Introduction

     In 1995, while I was preparing the Bushmills book for publication, I decided that I needed to compare my list of names with those on the Ballymoney War Memorial, just to see what duplication there was.

     I was just simply astounded to discover that after all those years there was not one name on the Ballymoney war memorial.  This had a devastating effect on me and I went home determined to try to do something about it.  After the Bushmills book was published and I had time to relax a little, I made up my mind to tackle the Ballymoney job.  I approached Ballymoney Borough Council and explained the situation to their then Chief Executive, Mr. Alderdice.  His immediate reaction was "Try it, and see if it can be done".  To date I have over 300 names and a promise that these will be placed on the war memorial.

     Right from the beginning it was obvious that certain battles were going to play a very big part in the past life of Ballymoney.  The Retreat from Mons and the first battle of Ypres in late 1914 saw the start of what was going to be an appalling loss of life in the Ballymoney area.  The campaign in Gallipoli, in early 1915, though far from home, cost the town dearly.  At the same time the battles were still raging around Ypres, and in September the battle of Loos.  At Loos it was mostly men who had been working in Scotland who lost their lives, but they were still Ballymoney boys at heart.  Then in 1916, the battle of the Somme.             continued below

      On the opening day of this battle, 1st July 1916, twenty-eight young men from the district were killed, with many more deaths to follow before the battle finished in November.  In 1917 the battles of Messines Ridge and Passchendaele were even worse and then the German Offensive of March 1918 and the subsequent British advance to victory.  But of course the killing didn't stop between these battles and a steady stream of telegrams arrived in Ballymoney, bringing even more distressing news, in many cases to families who had already lost one son.  The loss of a second was devastating.  To Mrs. Huey of Ballycraigagh, who lost two sons of her own, and a neighbours son she had reared from childhood, this must have been hard to take.

     The list of awards won by Ballymoney boys is astounding.  Among those killed there were five Military Cross winners, and twelve winners of the Military Medal.  many more among those who survived.

     Of the friends who have helped me, one in particular, stands out.  Samuel McLean, of Ballymena, and originally from Finvoy, had been studying the Finvoy men previously and willingly gave me all the information he had on them, including photographs of them and of their graves in France and Belgium.  Then, in 1998, when he was planning a trip to France and Belgium, he asked me for a copy of my list of graves and memorials.  He returned with a huge selection of photographs taken all over France and Belgium of the graves of Ballymoney boys.  This has been a terrific help and adds a great deal of interest to the book.
     Not content with this, he asked for my list again, when he was going back in April of 1999.  Again he returned with a selection of photographs of those he had been unable to do ob the previous trip.
     During my research many interesting facts have emerged, but one which has a direct link with Ballymoney has come to light.  One of the most decorated Chaplains of the First World War, Rev. James Gilbert Paton, M.C. and two bars, had married Margaret Patterson, of 5 High Street, Ballymoney in 1st Ballymoney Presbyterian Church on 15th September 1908.

     In November 1998 I was invited to accompany Alderman Harry Connolly and Alderman Samuel McConaghy, both of Ballymoney Borough Council, on a trip to France and Belgium to commemorate the 80th Anniversary of the signing of the Armistice.  We visited the Ulster Tower at Thiepval for a service of Remembrance and then went to the opening of the Peace Park at Messines in Belgium, to be present at the ceremony attended by the Queen.  This was a most enjoyable experience and I was highly honoured to be asked to be present.  We stayed in a first class hotel in Lille and the weather. which had been wet previous to the trip, dried up and we had perfect, summer weather with continuous sunshine all the time we were there.

