Friends of the Somme - Mid Ulster Branch  
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S/13144   Private Silas Lennox
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Dated added: 30/12/2015   Last updated: 01/05/2020
Personal Details
Regiment/Service: 2nd Battalion, Black Watch (British Army)
Date Of Birth: 26/05/1894
Died: 22/07/1916 (Died of Illness)
Age: 21
Summary      
Silas Lennox was the son of Eccles and Martha Lennox. By 1883 the family were living in the Magherafelt area. Silas Lennox was born on 26th May 1894 in the Bellaghy, Magherafelt. He was one of sixteen children. Silas worked for a while as a messenger boy with a relative, Mr A Lennox, who owned The Arcade in Cookstown. He moved to Glasgow and was employed in one of the shops of the Maypole Dairy Company. While on active service in Mesopotamia, Private Silas Lennox contracted a fever and died a few days later, on 22nd July 1916.
Private Silas Lennox
Further Information
Silas Lennox was the son of Eccles and Martha Lennox. Eccles Lennox & Martha Tomb were married in September 1881 in Glasgow.
By 1883 the family were living in the Magherafelt area.
Silas Lennox was born on 26th May 1894 in the Bellaghy, Magherafelt. He was one of sixteen children.
Known family: Eccles Lennox, Martha Lennox, Eccles Lennox (born 29th January 1883), Lizzie Ann Lennox (born 2nd January 1885), William James Lennox (born 25th September 1887), Bella Jane Lennox (born about 1890), Hugh Lennox (born 11th April 1892), Silas Lennox (born 26th May 1894), Hannah Lennox (born 16th April 1897), George Lennox (born 20th July 1899). All listed were born in the Magherafelt area.
There is no listing of the Lennox family in the 1901 census, and no more children can be found in the GRONI records, so it is assumed they moved to Scotland.
Silas worked for a while as a messenger boy with a relative, Mr. A. Lennox, who owned the ‘The Arcade’ in Cookstown.
Advert: A Lennox, Arcade, Cookstown
Eccles Lennox died in Canada after leaving wife Martha and 5 of their children in Glasgow. Eccles Lennox was murdered 17 Nov.1908. Had been working at Portage La Prairie for Grand Trunk Railroad and sent £500 home to wife in Scotland. Several versions of death, trial, etc. available on-line.
When he moved to Glasgow he was employed in one of the shops of the Maypole Dairy Company, where he received promotion and his job seemed secure.
Silas enlisted around December 1915 with the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders and later transferred to the 2nd Battalion of the Black Watch (Royal Highlanders). Silas had previously being rejected three times owing to the state of his health prior to being passed fit.
Medal card
Silas Lennox photo
While on active service in Mesopotamia, Private Silas Lennox contracted a fever and died a few days later, on 22nd July 1916. He was 21 years old and had little more than six months service.
From the Mid Ulster Mail dated Saturday 12th August 1916: Private Silas Lennox
Newspaper Report
lennox
Private Silas Lennox, Black Watch, son of Mrs Martha Lennox, Coagh Street, Cookstown, who died of fever in Mesopotamia while on active service, on 22nd June. The deceased, who was 21 years of age, had little more than six months service, he being three times rejected owing to the state of his health prior to being passed fit. Brought up in Cookstown, he was employed by Mr Lennox, ‘The Arcade’ as a messenger in his boyhood. Between three and four years ago he went to Glasgow where he was employed in one of the shops of the Maypole Dairy Company up to the time of his enlistment. He had more than once been promoted by his employers and his future seemed very promising. He was a quiet kindly disposition and much respected by all who knew him and his early death is greatly regretted. Mrs Lennox has two other sons on active service as well as three sons-in-law, one of the latter being a prisoner in Germany.
From the Mid Ulster Mail dated Saturday 12th August 1916:
Newspaper Report
LENNOX – 22 July at a Military Hospital, Mesopotamia (of fever), Private Silas Lennox, Black Watch, son of Mrs Martha Lennox, Cookstown.
'Now the earthly fight is over,
And in perfect peace he sleeps,
Till he meets again with his loved ones
Angels, carefully him keeps.
Short was your life, my darling son,
But peaceful is your rest
Your mother misses you most of all,
Twas she who loved you best.
The news was sad, the blow was hard,
God’s will is shall be done!
With a manly heart, he did his part
My dear beloved son'
Deeply regretted by his sorrowing mother, brothers, sisters and other relatives.
Private Silas Lennox is interred in plot 6, row E, grave 7 at Basra War Cemetery, Iraq.
At the time of his death, Silas had two brothers on active service in the army. He also had three brother-in-laws who were also serving.
The CWGC record Private Silas Lennox as the son of Eccles and Martha Lennox, of 61 Cowlairs Road, Springburn, Glasgow.
Read more
Relevant Cookstown Area Locations
No Location Region Location Notes Longtitude Latitude
1 Coagh Street Cookstown Central Parents lived in Coagh Street 54.648391 -6.743349
References and Links
No Link Reference Map Doc
1 Castledawson War Dead Details of Private Silas Lennox including photo
2 Lance Corporal Hugh Lennox Brother of Private Silas Lennox
3 Magherafelt War Dead Also listed on Magherafelt War Dead
4 National Archives UK Medal card can be purchased here
5 Reference to Silas's father's murder Silas's father was shot dead in a railway car.
6 Reference to Silas's parents Reports on Silas's father Eccles murder in Canada.
7 Reference to Silas's parents Silas Lennox was one of 16 children.
Cookstown District's War Dead Acknowledgements 2010-2023