Rifleman Isaac Bell McAllister 1775
'D' Company 12th Battalion Royal Irish Rifles

Died of Wounds 14th July 1916
Aged 20

Commemorated in Dunluce Presbyterian Church

Buried in Dunluce Presbyterian Church, Bushmills

Enlisted: Belfast
Born: Bushmills on 18/3/1896
Son of Daniel and Martha McAllister

Yes, we'll meet again in the morning,
In the dawn of a fairer day,
When the night of watching and waiting,
With its darkness, has passed away;
Where no shadows veil the sunshine,
Over there in the Heavenly land,
And the crystal waves of the river
Ever flow o'er the golden sand.
Where our precious one now is dwelling,
Free from toil and from every fear,
With his garment spotless and shining,
Like the robes that the angels wear.
When our footsteps no longer roam,
By the pearly gates gladly waiting,
He will give us a welcome home.
"Awaiting the reunion"
Mother and Tom, Church Street, Bushmills

Private Johnston Kane 5324
7th Battalion Royal Munster Fusiliers

Died of Dysentery 22nd August 1916 in Greek Macedonia
Aged 23

Born: Billy, Bushmills on 7/9/1893
Resided: Billy, Bushmills
Son of Daniel and Sarah Kane (nee Nicholl), of Billy, Bushmills
Twice wounded
Son of Daniel & Sarah Kane who married in Billy Parish Church on 16th November 1883
Son of a family of four serving sons
Leslie, Sandy, Taylor and Johnston
Leslie, Sandy and Taylor all surviving the war and serving in Scottish Regiments.

Commemorated in Billy Parish Church

Lambet Road Military Cemetery, Salonika, Greece, Grave 322

2nd Lieutenant John Wm. McVicker
13th Battalion Kings Liverpool Regiment

Killed in Action 14th July 1916
Aged 21

Commemorated in Toberkeigh Presbyterian Church

Commemorated on Thiepval Memorial, France, Pier 1-8, Face D. B. & C.

John is commemorated on a lovely brass plaque in the Memorial Hall at Inst in Coleraine and at Edinburgh University

The three McVicker brothers, Sam, Dan and John William

Lance Corporal Robert Galbraith A/20161
'A' Coy, 16th Battalion Manitoba Regiment

Killed in Action 4th-7th September 1916
Aged 37

Commemorated in Bushmills Presbyterian Church

Vimy Memorial, France

Lieutenant Henry Stewart-Moore
6th Battalion Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers

Killed in Action 10th September 1916
Aged 30

Buried in Struma Military Cemetery, Greece, Plot 5, Row C, Grave 13

Rifleman David McGregor 24/1138
2nd Battalion, 3rd New Zealand Rifle Brigade

Killed in Action 15th September 1916
Aged 31

Commemorated on Caterpillar Valley Memorial, Longueval, France

Private Daniel McGregor 41279
13th Battalion Royal Scots, Formerly Royal Scots Fusiliers

Killed in Action 23rd April 1917
Aged 37

Enlisted: Greenock
Born: Prolisk 14/5/1881
Resided: Gourock, Glasgow
Son of John and Mary (Morgan) McGregor

Commemorated on Arras Memorial, Bay 1 and 2

2nd Lieutenant William James Dunlop
Royal Field Artillery

Killed in Action 21st September 1916
Aged 26

Commemorated in Toberkeigh Presbyterian Church

Buried in Albert Communal Cemetery, France, Plot 1, Row O, Grave 11

Driver William Hill Chambers 42287
9th Battalion Canadian Field Artillery

Killed in Action 26th September 1916

Enlisted: Canada
Born: Clones, Co. Monaghan 16/3/1893
Resided: Canada
Son of William and Mary Chambers
William Chambers, Post Office Clerk, Clones, Co. Monaghan, son of James Chambers (Farmer) married Mary McNeill, Post Office Clerk, Bushmills, daughter of Hugh McNeill (Spirit Merchant) in Dunluce Parish Church on 4/12/1889, Mary Chambers died 11/5/1900 aged 34.

photo of Canadians at Training Camp

18th Royal Irish Rifles

Lance-Corporal Thomas Chambers
only brother of W. H. Chambers (left)

Rifleman Alexander Taylor 1785
12th Battalion Royal Irish Rifles

Killed in Action 3rd October 1916
Aged 21

Enlisted: Belfast
Born: Dunluce
Son of Louisa Jamison, Long Commons, Coleraine

Taylor - In loving remembrance of Corporal Alexander Taylor and Private Samuel Taylor (brothers), Bushmills, both of the Royal Irish Rifles (Ulster Division) formerly of the North Antrim Regiment and Bushmills Company Ulster Volunteer Force killed in action - Corpora Taylor 3rd October 1916 and Private Samuel Taylor on the 9th March 1917

VERSE    VERSE

Rifleman Daniel Hunter 13787
44th Battalion Machine Gun Corps

Died of Wounds 21st October 1916
Aged 21

Born: Bushmills on 9/1/1896
Son of Daniel and Mary Hunter of Klondyke Terrace, Bushmills

Commemorated in Dunluce Parish Church, Bushmills

Interred in Bazentin-le-Petit Military Cemetery, Row D, Grave 8

This photo is of John Hunter 23/1/1883 (Daniel's brother) as no photo of Daniel exists.