     There can hardly have been a family in Britain which was not touched in some way by the tragedy of the First World War.  Great Britain, alone among the major European nations, went to war with an army based on voluntary enlistment, numbering just over 247,000 at the outset, with 486,000 Reserves and Territorials.  By November 1918 a further 5,000,000 had enlisted, over half of them volunteers.
     The war developed into one of attrition as the Allies strove to break trough the formidable German defences and by the end casualties on both sides were on a scale hitherto unparalleled.  Over 350 of these young volunteers, some of them from Ulster, eventually faced the firing squad.  They had been Court Marshalled, many of them never given the chance to properly defend themselves.  These young men, all of them far from home for the first time, and facing almost certain death, had for various reasons, left their post and been found guilty.  Suffering from shattered nerves, caused by the noise and by the scenes of death and destruction all around them, these young men, many of them only in their late teens, had to pay the supreme sacrifice.  The British Government has a lot to answer for and the least they can honourably do is to apologise for their wrong doing and clear the names of these young men.        When they have that done Britain can once again hold her head high.
     The Australian Government can hold their heads high.  They refused point blank to impose the supreme sacrifice on their own men when they had done something wrong and no Australians had to face the firing squad.  This was probably true of other countries as well.

     Young Ballymoney men enlisted in all corners of the World.  Many of them were serving in Scottish regiments, having gone there to find work.  A few were in English regiments and a number of them had emigrated to New Zealand and Australia.  Quite a few had emigrated to Canada.  All of them, when the call came, enlisted to serve their country and as it turned out, to give their lives.  Thos serving in Scottish Regiments were there for two reasons.  A number of them had set up home in Scotland and were there permanently, the others were seasonal workers who went to Scotland every year for the harvest work on the large farms of Southern Scotland.  It was August and harvest time and all of the talk was of the war.  It was a chance they might never have again, and they used it to the full.  Many of them, as soon as they enlisted, were taken for full time training, and almost before they knew it, were in France fighting for their lives.  It was a shock for those at home to realise that what had originally been a parting for only a few weeks was now to be an indefinite period and very possibly for ever.

     Another interesting fact has emerged.  During the writing of the Bushmills book, it transpired that four of the Bushmills boys had been brought home from hospital for burials in Bushmills.  It is interesting to note that not one of the Ballymoney boys was brought home, although, like the Bushmills soldiers, they had died in hospital in England.

     It is sad to have to admit that for a small number of the Ballymoney soldiers there just does not appear to be any information available.  A few of them have proved to be very difficult cases and deadlines eventually have to be met, so I hope you will understand that it was not for want of trying that there are a few with very little information.

                                                            ............................................Robert Thompson

Interred in Derry House Cemetery, Wytschaete, Belgium, Plot 1, Row B, Grave 13.

Commemorated in Carncullagh Presbyterian Church

No known grave

Commemorated on the Basra Memorial, Iraq.

Interred in Dikkebus New Military Cemetery Extension, Belgium, Plot 3, Row E, Grave 10.

Commemorated in Rasharkin Presbyterian Church

No known grave

Commemorated on the Arras Flying Services Memorial.

Commemorated in Carnaff Reformed Presbyterian Church

No known grave

Commemorated on the Menin Gate Memorial, Panel 11.

Commemorated in St. James's Presbyterian Church, Ballymoney

No known grave

Commemorated on the Menin Gate Memorial, Ypres, Panel 22.

Commemorated in Drumreagh Presbyterian Church

No known grave

Commemorated on the Vimy Ridge Memorial

Commemorated in 1st Ballymoney Presbyterian Church

No known grave

Commemorated on the Tyne Cot Memorial, Belgium, Panels 138-140.

Commemorated in Drumreagh Presbyterian Church

No known grave

Commemorated on the Tyne Cot Memorial.

Commemorated in Roseyards Presbyterian Church

No known grave

Commemorated on Tyne Cot Memorial, Panels 138-140

Commemorated in Ballymoney Parish Church

SEE PHOTO

P.O.W.

No known grave

Commemorated on Pozieres Memorial, Panels 76-77

Commemorated in Ballymoney Parish Church

Interred in La Plus Douve Cemetery, Belgium, Plot 3, Row C, Grave 24.

Interred in Rocquigny-Equancourt Road British Cemetery, Plot 1, Row B, Grave 20.

