| Date |
Name |
Information |
|
| 25/10/2018 |
Pte. John McBride |
MCBRIDE – killed in action at the Dardanelles on 13th June, Private John McBride, Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers, younger son of the late Hugh McBride, William Street, Cookstown. Deeply regretted by his sorrowing brother and sister. |
| 25/10/2018 |
Pte. John McBride |
01621 |
| 25/10/2018 |
Pte. John McBride |
From the Mid Ulster Mail dated 26th June 1915: |
| 25/10/2018 |
Pte. John McBride |
John McBride’s friend, Private James Devlin, described his death to a local newspaper. |
| 25/10/2018 |
Pte. Alexander McIlree |
‘We had a big day’s bombarding here on 16th June, and I am glad to say the victory was for us as we took three lines of trenches from the Germans, but we lost a good few of our men during the charge, and we are waiting on them making a counter attack. It was something terrible for twelve hours, but we got what we wanted, and are still holding it. We have got great praise from General French for our work in the charge. We want all the men we can get here at present as it is the stronghold of the fighting line. The Germans have done their best to break through but have still been beaten back. The Germans are a treacherous lot of baby killers and gas users, but thank God the gas sometimes goes back to their own trenches. The last bombardment here was simply awful with bursting shrapnel and gas shells, but we escaped with a few wounded. Some of our battery have won the V.C. for bravery on the field. My overcoat is like a lemon from the smoke of the gas shells, but I am thankful that I have such good luck so far.’ |
| 25/10/2018 |
Pte. Alexander McIlree |
Gunner Samuel McIlree, Royal Field Artillery, writing to his wife, Mrs McIlree, Drapersfield says:- |
| 25/10/2018 |
Pte. Alexander McIlree |
01620 |
| 25/10/2018 |
Pte. Alexander McIlree |
From the Mid Ulster Mail dated 26th June 1915: Gunner Samuel McIlree (brother of Alexander McIlree) |
| 25/10/2018 |
Pte. John Harvey |
HARVEY - 16th June, at the Dardanelles, John Harvey, 1st Battalion, Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers. Deeply regretted.by his sorrowing aunt and cousins, Millburn Street, Cookstown. ‘He gave his life for his country. What braver deed could he do?’ |
| 25/10/2018 |
Pte. John Harvey |
01619 |
| 25/10/2018 |
Pte. John Harvey |
From the Mid Ulster Mail dated 26th June 1915: |
| 25/10/2018 |
Pte. John Harvey |
HARVEY – Killed in action with the Mediterranean Expeditionary Force at the Dardanelles on 16th June, John Harvey, Union Street, Cookstown. Deeply regretted. Selina Harvey. |
| 25/10/2018 |
Pte. John Harvey |
01618 |
| 25/10/2018 |
Pte. John Harvey |
From the Mid Ulster Mail dated 26th June 1915: |
| 25/10/2018 |
Pte. John McBride |
From the Mid Ulster Mail dated 26th June 1915: Private John McBride |
| 24/10/2018 |
Pte. Walter Thomas Duff |
01617 |
| 24/10/2018 |
Pte. Walter Thomas Duff |
The CWGC record Private Walter Thomas Duff as the son of William James Duff and Sara Jane Duff, of Coagh, Co. Tyrone, Northern Ireland, He is also record as being the husband of Ella Duff. |
| 24/10/2018 |
Pte. Walter Thomas Duff |
Private Walter Duff has no known grave and is commemorated at Alamein Memorial in Egypt. |
| 24/10/2018 |
Pte. Walter Thomas Duff |
Private Walter Thomas Duff was serving with the 23rd Battalion of the New Zealand Infantry when he was killed in action on 11th December 1941. |
| 24/10/2018 |
Pte. Walter Thomas Duff |
Private Duff served with the New Zealand Infantry in Greece when they withdrew in April 1941. The New Zealand Infantry fought throughout the Western Desert Campaign in the summer and winter of 1941. |
| 24/10/2018 |
Pte. Walter Thomas Duff |
He gave his next of kin as his wife, Mrs E. Duff, whose address was given as: c/o J.E. Davidson, Sutherlands, Pleasant Point, South Canterbury, New Zealand |
| 24/10/2018 |
