Friends of the Somme - Mid Ulster Branch  
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November's Updates
Date Name Information
30/11/2018 Pte. James McGhee Mr John Magee, Luney, Desertmartin, has received official intimation that his son James has been killed at the Dardanelles. Private Magee joined the 2nd Inniskilling Fusiliers about one month previous to the outbreak of the war.
30/11/2018 Pte. James McGhee 01661
30/11/2018 Pte. James McGhee From the Mid Ulster Mail dated 31st July 1915:
30/11/2018 Pte. James McGhee James McGhee enlisted in Cookstown with the Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers about one month previous to the outbreak of the war.
29/11/2018 Pte. James Sterling Lavery Second Lieutenant John P Lavery, of the Royal Garrison Artillery, who has been stationed with the defence forces at Queenstown Harbour, came home on Saturday evening for a few days furlough. He had volunteered for service in the fighting line, and on Sunday morning the War Office wired him to report at once, and he left by the night mail for England, en route for the front, from which we wish him a safe return when the war is over,
29/11/2018 Pte. James Sterling Lavery 01660
29/11/2018 Pte. James Sterling Lavery From the Mid Ulster Mail dated 31st July 1915: Lieutenant J P Lavery
29/11/2018 Corp Henry McDonald Glasgow Mr Henry McDonald Glasgow, youngest son of Mr W J Glasgow and Mrs Glasgow, postmistress of Cookstown, has enlisted for the period of the war in the Chemistry Corps of the Royal Engineers. After obtaining an exhibition in the senior grade at the Intermediate examinations, he prepared for the Royal College of Science scholarship examination and was successful. He has, up until then, been specialising in chemistry, and with three other students at the end of the course, he volunteered for service with the Chemistry Corps, and on Wednesday reported to ??, having enlisted in the Royal Engineers, His brother who came over with the Canadian contingent, has been with the Canadian Infantry in the trenches for a couple of months? Rest unknown.
29/11/2018 Corp Henry McDonald Glasgow 01659
29/11/2018 Corp Henry McDonald Glasgow From the Mid Ulster Mail dated 31st July 1915: Cookstown Student’s Patriotism
27/11/2018 Pte. James Espey Official intimation has been received by Mrs Espey, Church Street, Cookstown, that her husband, Private James Espey, First Inniskillings, was killed in action on 28th June at the Dardanelles. Private Espey, who had previous service in a militia battalion, volunteered for active service at the outbreak of the war, and has been in the fighting line for the past eight months. He was reported wounded some weeks ago, but had returned to the fighting line.
27/11/2018 Pte. James Espey 01658
27/11/2018 Pte. James Espey From the Mid Ulster Mail dated 31th July 1915: Private James Espey
27/11/2018 Pte. William George Lyttle Information was received in a letter from Private Espey, a chum of his, that Little was wounded and lived only six hours. Espey was in the same hospital at the time. The deceased enlisted when he was sixteen years of age, and has served eight years, five of which he was in India and China with the 1st Inniskillings. He was brought up with Robert Falls (a chum of his in India) and William Nixon at the Blue Doors, Cookstown, and both these soldiers have already fallen in Flanders. He has one brother with the Ulster Division.
27/11/2018 Pte. William George Lyttle ‘89th Field Ambulance, Mediterranean Expeditionary Force, 13th May 1915. I buried Private William Little, No.9584, Inniskilling Fusiliers who died of wounds yesterday on a hill just above Y Beach, next to one or two of his comrades about 8.30pm last night, and concealed his grave. He lies among the hills overlooking the sea. Everything had been done that was possible by the R.A.M.C. for him, but his wound was fatal.’
27/11/2018 Pte. William George Lyttle Mrs Little, Coolkeeghan, Cookstown, has received the following letter from Rev O Creighton, Church of England Chaplain with the Mediterranean Forces at Gallipoli:-
27/11/2018 Pte. William George Lyttle 01657
27/11/2018 Pte. William George Lyttle From the Mid Ulster Mail dated 24th July 1915: Private William Little
27/11/2018 Pte. William Oliver Hardy Private Hardy died of illness at the Military Hospital, Donegall Road, Belfast on 13th July 1915.
