9th Battalion, Royal Irish Fusiliers (British Army)
Date Of Birth:
13/04/1898
Died:
27/03/1918 (Killed in Action)
Age:
19
Summary
Thomas Haire was the eldest son of David and Sarah Jane Haire. He was born on 13th April 1898 in Stewartstown. His father was a railway agent so the family moved about. By 1910, the family were living in County Cavan. Thomas enlisted in Cavan, joining the 9th Battalion of the Royal Irish Fusiliers. Private Thomas John Gerald Haire was serving with the 9th Battalion of the Royal Irish Fusiliers when he was killed in action on Wednesday 27th March 1918.
Further Information
Thomas Haire was the eldest son of David and Sarah Jane Haire. David Henry Haire and Sara Jane Bell were married on 22nd October 1896 in the district of Armagh.
Thomas John Gerald Haire was born on 13th April 1898 in Stewartstown. He was the eldest of six children, five surviving.
Known family: David Henry Haire, Sara Jane Haire, Thomas John Gerald Haire (born 13th April 1898, Stewartstown), Gertrude Victoria Haire (born 2nd February 1900, Stewartstown), David H Haire (born 14th January 1902, Stewartstown), Barbara Haire (born about 1904, County Dublin), William J Haire (born about 1910, County Cavan).
The 1901 census lists Thomas J Gerald Haire as age 3, living with the family at house 1 in Boyd's Farm, Stewartstown. His father was a railway agent.
By 1904 the family were living in County Dublin.
By 1910, the family were living in County Cavan.
The 1911 census lists Thomas J G as age 13, living with family at house 22 in Drumbrawn, Redhill, County Cavan. Thomas was still at school. His father was a railway agent.
Thomas enlisted in Cavan, joining the 9th Battalion of the Royal Irish Fusiliers.
By the time of the Great German Spring Offensive of March 1918 the battalion was in withdrawal and on the 26th March passed through Avrilcourt, Tilloloy, Grevillers, Guerbigny and arrived at Erches at about 11am. On the morning of the 27th the enemy attacked and the 9th Irish Fusiliers were forced back to a position south of Arvillers.
Private Thomas John Gerald Haire was serving with the 9th Battalion of the Royal Irish Fusiliers when he was killed in action on Wednesday 27th March 1918.
The battalion were forced to remain south of Arvillers for the night. They lost two men on that day of retreat. The other man was George Gilroy of 50 Stanhope Street, Belfast. He was thirty-one years of age and is also commemorated on Pozieres Memorial, France.
Private Thomas Haire has no known grave and is commemorated on the Pozieres Memorial in France.
The CWGC record Private Thomas John Gerald Haire as the son of David and Sara Jane Haire of Trew and Moy Station, County. Tyrone.
Private Thomas Haire in NOT listed on Moy War Memorial.
