| Regiment/Service: |
1st Battalion, Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers (British Army)
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| Date Of Birth: |
22/05/1897
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| Died: |
29/06/1915 (Died of Wounds) |
| Age: |
18 |
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| William Longmore Montgomery was the son of Robert and Agnes Montgomery. They were married about 1894. William was born about 1898 in Belfast. The 1901 census records William as 3 years old. The family were living in Upperlands. Robert Montgomery was a Mill Wright. By 1911, his father was working as a Fireman Engineer. William Montgomery enlisted in Cookstown. Private Montgomery was serving with 1st Battalion of the Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers when he was wounded at the Dardanelles. Private William Longmore Montgomery died in Birmingham Hospital age 18, on 29 June 1915. |
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| William Longmore Montgomery was the son of Robert and Agnes Montgomery. Robert Montgomery and Agnes McClintock were married on1 4th December 1894 in the district of Ballymena.
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| William Montgomery was born on 22nd May 1897 in Belfast. He was the second of eight children, all surviving.
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| The 1901 census records William as 3 years old. The family were living in Upperlands, Swatragh, Londonderry. They seem to have moved from Belfast / County Antrim around 1899.
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| Robert Montgomery was a millwright. A millwright was a craftsman or tradesman engaged with the construction and maintenance of machinery.
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| By 1911, William was a14 year old scholar. His father was now working as a Fireman Engineer. The family were still living in Upperlands, Swatragh, Londonderry.
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| Family: Robert Montgomery, Agnes Montgomery, John Montgomery (born 8th December 1895, Ballymena), William Longmore Montgomery (born 22nd May 1897, Belfast), Thomas Montgomery (born 2nd March 1899, Maghera), Samuel Montgomery (born 29th December 1900, Maghera), Agnes Montgomery (born 22nd October 1902, Maghera), Mary Ellen / Margaret Montgomery (born 14th February 1904, Maghera), Ann Jane Montgomery (born 17th March 1906, Maghera), Mary Elizabeth Montgomery (born 20th October 1907, Maghera).
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| William Montgomery enlisted in Cookstown.
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| Private William Montgomery was a member of the 1st Battalion of the Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers, which was dispatched to Egypt but diverted to the Dardanelle Straits.
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| Private Montgomery landed at X Beach, Gallipoli, on 25th April 1915. He was subsequently wounded twice in the head by a Turkish sniper.
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| He survived his evacuation from Gallipoli and the sea trip home.
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| Private William Longmore Montgomery died of his wounds in the 1st Southern General Hospital, Birmingham on Thursday 29th June 1916, aged 18.
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| From the Mid Ulster Mail dated 3rd July 1915: Private William Montgomery
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| Private William Montgomery, of Upperlands, who was reported as being wounded at the Dardanelles on 25th April, died on Tuesday morning in a hospital in Birmingham. On Tuesday morning his mother received a wire from the hospital that her son was dangerously ill, and about three hours later she received another stating he had passed away. The news of his death came as a shock to his friends in the district, as when he was last heard from he was making rapid progress towards recovery, and it was expected he would, in a short time, be able to get home. His mother and her nephew left Upperlands on Tuesday evening for Birmingham to bring his remains home for internment in the family burying ground at Ahoghill. The remains, it is expected, will arrive at Upperlands Railway Station by noonday train on Friday.
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| From the Mid Ulster Mail dated 10th July 1915:
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| MONTGOMERY – 29th June at the 1st Southern General Hospital, Dudley road, Section, Birmingham, from wounds received at the Dardanelles, Private William Longmore Montgomery, 1st Battalion Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers, aged 18 years, second son of the late Mr Robert Montgomery, Upperlands, County Derry.
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| From the Mid Ulster Mail dated 10th July 1915: Private William Montgomery
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| This terrible war was brought home to the inhabitants of Upperlands district on Saturday last by the funeral of Private William Montgomery, 1st Battalion Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers, whose death in a Birmingham hospital, resulting from wounds received at the Dardanelles, we reported in out issue last week. The remains were enclosed in a beautiful oak coffin, with heavy brass mountings which bare the simple inscription:- ‘William Montgomery, died 20th June 1915, aged 18 years’
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| The coffin was covered with a Union Jack, on which was placed the late soldier’s helmet, through which there are four bullet holes. Private Montgomery, at the outbreak of the war, was the first from the district to enlist, and he has now the honour of being the first native of the locality to give his life in defence of King and country. He was a member of the Upperlands Company of the Ulster Volunteer Force, and was highly respected by all who knew him, but nowhere was he held in higher esteem than in the weaving factory in Upperlands, in which he was an apprentice tenter, and his fellow workers sent two beautiful glass-covered wreaths. Floral wreaths were also sent by Mrs A W Clarke, Ampertine National School. The funeral cortege was large and representatives of all creeds and classes in the neighbourhood. The chief mourners were:- Mrs Montgomery (mother); the Misses Agnes Montgomery, Margaret Montgomery, Jane Montgomery, Mary Montgomery (sisters); Messrs John Montgomery, Thomas Montgomery, Samuel Montgomery (brothers); Robert McClintock (cousin).
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| Impressive services at home and at graveside were conducted by the Rev V M Corkey. The internment took place in the burying ground attached to the Second Presbyterian Church, Ahoghill. At the conclusion of the morning service in Canady Presbyterian Church on Sabbath, the Rev V M Corkey, referring to the death of the young soldier, said that although before the war he was only an apprentice, yet on the previous evening in the quiet countryside graveyard at Ahoghill, they had buried him as one of the Dardanelles heroes. He hoped his death would be an inspiration to others in the district to follow his noble example and not shirk their duty.
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| Last Will and Testament of Private William Montgomery dated 10th February 1915:
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| In the event of my death, I give the whole of my property and effects to my mother Mrs Agnes Montgomery, Upperlands, County Derry, Ireland. 11753 Private William Montgomery 1st Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers. Rugby 10 February 1915.
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| Private William Montgomery is buried in Ahoghill First Presbyterian Churchyard (south west part). www.thebraid.com records the grave as being in Trinity Presbyterian Church, Church Street, Ahoghill.
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| GRAVESTONE: Erected in Memory of Annie Montgomery of Lisnafillen who died 22nd Aug 1852 aged 2 years and 5 months Also her father James Montgomery who died 19th Oct 1884 aged 74 years Also her mother Margaret Montgomery who died 5th Sep 1891 aged 80 years And their son Robert Montgomery who died 24th Aug 1914 aged 54 years Also his son PTE. William Longmore Montgomery wounded at the Dardanelles and died in Birmingham Hospital 29 June 1915 aged 18 years, and interred here Also Agnes Montgomery wife of the above Robert Montgomery died 1st March 1930 aged 60 years
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| The CWGC record Private William Montgomery as the son of Agnes Montgomery of Upperlands, County Derry, and the late Robert Montgomery.
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