27/11/2018 Pte. William Oliver Hardy Private William Hardy was training with the 14th Battalion Royal Irish Rifles (Young Citizen Volunteers) when he took ill.
27/11/2018 Pte. William Oliver Hardy The service in the churchyard was executed by Rev F A White, and as the remains were carried out the organist, Mr Pearson, plated the Death March. Wreaths were sent: ‘In ever loving memory by father mother, brothers and sisters’, ‘From Tom and Hessie, with deepest sympathy’, ‘In memory of Bill, from Lottie’. ‘In loving memory from his aunts in Donaghey’, and a most beautiful wreath was sent by the officers, ‘non-commissioned officers and men of the Y.C.V. with deepest sympathy.’ This wreath takes the form of the Y.C.V. badge or crest (a shamrock with the Red Hand of Ulster in the centre. It entirely covers the grave.
27/11/2018 Pte. William Oliver Hardy Much regard was felt at the death of Private Hardy, which took place at the Military Hospital, Belfast on 13th July. The deceased was the second son of Mr Joseph Hardy, Stranmillis Road, Belfast, and formerly of Lissan House. He entered the service of the Great Northern Railway Company in Cookstown, and afterwards was a ticket clerk at Annaghmore and Dromore (County Down). When Kitchener’s call for men came, he joined the Young Citizen’s Volunteers (14th B Royal Irish Rifles) and was in training. He was 29 years of age, and almost six feet high, and was a fine specimen of a British soldier. In camp however, he took ill, and was removed to the Military Hospital and ultimately succumbed, to the great grief of his relatives and of his comrades, with whom he was a great general favourite. His remains were removed by motor hearse to Stewartstown Churchyard. The chief mourners were Joseph Hardy (father), Alfred, Thomas (Quarter Master Sergeant, R.A.M.C.), Joseph and Frederick (brothers); John Robert W and Stewart Hardy, William J Turkington, Joseph Turkington, James Gordon and David Hutchinson (uncles)l; James Johnston (brother in law); H T Hutchinson (cousin).
27/11/2018 Pte. William Oliver Hardy 01656
27/11/2018 Pte. William Oliver Hardy From the Mid Ulster Mail dated 24th July 1915: Private William Oliver Hardy
27/11/2018 Pte. William Oliver Hardy HARDY – 13th July at the Military Hospital, Donegall Road, Belfast, Private William O Hardy, 14th Battalion Royal Irish Rifles, second and dearly beloved son of Joseph Hardy, 70 Sandymount Street, Belfast. Interred at Stewartstown.
27/11/2018 Pte. William Oliver Hardy 01655
27/11/2018 Pte. William Oliver Hardy From the Mid Ulster Mail dated 24th July 1915:
26/11/2018 Pte. William George Lyttle LITTLE – 17th May from wounds received at Y Beach, Gallipoli Peninsula, Private William Little, 1st Battalion Inniskilling Fusiliers, of Coolkeeghan, Cookstown, aged 24 years.
26/11/2018 Pte. William George Lyttle 01654
25/11/2018 Pte. James Espey Mrs Espey, Church Street, has received two letters from her brother in law, Sergeant Joseph Burns, First Inniskillings, one dated 5th July, the other 10th July, in which he informs her that he has been wounded at the Dardanelles, and is in a hospital ship and is progressing fairly well. He received his wounds in an engagement on 1st July. In both letters he mentions Mrs Espey’s husband, Private James Espey, First Inniskillings, whom he says, he has heard on good authority, was killed on 28th June. He saw him a couple of days previously, when he had recently come out of hospital recovering from a wound. Mrs Espey has had no official information as to her husband.