Commemorated in Ballyweaney Presbyterian Church

Interred in Duhallow A.D.S. Cemetery, Ypres, Plot 7, Row B, Grave 5.

Commemorated in Carncullagh Presbyterian Church

Interred in Gaza War Cemetery, Israel, Plot 10, Row A, Grave 6.

Commemorated in 1st Ballymoney Presbyterian Church

No known grave

Commemorated on the Arras Memorial

best friend Patrick McKee (right)
~they also died together~

No known grave

Commemorated on the Arras Memorial, France

best friend John Laverty (left)
~they also died together~

No known grave

Commemorated on the Cambrai Memorial, France, Panel 10

Commemorated with a cross in Derrykeighan Parish Churchyard

Interred in St. Olle British Cemetery, Row B, Grave 25

Interred and commemorated at Special Memorial B5, Moeuvres Communal Cemetery, France

No known grave

Commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial

Commemorated in Finvoy Parish Church

43495 Private Patrick Mooney
2nd Bn. Gordon Highlanders formerly 20644 Cameron Highlanders

Killed in Action 28th March 1917

Interred in H.A.C. Cemetery, Ecoust-St-Mein, France. Plot 3, Row C, Grave 26

759 L. Cpl. James McCrellis
12th Bn. Royal Irish Rifles

Died 4th January 1919
Aged 27

P.O.W.

Interred in St. Sever Cemetery Extension, Rouen, Plot S4, Row J, Grave 14
Commemorated in Derrykeighan Parish Church
Commemorated in Drumtullagh Parish Church

Corporal James Hanna
American Forces

Died 13th February 1919
Aged 27

(Influenza)

Interred in Oise-Aisne American Cemetery, Plot A, Row 21, Grave 4.

25083 Private James McCann
8th Bn. Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers

Killed in Action 16th August 1917
Aged 29

No known grave
Commemorated in the Tyne Cot Memorial. Panels 70-72

Lt. Leslie Ernest McNeill
4th Royal Irish Dragoon Guards

Died 25th March 1919
Aged 32

Interred in Sanderstead (All Saints) Churchyard, Surrey
Commemorated in Derrykeighan Parish Church

304188 Aircraftman 2nd Cl. David Getty
Royal Air Force

Died 5th January 1920
Aged 18

Interred in Cologne Southern British Cemetery, Germany, Plot 6, Row A, Grave 16

20404 Rifleman James Laverty
Depot, Royal Irish Rifles

Died 22nd February 1920
Aged 22

(T.B.)

Interred in Billy Parish Churchyard

17974 Rifleman William J. Johnston
13th Bn. Royal Irish Rifles

Died of Wounds 10th July 1916
Aged 19

Interred in St. Sever Cemetery, Rouen, Plot A, Row 25, Grave 15.
Commemorated in Ballymoney Parish Church

see notes below

Private John Carson
Canadians

Private Patrick Wilson

Died

there are no details as Patrick may have used a different name to enlist

Lived: Cloughmills
Commemorated in Killagan Parish Church

Gunner John McKay
Royal Field Artillery

Born: Brevallen
Commemorated in 1st Ballymoney Pres. Church

Interred in Achiet-Le-Grand Communal Cemetery Extension, France, Plot 1, Row Q, Grave 8.

Commemorated in Drumreagh Presbyterian Church

Interred in Etaples Military Cemetery, France, Plot 31, Row F, Grave 22.

Commemorated in Kilraughts Presbyterian Church

No known grave

Commemorated on the Pozieres Memorial. Panels 30 & 31.

Commemorated in Kilraughts Presbyterian Church

No known grave

Commemorated on the Pozieres Memorial, France, Panels 38-40.

Commemorated in St. James's Presbyterian Church.

Son of Rev. Ezekiel and Janet S. Teaz.

Interred in Peronne Communal Cemetery Extension, Radegonde, Plot 3, Row H, Grave 29.

Interred in Grand-Seracourt British Cemetery, Plot 1, Row F, Grave 5.

