledgements 2010-2023