25/11/2018 Pte. James Espey 01653
25/11/2018 Pte. James Espey From the Mid Ulster Mail dated 24h July 1915: Cookstown Casualties
25/11/2018 Sgt. Joseph John Burns Sergeant Burns was posted on 25th May 1915.
25/11/2018 Sgt. Joseph John Burns Mrs Espey, Church Street, has received two letters from her brother in law, Sergeant Joseph Burns, First Inniskillings, one dated 5th July, the other 10th July, in which he informs her that he has been wounded at the Dardanelles, and is in a hospital ship and is progressing fairly well. He received his wounds in an engagement on 1st July. In both letters he mentions Mrs Espey’s husband, Private James Espey, First Inniskillings, whom he says, he has heard on good authority, was killed on 28th June. He saw him a couple of days previously, when he had recently come out of hospital recovering from a wound. Mrs Espey has had no official information as to her husband.
25/11/2018 Sgt. Joseph John Burns 01653
25/11/2018 Sgt. Joseph John Burns From the Mid Ulster Mail dated 24h July 1915: Cookstown Casualties
25/11/2018 Pte. James P Cassidy Mrs Annie Cassidy has received information from the Infantry Record Office, Dublin , that her husband, Private James Cassidy, 1st Battalion Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers, of the Mediterranean Expeditionary Force, was reported wounded on 3rd July, nature of wounds not stated.
25/11/2018 Pte. James P Cassidy 01652
25/11/2018 Pte. James P Cassidy From the Mid Ulster Mail dated 17th July 1915: Private Cassidy Wounded
24/11/2018 Sgt. George Fleck 01651
24/11/2018 Sgt. Edward Brown 01650
24/11/2018 Sgt. William Edward Callaghan 01649
24/11/2018 Flt. Sgt Thomas Colqhoun Edmonds Berkeley 01648
24/11/2018 Sgt. Edward Colhoun McLaughlin 01647
24/11/2018 Pte. William Longmore Montgomery 01646
24/11/2018 Pte. William Longmore Montgomery 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.
24/11/2018 Pte. William Longmore Montgomery 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).
24/11/2018 Pte. William Longmore Montgomery 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’
24/11/2018 Pte. William Longmore Montgomery 01645
24/11/2018 Pte. William Longmore Montgomery From the Mid Ulster Mail dated 10th July 1915: Private William Montgomery
24/11/2018 Pte. Alexander McIlree Information has been received by the relatives of Private Alexander McIlree, 2nd Battalion Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers, from soldiers at the front stating that he was killed in an engagement on 15th May. A private in the 1st Manchester Regiment wrote that he found him dead on the battlefield, and that he died a soldier’s death, fighting for his King and country. Another private in the same regiment, in forwarding the personal belongings, found at Private McIlree’s side, says he was in action close to him and thinks he must have been hit by a piece of shell, and hopes they have already received information about his death from the War Office before receipt of his letter. The late Private McIlree was only 23 years of age, and enlisted in the Inniskillings in November 1913. He has seven brothers serving in the army at the present time. Before the war broke out he was in the employment of Mr Alexander Barclay, Drapersfield. He was an enthusiastic member of Knockinroe L.O.L. No 194, and was a great favourite with everyone who knew him.
24/11/2018 Pte. Alexander McIlree 01644
24/11/2018 Pte. Alexander McIlree From the Mid Ulster Mail dated 10th July 1915: Roll of Honour - Private Alexander McIlree
22/11/2018 Pte. William Longmore Montgomery 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.
22/11/2018 Pte. William Longmore Montgomery 01643
22/11/2018 Pte. William Longmore Montgomery From the Mid Ulster Mail dated 10th July 1915:
22/11/2018 Pte. James P Cassidy On 30th June, Private Cassidy was apprehended by the French authorities and handed over to the British military police.
22/11/2018 Pte. James P Cassidy He was wounded again shortly afterwards in August 1915, when he was returned to Redlands War Hospital, Reading, Berkshire with a severe wound to his left arm that almost invalided him out of the war.