Cousin Daniel McMullan

No known grave.

Commemorated on the Pozieres Memorial, Panels 74-76.

Interred in Villers-Bretonneux Military Cemetery, France, Plot 4, Row A, Grave 1.

see below for a photo of Hugh and his friends from Bathgate and a letter from his chum about his death.

Hugh went to Scotland in early 1912 and stayed with James and Jessie Crowe, at Livingston Station, Mid Calder, near Bathgate.

Jim Crowe, who was serving with Hugh writes to his mother and father about Hugh's death...

"Dear Father and Mother, You will be pained to hear that I have lost my dear chum, Hugh, it happened on the night of the 4th April.  He was killed by a shell falling right into the gun emplacement, killing two and wounding three severely.  I was only about twenty yards off him at the time having just left him about three minutes before to go to my own gun when this shell came.  Being dark at the time, I crawled back to see who was hurt.  I saw there was two dead but could not discern who they were.  The wounded ones must have crawled away to some dressing station, one of them, I know, lost a hand.  We had to wait until the daylight came before we could see who the two dead were and I got a shock I can tell you when I saw one was my old chum, Hugh.  I asked leave of our officer to bury him for fear we would be forces to leave him lying where he fell but the officer said it would be too dangerous to go out as Fritz was making things hum with big guns and machine-gun fire.  Several times I begged to be allowed to bury him and at last he consented in the afternoon.  Another of Hugh's favourite chums and I took him out and laid him to his last long rest as best we could.  We made a cross and went out when it was dark and placed it on his grave.  This is the saddest task that has fallen to my lot since I came out here.  For three years him and I have chummed it together, sharing everything, sleeping together under the same blanket under all sorts of conditions, sometimes under cover, very often in the open, in sunshine and in storm and many a tight corner we've been in and now this is the end of our comradeship.  Nothing but a memory now, but a sweet memory that shall live with me as long as life itself shall last.  How long, God alone knows."

Jim Crowe survived the war and emigrated to Canada where he died many years later.

Robert Thompson's search for information on Hugh has reinstated the contact between Hugh and Jim's families.

Interred in Heilly Station Cemetery, France, Plot 2, Row 1, Grave 16.

Commemorated in Ballyrashane Presbyterian Church.

Interred in Querrieu British Cemetery, Row A, Grave 36.

Commemorated in Ballymoney Parish Church

Interred in Arneke British Cemetery, France, Plot 3, Row B, Grave 22.

Commemorated in Garryduff Presbyterian Church.

Killed in Action 3rd August 1918
Aged 24

Interred in Barenthal Cemetery, Asiago, Italy, Plot 2, Row C, Grave 2.

Commemorated in Carncullagh Presbyterian Church

Interred in Vignacourt British Cemetery, France, Plot 5, Row B, Grave 3.

Commemorated in Armoy Presbyterian Church.

Interred in Wulverghem-Lindenhoek Road Military Cemetery, Belgium, Plot 2, Row F, Grave 18.

Interred in Nieuwkerke (Neuve-Eglise) Churchyard, Belgium, Row W, Grave 1.

Commemorated in Armoy Presbyterian Church.

Interred in La Kreule Military Cemetery, Hazebrouck, Plot 3, Row E, Grave 3.

Commemorated in Rasharkin Presbyterian Church

Served Boer War

Son Pte. Wm. Wilson killed in WW2

Son of John and Margaret Blair

Enlisted: Ballymoney

Interred in Varennes Military Cemetery, Plot 3, Row J, Grave 13.

Interred in Duhallow A.D.S. Cemetery, Belgium, Plot 9, Row E, Grave 9.

Death Penny, not sure if it's the same Thomas George Dixon

Killed in Action 1st October 1918

Interred in Pont-du-Achelles Military Cemetery, Nieppe, France, Plot 3, Row E, Grave 12.

Commemorated in Finvoy Presbyterian Church.

Interred in Bourlon Wood Cemetery, Plot 1, Row D, Grave7.