Pte. Walter Thomas Duff |
Prior to enlisting he worked as a malt-house hand in Wellington. He was living in the Metropolitan Hotel, Wellington. |
| 24/10/2018 |
Pte. Walter Thomas Duff |
At some point he married Ella Duff. |
| 24/10/2018 |
Pte. Walter Thomas Duff |
Walter Duff emigrated to New Zealand. |
| 24/10/2018 |
Pte. Walter Thomas Duff |
His father was a mill manager and an Inspector of Fisheries. His mother was a National School Teacher at Coagh National School. |
| 24/10/2018 |
Pte. Walter Thomas Duff |
The 1911 census lists Walter as age 7 living with the family at house 15 in Hanover Street, Coagh. |
| 24/10/2018 |
Pte. Walter Thomas Duff |
Known family: William James Duff, Sara Jane Duff, Evelyn Martha Duff (born 27th November 1902), Walter Thomas Duff (born 16th March 1904), Dorothy Margaret Muriel Duff (born 22nd June 1906), William Davison Duff (born 5th October 1909), Robert Duff (born 1st December 1913). |
| 24/10/2018 |
Pte. Walter Thomas Duff |
Walter Thomas Duff was born on 16th March 1904 in Coagh. He was one of at least five children. All the children were born in Coagh. |
| 24/10/2018 |
Pte. Walter Thomas Duff |
Walter Thomas Duff was the eldest son of William James Duff and Sara Jane Duff. William Duff and Sara Jane Davison were married on 6th February 1900 in the district of Magherafelt. |
| 21/10/2018 |
Sgt. John Suffern Scott |
Speaking of the famous charge which recaptured the four Canadian guns, Private Scott said the order to charge came at midnight. The night was clear and the Germans in the darkness of the wood round the guns were able to exact a terrible toll from the advancing Canadians by machine gun and rifle fire before they came to grips. The picture of that Canadian Highlander back there on a tree envenomed every breast and soon, one after another, the guns were retaken and held. Just as the enemy guardians of the last gun had been despatched (and young Scott accounted for four himself), a bullet found a billet in his right thigh. He did not known he had been hit for some considerable time and until he began to feel the blood flowing freely from walking. Bandaging the wound himself, he walked unaided to a dressing station two miles behind the trenches. From there he was sent to hospital at Boulogne, then to Rouen, where after operations he was sent to England for recovery. As his leg is yet very stiff, he has been granted an extension of home leave on the recommendation of Mr A D A Gaussen, J.P. |
| 21/10/2018 |
Sgt. John Suffern Scott |
‘The only thing that stands out clearly in the mental picture is the sight of those burly big men holding up their hands and crying for mercy from us, many of whom were but boys, and we had mercy.’ And then he added significantly:- ‘But that was before the terrible Thursday on which they began to gas us. On that day the gas, which was quickly followed by an overwhelming force of themselves, forced us out of our trenches and back for a distance of two miles, where we dug ourselves in and held on for three days. It was here we left the four guns you read of in the papers, in the wood of St Julien, and in the recapturing of which, I was wounded, and it was here too, we came upon the crucified body of a soldier of the 48th Canadian Highlanders who had been caught on the evening of our retirement.’ |
| 21/10/2018 |
Sgt. John Suffern Scott |
Private John S Scott, of the Winnipeg Rifles, is in stature, a man; in experience of war, hurts, alarms and horrors, a veteran; but in years a boy who has not yet seen his seventeenth birthday. Private Scott emigrated to Canada on April of last year, and is son of Mr and Mrs James Scott, Bellagherty, Ballyronan, where he returned last week of his convalescence before returning to the trenches. He has all the reticence of the returned soldier who has seen things and has taken part in the doing of things, the very recital of which quickens the pulse beat of us who only hear of them. He first went into action with the bayonet at Neuve Chapelle and was one of that portion of our troops mentioned by Sir John French as having charged so fearlessly and far that they were caught by the fire of their own artillery and forced to retire. Speaking of that charge he says:- |