22/11/2018 Pte. James P Cassidy In 1915 he was posted to Gallipoli where he was wounded in June 1915.
22/11/2018 Pte. James P Cassidy Mrs Annie Cassidy, Church Street, Cookstown, has received a letter from her husband, Private James Cassidy, 1st Battalion Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers, who is on the British Mediterranean Force, saying he was wounded on the left jaw in a battle on the night of Friday 18th June, and that he is at present in hospital where he is progressing favourably.
22/11/2018 Pte. James P Cassidy 01642
22/11/2018 Pte. James P Cassidy From the Mid Ulster Mail dated 10th July 1915: Cookstown Soldier Wounded
21/11/2018 Pte. William Longmore Montgomery 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.
21/11/2018 Pte. William Longmore Montgomery 01641
21/11/2018 Pte. William Longmore Montgomery From the Mid Ulster Mail dated 3rd July 1915: Private William Montgomery
21/11/2018 L/Corp Robert Lawless Mr John Lawless, Church Street, has received official information from the War Office that his son, 8016 Lance Corporal Robert Lawless, 2nd Battalion Inniskilling Fusiliers, is reported missing since 16th May. Private Shields, who was in the same engagement, and who is at present home on furlough, says that he saw Lawless fall, but neither saw nor heard of him afterwards.
21/11/2018 L/Corp Robert Lawless 01640
21/11/2018 L/Corp Robert Lawless From the Mid Ulster Mail dated 3rd July 1915: Cookstown Casualties
21/11/2018 Pte. James Hamilton Miss Kate Hamilton, Church Street, has been advised by the War Office that her brother 3699 Private James Hamilton, has been missing since 16th May. Replying to inquiries which she has made within the last month, she has been informed that noting further is known. Two of her letters, addressed to himself, have been returned by the War Office marked ‘wounded and missing’. Mrs Hamilton has three other brothers in the army; two, Charles and Edward, being at the front, and John in England.
21/11/2018 Pte. James Hamilton 01639
21/11/2018 Pte. James Hamilton From the Mid Ulster Mail dated 3rd July 1915:
21/11/2018 L/Corp William John Albert Bell On their mother’s anniversary in 1915, the family put various memorials in the local newspaper, from all over the world. One of these was from William.
21/11/2018 L/Corp William John Albert Bell BELL – In loving memory of my dear mother, who departed this life on 29th June 1914 and was interred in Ballygoney Churchyard on 1st July 1914. (plus verse). Inserted by her sorrowing daughter Laura, New York, U.S.A.
21/11/2018 L/Corp William John Albert Bell 01638
21/11/2018 L/Corp William John Albert Bell From the Mid Ulster Mail dated 3rd July 1915: In Memorial
21/11/2018 L/Corp William John Albert Bell BELL – In loving memory of my dear mother, who departed this life at Ballygoney (Ireland) on 29th June 1914. Interred in Ballygoney Churchyard on 1st July 1914. ‘Though gone from sight, to memory clear’. Inserted by her sorrowing son, William John Albert, Wellington, New Zealand.
21/11/2018 L/Corp William John Albert Bell 01637
21/11/2018 L/Corp William John Albert Bell From the Mid Ulster Mail dated 3rd July 1915: In Memorial
21/11/2018 L/Corp William John Albert Bell BELL – In loving memory of our dear mother, who departed this life on 29th June 1914 and was interred in Ballygoney Churchyard on 1st July 1914. (plus verse). Inserted by her sorrowing daughter and son-in-law, Margaret and Samuel Lamont, New York, U.S.A.
21/11/2018 L/Corp William John Albert Bell 01636
21/11/2018 L/Corp William John Albert Bell From the Mid Ulster Mail dated 3rd July 1915: In Memorial
21/11/2018 L/Corp William John Albert Bell BELL – In loving memory of Margaret Ann, beloved wife of John Bell, (Ex-sergeant R.I.C.), Ballygoney, Coagh, who departed this life on 29th June 1914, Interred in Ballygoney Churchyard on 1st July 1914. Peace. Perfect Peace. (plus verse). Inserted by her loving husband and son and daughter, Harper and Adelaide.