Commemorated in Rasharkin Presbyterian Church.

No known grave

Commemorated on the Tyne Cot Memorial, Belgium, Panels 140-141.

Commemorated in Finvoy Presbyterian Church.

Killed in Action 20th October 1918
Aged 19

Interred in Harlebeke New British Cemetery, Belgium, Plot 8, Row A, Grave 19.

Interred in Harlebeke New British Cemetery, Belgium, Plot 6, Row D, Grave 4.

Commemorated in St. James's Presbyterian Church.

Interred in Ingoyghem Military Cemetery, Belgium, Row A, Grave 7.

Interred in Maing Communal Cemetery Extension, France, Row C, Grave 12.

Interred in Romeries Communal Cemetery Extension, France, Plot 9, Row A, Grave 8.

Commemorated in Ballywatt Presbyterian Church

Interred in Arras Road Cemetery, Roclincourt, Plot 2, Row N, Grave 38.

Interred in Derrykeighan Old Graveyard.

Samuel was a prisoner in the most notorious of the German prison camps and was forced to work in the sulphur mines.  He was released after the Armistice, but died a fortnight after arriving home.

THANKS

There are a number of people who need to be thanked for their help at various stages.

BALLYMONEY BOROUGH COUNCIL

For staging two separate exhibitions in the Heritage Centre in Ballymoney in an attempt to put together as full a list of names as possible, and to encourage people to come forward with a name if it was missing.

SAMUEL McLEAN

Samuel McLean came originally from Finvoy, and had studied the soldiers from that district who had died in the 1914-18 war.  When he discovered what I was trying to do he gave me all the information he had on them, including photographs of some of them and of their graves in France and Belgium.
Not only that, when he was going on holiday to France and Belgium, he asked for my list of names and returned with a vast collection of photographs of their graves or of their names on memorials.  This has made a vast difference to the book and is very much appreciated.

FERNAND VANROBAEYS

Fernand works in the Tourist Office in Ypres in Belgium and took a number of photographs for me of graves in the Ypres district which it would otherwise have been almost impossible to have obtained.  Not content with the quality of the prints from the first attempt, he did all of them again and it is dedication like this that means so much.

THE FAMILIES CONCERNED

Over the last two years I have sought out and visited many of the families from the Ballymoney district.  On each occasion I asked if there was a photograph available and when there was, it was handed to me without a question being asked and I was allowed to copy it.  They have also helped with all the information they could give and this has been much appreciated.

JENNIFER BAMFORD

Jennifer Bamford has helped with details of the two Biggart boys and not only that, she found an old hand written list of the names of Rasharkin men who had served in the 1914-18 war with those who had been killed marked with a star.  This was very useful and meant that as far as is known all of the Rasharkin names are included.

ROBERT CONNOLLY

Robert is also from Rasharkin and has been a great help in tracing the Rasharkin families and finding photographs for me and his help with this has been very much appreciated.

DENNIS CONNOLLY

Dennis has been a very close friend for many years and allowed me to use the photograph of the old gun which was presented to Balnamore village after the end of the 1914-18 war as a memento of the village's distinction of having the second highest number of casualties of any village of comparable size in Great Britain.  The gun was eventually broken up for scrap for the war effort of 1939-45.

SEAMUS McFERRAN

Seamus lives in Dunloy and was the means of identifying Michael Doherty.  He also introduced me to a Director of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission who was born near Dunloy, and who has since been a very useful source of much information.  I am very grateful to Seamus for his very thoughtful action and appreciate this move deeply.

SAMUEL McCONAGHIE

Alderman Samuel McConaghie, of Ballymoney Borough Council, has on two separate occasions when he was sent on trips to Gallipoli, brought me back photographs of the graves of Ballymoney boys who were killed in Gallipoli.  This has been a very big help to me and was the only way I was going to get pictures of them.  He is probably the only visitor from Ballymoney that these graves have ever seen.

Part One     Part Two