| 21/10/2018 |
Sgt. John Suffern Scott |
01616 |
| 21/10/2018 |
Sgt. John Suffern Scott |
From the Mid Ulster Mail dated 19th June 1915: Ballyronan Boy at Neuve Chapelle |
| 13/10/2018 |
Pte. Samuel Spiers |
Samuel Speer and Robert Little, privates in the 9th Battalion Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers, wee on Thursday evening brought before Mr H Alfred Mann, J.P., and charged by Sergeant Hayes, R.I.C., with being deserters. They were remanded to Armagh jail for a week or pending the arrival of an escort from Randalstown. |
| 13/10/2018 |
Pte. Samuel Spiers |
01615 |
| 13/10/2018 |
Pte. Samuel Spiers |
From the Mid Ulster Mail dated 12th June 1915: Deserters Charged |
| 13/10/2018 |
Pte. Robert J Lyttle |
Samuel Speer and Robert Little, privates in the 9th Battalion Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers, wee on Thursday evening brought before Mr H Alfred Mann, J.P., and charged by Sergeant Hayes, R.I.C., with being deserters. They were remanded to Armagh jail for a week or pending the arrival of an escort from Randalstown. |
| 13/10/2018 |
Pte. Robert J Lyttle |
01615 |
| 13/10/2018 |
Pte. Robert J Lyttle |
From the Mid Ulster Mail dated 12th June 1915: Deserters Charged |
| 13/10/2018 |
Pte. Michael Lawn |
The late Michael Lawn was a worthy member of the above club. His position in the club was left back, and he was a good sportsman and took a real interest in the game. He joined the Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers at an early age. We are all much grieved at his death. He was a thorough soldier. Signed by James Field (captain) and John Cooney (honourable secretary). |
| 13/10/2018 |
Pte. Michael Lawn |
‘That we, the members of Greenvale Swifts F. C., express our deepest sympathy with the relatives of Private Michael Lawn, Blackhill, Cookstown, who was killed in action at the front on 16th May.’ |
| 13/10/2018 |
Pte. Michael Lawn |
The relatives of Private M Lawn, of the 2nd Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers, who belong to Blackhill, Cookstown, have received information from the War Office that he died from wounds on the 16th May. Private Lawn was only nineteen years of age, was called up when war was declared, and he had been almost eight months at the front, and had taken part in several engagements. At a meeting of Greenvale Swifts Football Club, which was held on Wednesday, the following resolution was passed: |
| 13/10/2018 |
Pte. Michael Lawn |
01614 |
| 13/10/2018 |
Pte. Michael Lawn |
From the Mid Ulster Mail dated 12th June 1915: Private M Lawn |
| 13/10/2018 |
Pte. Michael Lawn |
LAWN – 16th May, Private Michael Lawn, No 4064, 2nd Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers of Blackhill, Cookstown. |
| 13/10/2018 |
Pte. Michael Lawn |
01613 |
| 12/10/2018 |
Corp Robert Forde |
L.O.L. No. 325 met in the Orange Hall on Friday evening, the W.M. presiding, several candidates were passed for the next meeting. The W.M. said since their last meeting, death had claimed one of their members, Corporal R Forde, 9th Battalion of the Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers. The lodge has lost one of it’s most best members. A vote of sympathy was passed to the deceased’s father, the members standing. The 1st of July parade was arranged. A social meeting followed. |
| 12/10/2018 |
Corp Robert Forde |
01612 |
| 12/10/2018 |
Corp Robert Forde |
From the Mid Ulster Mail dated 12th June 1915: Pomeroy |
| 12/10/2018 |
Pte. Thomas Devlin |