21/11/2018 L/Corp William John Albert Bell 01635
21/11/2018 L/Corp William John Albert Bell From the Mid Ulster Mail dated 3rd July 1915: In Memorial
20/11/2018 Pte. William Teaney 01634
20/11/2018 Pte. Hugh Taylor 01633
20/11/2018 Pte. Hugh Taylor 01632
19/11/2018 Pte. James Tanney 01631
19/11/2018 Pte. James Tanney Private James Tanney has no known grave and is commemorated on Tyne Cot Memorial in Belgium.
19/11/2018 Pte. James Tanney Private James Tanney was serving with the 2nd Battalion of the West Yorkshire Regiment when he was killed in action at Passchendaele on Thursday 16th August 1917.
19/11/2018 Pte. James Tanney By the time of Passchendaele, August 1917, the weather had changed to almost continuous rain. The drainage of the Belgian countryside had been destroyed by the constant shellfire. Every hollow on the battlefield was full to overflowing with stagnant water. Wounded soldiers were often lost in these conditions.
19/11/2018 Pte. James Tanney He arrived in France in 1916 and survived many engagements.
19/11/2018 Pte. James Tanney James Tanney enlisted in Newcastle-upon-Tyne with the 2nd Battalion West Yorkshire Regiment
19/11/2018 Pte. James Tanney James went to England as a young man in search of work.
19/11/2018 Pte. James Tanney James Tanney was born in Pomeroy on 14th January 1883.
19/11/2018 Pte. William J Corr (aka Rankin) 01630
19/11/2018 Pte. William J Corr (aka Rankin) His wife Sophie Rankin wished he be buried in Grangegorman Military Cemetery, Dublin.
19/11/2018 Pte. William J Corr (aka Rankin) 01629
19/11/2018 Corp John Ramsay 01628
17/11/2018 Pte. Joseph Stewart In his Will, he left all to his wife, who was in 1917 living at Killymoon Street, Cookstown.
17/11/2018 Pte. Joseph Stewart The CWGC record Private Joseph Stewart as the son of Mrs Annie Mabin. He is also recorded as the husband of Lillie Stewart of Church Street, Cookstown, County Tyrone.
16/11/2018 Sgt. Robert Henry Lewis Steele Robert Steele is commemorated on Bedford Modern School's Roll of Honour.
16/11/2018 Sgt. Robert Henry Lewis Steele Robert Steele attended Bedford Modern School between 1891 and 1894.
16/11/2018 Sgt. Robert Henry Lewis Steele The inscription on his grave reads: ‘PRO PATRIA NON TIMIDUS MORI’, which is believed to mean ‘unafraid to die for his country’.
16/11/2018 Sgt. Robert Henry Lewis Steele The CWGC record Sergeant Robert Henry Lewis Steele as the son of Robert and Caroline Steele. He is also recorded as the husband of Lucy Emily Steele, of ‘Raewood’ Baring Road, Lee, London.
16/11/2018 Sgt. Robert Henry Lewis Steele Sergeant Robert Henry Lewis Steele is buried in Aubigny Communal Cemetery Extension, France.
16/11/2018 Sgt. Robert Henry Lewis Steele Sergeant Robert Henry Lewis Steele was serving with the 7th Battalion of the Middlesex Regiment when he died at Pas de Calais from wounds received in action during the German Spring Offensive on 29th March 1918.
16/11/2018 Sgt. Robert Henry Lewis Steele Robert enlisted at Ravenscourt Park in London. He was living in Shepherd's Bush.
16/11/2018 Sgt. Robert Henry Lewis Steele Robert was the grandson of Mr Robert Steele of Grange, Tullyhogue, Cookstown.
16/11/2018 Sgt. Robert Henry Lewis Steele Robert Henry Lewis Steele was born and raised in Middlesex. He was born about 1883.
16/11/2018 Sgt. Robert Henry Lewis Steele Robert Henry Lewis Steele was the son of Robert R Steele and Caroline Steele.
16/11/2018 Corp John Ramsay His father died when he was very young (before 1901). There was a John Ramsay who died in Belfast on 25th December 1896, aged 45.
16/11/2018 Corp John Ramsay John Ramsay was the only son of John and Annie Ramsay. John Ramsay and Annie Storey were married on 24th August 1888 in Belfast.
16/11/2018 Corp John Ramsay Family: John Ramsay, Annie Ramsay, Ruth Anna Ramsay (born 27th August 1889), Georgina Ramsay (born 21st January 1891), John Ramsay (born 7th June 1893).
16/11/2018 Corp John Ramsay John was born in Shankhill, Belfast on 7th June 1893. He was the youngest of three children.
14/11/2018 L/Corp Hugh John Cairns ‘I saw Alex (Private Alexander Proctor, 2nd Battalion Irish Fusiliers) and Willie (Sergeant William Lynn, 2nd Irish Fusiliers) the other day, and both of them looked well after having such a rough time of it. They were glad to seem me and I to see them. I have heard that Jack and Hugh Cairns were wounded Their regiment went forward with the same old dash and soon made the Germans hop it – Good old Inniskillings; they did some good work but they have lost heavily. The Germans are very cunning, but they don’t like to meet the British, as they know they always get a good basting. I see by the papers that there will be no Twelfth this year. I think it is a good idea, as it would not look nice on account of all the boys being away. However, I hope with God’s help, the war won’t last much longer and that we will get home safe although I am very afraid of it.
14/11/2018 L/Corp Hugh John Cairns Bombardier James Lynn, 43rd Battery, Royal Field Artillery, writing from the western front to friends in Coalisland says:-
14/11/2018 L/Corp Hugh John Cairns 01627
14/11/2018 L/Corp Hugh John Cairns From the Mid Ulster Mail dated 26th June 1915: Bombardier Lynn and the Twelfth
14/11/2018 Pte. John Harvey General regret was felt in Cookstown at the news of the death of Private Harvey, who was killed in action on 16th June at the Dardanelles. Private Harvey was a native of the district and a general favourite. He was one of the first of the Cookstown reservists to report himself when the war broke out, and one of the two first soldiers who returned home wounded. Enlisting in the Inniskillings at 19 years of age, during the Boer war he served for two years in South Africa till peace was declared. He then went to Egypt and helped to suppress the troubles in Crete in 1906, and was in Cairo when the question of the war with Turkey was in the balance. When the battalion left Alexandria his time had expired, and he came home, married a daughter of Mr John Shaw, Cookstown, with whom he had been brought up, went to Belfast and got a job in the jack shop of the Great Northern Railway. He subsequently got appointed to a vacancy in Cookstown as examiner, and was working here when war was declared. Jack Harvey was smart at his work and smart at drill, and when the Ulster Volunteer Force was formed he was one of the most enthusiastic members, and got charge of the No 1 Section of A Company of the Cookstown Battalion. When he joined on 5th August the party of five U.V.F. who were escorted to the train included two other section leaders, and three of the five have now been killed in action and one is wounded. Harvey went out to Belgium at once, and was rushed to the front during the retreat at Mons. In the first brush with the enemy, as he lay early in the morning with the Inniskillings trying to stop the advance of the German army on its way to Paris, he was shot right through the leg and put out of action. After narrow escapes he got to the base hospital and back to England, reaching Cookstown on 9th September. He was then able to walk on a stick, and next day attended A U.V.F. parade in Killymoon, when colours were presented, and he supported General Sir William Adair’s call for recruits, declaring that inside a month he hoped to be back at the fighting line. He did get back before the injured leg was fit to stand the cold, and after some time in the trenches he was invalided home due to frostbite. He was engaged at the depot, and having fully recovered, his ambition to be back in the firing line was gratified when the Inniskilling were drafted to the Dardanelles to assist the fleet. He wrote home on 9th June, when he was well and cheery as usual, and he was enquiring about the army in France. But beyond the brief office al announcement, there is no information regarding his death. He leaves a young widow and four children, the eldest of whom is six years of age. At a specially summoned meeting of Cookstown ‘Mistletoe’ Lodge British Order of Ancient Free Gardeners on Thursday evening, Brother D H Hamilton presiding, on the motion of Brother William Butler, seconded by Brother James McGeown, a vote of sympathy was passed to Mrs Harvey in her great loss.