Mrs Devlin, Blackhill, Cookstown, has received information from the Infantry Record Office, Dublin that her son, Private Thomas Devlin, Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers, was wounded at the Dardanelles on 9th May, and she has since received a letter from him saying he is St George’s Military Hospital, Malta, that he was slightly wounded in the face and is now well again. |
| 12/10/2018 |
Pte. Thomas Devlin |
01611 |
| 12/10/2018 |
Pte. Thomas Devlin |
From the Mid Ulster Mail dated 12th June 1915: Private Devlin Wounded |
| 09/10/2018 |
2nd Lieut Robert James Noel Stuart |
‘He was a very good reliable officer and a very good fellow. We are all much grieved at his death, he was a thorough soldier.’ |
| 09/10/2018 |
2nd Lieut Robert James Noel Stuart |
Second Lieutenant Robert James Noel Stuart, Royal Scots Fusiliers, was killed in action in Flanders on 17th May. The deceased, who was born in 1886, was the only child of the late Mr Horace Noel Stuart, brother of the present Earl of Castlestewart. He received his commission in August, The Earls of Castlestewart, although their peerage is an Irish one, are of Scottish descent, deriving from a son of Murdoch, second Duke of Albany. Captain the Honourable R S Stewart, also of the Royal Scots Fusiliers, has been missing for some time. The deceased was instantaneously killed by shell fire about 8am on 17 May and was buried in France by men of the Scots Fusiliers. His commanding officer writes;- |
| 09/10/2018 |
2nd Lieut Robert James Noel Stuart |
01610 |
| 09/10/2018 |
2nd Lieut Robert James Noel Stuart |
From the Mid Ulster Mail dated 5th June 1915: Lieutenant R J N Stuart |
| 09/10/2018 |
Corp William Nathaniel Thom |
01609 |
| 03/10/2018 |
Pte. Andrew McCord |
His brother, Private Joseph McCord, has also written, stating that he got a shrapnel wound on the right arm on Saturday night, 15th May. After being in the base hospital for some days he was sent to Cambridge Hospital, where he is getting on well. |
| 03/10/2018 |
Pte. Andrew McCord |
‘It was a terrible attack we were in, and I don’t know how I got through it safe, as I got my hat riddled with bullets and the knee of my trousers was knocked out with a piece of a shell. I was one of the bomb throwers, and when we got up to the trench we made the Germans fly. We are a few miles behind the trenches resting for three or four weeks. I suppose there was not much stir in Cookstown on the hiring Saturday, as there are not many people in it now. I wish this terrible war was over and that I got through safe, as it is awful what I come through this past fortnight.’ |
| 03/10/2018 |
Pte. Andrew McCord |
Private John McCord, 2nd Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers, writing to his mother, Mrs McCord, Killymoon Street, Cookstown, after referring to his brother Joseph, who was wounded, says:- |
| 03/10/2018 |
Pte. Andrew McCord |
01608 |
| 03/10/2018 |
Pte. Andrew McCord |
From the Mid Ulster Mail dated 5th June 1915: The McCords of Killymoon Street (brothers of Andrew McCord) |
| 03/10/2018 |
L/Corp Hugh John Cairns |
Writing to his friends in Coalisland, Bombardier James Lynn, 43rd Battery, Royal Field Artillery, states that the infantry had a rough time of it for a week or so, but things were now quiet, although further work might soon be expected. Jack’s battalion had captured two lines of trenches from the Germans. His brother and Cairns were together, but he had had no word from them lately, so did not know how they had got on. The gas that the Germans were using was awful, and nothing could live in front of it. Grass, trees and plants withered up the same as if they were burned. He wished to be mentioned to old friends, a number of whom he particularly named. |
| 03/10/2018 |
L/Corp Hugh John Cairns |
01607 |
| 03/10/2018 |
L/Corp Hugh John Cairns |
From the Mid Ulster Mail dated 5th June 1915: Bombardier James Lynn on the Gas |