14/11/2018 Pte. John Harvey 01626
14/11/2018 Pte. John Harvey From the Mid Ulster Mail dated 26th June 1915: Private John Harvey, Cookstown
12/11/2018 Pte. Alexander (Sandy) Lyttle 01625
11/11/2018 Pte. Mervyn Jack McGeown Private Mervyn McGeown was discharged on 14th June 1917, after 166 days service, due to sickness.
11/11/2018 Pte. Mervyn Jack McGeown Private Mervyn McGeown served with the 12th Royal Inniskilling/Irish Fusiliers.
11/11/2018 Pte. Mervyn Jack McGeown Mervyn McGeown enlisted on 23rd December 1916. He stated his age on enlisting as age 18 years and 3 months. He listed his father as his next of kin, who was living at Killymoon Street, Cookstown.
10/11/2018 Pte. John Rafferty The CWGC record Private John Rafferty as the son of the late John and Mary Rafferty. He is also recorded as being the husband of Sarah Riley, (formerly Rafferty), of 43 Morrison Street, Gateshead, England.
10/11/2018 Pte. John Rafferty Private John Rafferty is also commemorated on the WW1 Roll of Honour in St Robert’s Roman Catholic Church, Cedar Road, Fenham. Fenham is the area western end of Newcastle upon Tyne, England.
10/11/2018 Pte. John Rafferty Private John Rafferty has no known grave and is commemorated on panels 97-101 on Helles Memorial at Gallipoli in Turkey.
10/11/2018 Pte. John Rafferty Private John Rafferty was serving in the 1st Battalion Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers at Gallipoli when he was killed in action along with Thomas Devlin and William Graham at Scimitar Hill on 21st August 1915.
10/11/2018 Pte. John Rafferty John Rafferty enlisted in Newcastle-upon-Tyne while he was living and working there.
10/11/2018 Pte. John Rafferty John Rafferty was married to Sarah Rafferty.
10/11/2018 Pte. John Rafferty John was born in Cookstown about 1872.
10/11/2018 Pte. John Rafferty John Rafferty was the son of John and Mary Rafferty.
10/11/2018 Pte. John Quinn 01624
10/11/2018 Pte. John Quinn Private John Quinn is buried in Berks Cemetery Extension, Belgium.
10/11/2018 Pte. John Quinn John Quinn was married to Catherine Quinn. They lived at Railway View, Dungannon.
10/11/2018 Pte. John Parke Private Patrick Monaghan, from the Loup, died the same day and is buried just a few graves away in the same row.
10/11/2018 Pte. John Parke In his will, John Parke left all to his mother, Mrs Jane Parke.
10/11/2018 Pte. John Parke Private John Parke was serving with the 9th Battalion of the Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers when he died of his wounds the following day on Saturday 9th September 1916. He was just 18 years old.
10/11/2018 Pte. John Parke In the event of my death, I give the whole of my property and effects to my mother, Mrs Jane Parke, Craigs, Orritor, Cookstown, County Tyrone. Ireland. Signed 17565 Private John Parke, No 2 Company, 9th Inniskilling Fusiliers, 109th Brigade, Ulster Division.
10/11/2018 Pte. John Parke 01623
10/11/2018 Pte. John Parke Last Will and Testament of Private John Parke - not dated
09/11/2018 Pte. John O'Neill 01622
09/11/2018 Pte. John O'Neill The CWGC records Private John O’Neill as the son of John and Rose O'Neill of Aghacolumb, Stewartstown, County Tyrone.
09/11/2018 Pte. John O'Neill Private John O’Neill was serving with the 7th Battalion of the Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers when he was killed in action on Thursday 27th April 1916.
09/11/2018 Pte. John O'Neill The 1911 census does not list John as living with the family at house 6 in Killywoolaghan, Killycolpy, Ardboe. His father was an agricultural labourer.
09/11/2018 Pte. John O'Neill Known family: John O'Neill, Rose O'Neill, Patrick O'Neill (born 31st August 1895), John O'Neill (born 16th February 1897), Catherine Kathleen O'Neill (born 17th December 1898), James O'Neill (born 22nd April 1901), Hugh O'Neill (born 4th February 1903), Francis O'Neill (born 14th December 1904), Rose O'Neill (born 8th March 1907), Annie O'Neill (born 3rd October 1908, died 25th November 1910. Age 2), Elizabeth O'Neill (born 3rd October 1908), Peter O'Neill (born 15th April 1910), Annie O'Neill (born 1st July 1912), Felix O'Neill (born 3rd October 1914), Harry O'Neill (born 12th October 1916).
09/11/2018 Pte. John O'Neill The 1901 census lists John as age 4, living with the family at house 36 in Killywoolaghan, Killycolpy, Ardboe. His father was a servant and labourer.
09/11/2018 Pte. John O'Neill John O'Neill was born on 16th February 1897 in Stewartstown. He was the second of thirteen known children, twelve surviving.
09/11/2018 Pte. John O'Neill John O'Neill was the second son of John (Jack) and Rose O’Neill. John O’Neill and Rose Campbell ware married on 15th November 1894 in the district of Cookstown. Rose was born in Motherwell, Scotland.
09/11/2018 Pte. Charles Mulholland The CWGC record Private Charles Mulholland as the son of Margaret and the late R Mulholland, of Mackney, Cookstown
09/11/2018 Pte. Charles Mulholland The chief mourners at his funeral were his father, Robert, his brothers Richard, Albert, Thomas and George. In addition to these brothers at home his brother William James lived in South Africa, his brothers Robert and John in Canada and Joseph and Samuel in the United States.
09/11/2018 Worker Sara Mabel Moore The CWGC’s burial record lists Sara’s next of kin as Mr J R Moore of Ballindrum, a neighbouring townland of Mawillian. This would mean that his next of kin was his younger brother, which would imply his mother had died.
09/11/2018 Worker Sara Mabel Moore Sara Moore was 19 years old when she died.
09/11/2018 Worker Sara Mabel Moore It seems Mabel was an assumed name.
09/11/2018 Worker Sara Mabel Moore Sara Moore was the daughter of Annie Jane Moore.
09/11/2018 Worker Sara Mabel Moore Known family: Annie Jane Moore, Sarah Matilda Woods Moore (born about 1900), John Robert Moore (born about 1904).
09/11/2018 Worker Sara Mabel Moore Sara Matilda ‘Mabel’ Moore was born about 1900 in th United States of America.
09/11/2018 Pte. Charles Mulholland When war was declared in 1914 he was sent to France arriving in December. He was attached to the Army Cyclist Corps for a considerable time, Service No. 5780.
09/11/2018 Pte. Charles Mulholland When his apprenticeship was almost complete he decided to enlist in the Army, joining the Royal Irish Fusiliers, Service No. 10692.
09/11/2018 Worker Sara Mabel Moore The 1911 census records an 11 year old Sarah Matilda Moore living in house 16 in Mawillian, Springhill, County Londonderry. Her mother, Annie Jane Moore, was a widow. Both Sarah and her brother John Robert were born in America.
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