Able Seaman William McBride 178862
H.M.S. Jupiter
Died 4th November 1916
Aged 39

Died of heart failure on board H.M.S. Jupiter

Commemorated in Bushmills Presbyterian Church

CHATHAM NAVAL MEMORIAL

Seaman Arthur McCullagh 3/2165
R.N.V.R.
Drowned 10th December 1916
Aged 24

Buried at Sea

Washed overboard in North Sea

S.S. Menapian

To The Ulster Volunteers
J. Thompson, Cullycapple - January 1916

Ye brave, brave sons of Ulster, who rallied to the call,
Left your friends and peaceful homes and sacrificed your all,
to meet and fight - and put to flight - that grasping cruel foe
Who has caused grim desolation, and heart-ache, pain and woe.
Courage, boys, courage!-
Be this your daily cry;
but don't forget to "trust in God,
And keep your powder dry."

For many years the Germans had been making deep their plans;
Had worshipped militarism, had drilled their every man.
While other peaceful nations thought them cultured, honest, true,
The Germans forced this awful war like startling "bolt from blue."
Courage, boys, courage, etc.

Then gallant little Belgium had first to face the foe;
Her land was devastated, her precious shrines laid low.
What cruel, sad atrocities, were daily practised there
By the Germans, in their bitter hate - ah! the thought is hard to bear.
Courage, boys, courage, etc.

But Britain, to the rescue, came - France, Russia, Italy too;
Supported by our Colonies - brave-hearted, leal and true.
To conquer wrong, uphold the right, and make the weak ones strong -
With this as glorious motive, may great power to them belong.
Courage, boys, courage, etc.

Our Ulster Volunteers set out; with ready pluck and vim
They joined the Empire's army, to fight for home and King,
To show to all the world they were patriots, staunch and true,
And to uphold the grand old flag of red and white and blue.
Courage, boys, courage, etc.

Brave boys from Aghadowey, we've a special word for you,
We have known you from your childhood, we have seen each in his pew
Listening to the Word of Life, joining in prayer and praise;
And now we pray that God may give "strength equal to your days."
Courage, boys, courage, etc.

And when the strife has ended, and fearful war is o'er,
You'll have a warm, glad welcome back to your native shore,
You'll tread once more the valleys where the little shamrock grows,
And gain new health and vigour 'mid Ulster's calm repose.
Courage, boys, courage, etc.

We mourn those noble soldiers who'll return, alas! no more.
They've "crossed the bar," and landed upon the other shore.
But if Christ has been their Captain, they inherit full reward,
And their dust will rest in foreign land, as in the old Churchyard.
Courage, boys, courage, etc.

We thank our noble army, we thank our navy, too;
But, more than they, we thank our God, to Whom all praise is due,
That He kept the heartless Germans, despite their craft and guile,
From invading and destroying our own beloved Green Isle.
Courage, boys, courage, etc.

The Bushmills Heroes
Northern Constitution 15/7/1916
A.K.

Beside the pleasant River Bush whose waters gently flow
To join the ocean's rolling tide, the village nestles low,
'Tis sure a calm and sweet retreat, and many, pressed with care,
Seek out this healthful, quiet spot, and find a haven there.

What meaneth, then, this wailing sound, that reads the summer air;
The sobs and cries that seem to mar the face of Nature fair?
Alas! alas! the battle's din has reached this peaceful shore,
And several of its loved ones lie asleep - to wake no more.

When in their country's hour of need, they marched to meet the foe,
We cheered them on their onward way, yet wept to see them go,
They came from cottage and from hall, united for the fray,
For class distinction melts before a common enemy.

A gallant charge they made and wrote their name in history's page
They shed their blood, but left behind a glorious heritage.
The tale of their heroic deeds, Our inmost being thrills;
They fought with valour and upheld the honour of Bushmills.

But louder than the cannon's roar, the orphan's cry is hear,
And found the lonely, sad hearth-stone, the widow's grief is shared.
The empty castle mourns an heir - His life-work just begun -
In double grief, a mother mourns a noble-hearted son.

One thought amid our sorrow comes, 'Twill comfort us to tell
To generations yet to come "They did their duty well"
And when we read in future days from the historian's pen,
The brightest page for us will be "Sir Harry and his men."

God help the wounded in the fight, and heal their grievous pain;
The "missing" guard, and bring them back safe to their homes again.
From strife of nations on the field Grant us a glad release,
And speed the day when we shall dwell in universal peace.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Taylor

A mother's heart is aching for the sons she loved so well;
They gave their lives for their country in honours cause they fell.
As dawn crept o'er the trenches, they fell 'midst shot and shell;
Our only grief, we were not there to bid a last farewell.

Safe in the arms of Jesus, safe on his gentle breast;
There by His love o'ershaded, sweetly their souls shall rest.
They were brothers truly fond, they were friends both kind an true;
Better brothers never lived, their equals were but few.

We never knew the pains they bore, we never saw them die,
We only know they passed away and never said good-bye.
Sisters' heart are aching for the brothers they loved so well;
They gave their lives for their country, In honours cause they fell.

We can picture the happy gathering round the fireside long ago,
And we think of the tearful parting when you left us just four month ago.
Too far away your graves to see, But not too far to think on thee,
When days are dark and friends are few, Dear Samuel and Alex, how we long for you.

Sleep on, dear brothers and take your rest; For God has called when he thought best.

Enlisted: Portrush
Born: Portrush 29/12/1893
Resided: Portrush
Son of Captain Hugh and Mrs. Mary McGrattan of Portrush

Captain Hugh McGrattan and his ship were lost at sea in 1916

La Neuville Comm. Cemetery, France, Row B, Grave 50

His sister Isabella died of TB in 1916, aged 16

John and his brother James both contracted and died of Pneumonia.

Another brother Patrick served through both World Wars and survived.

Enlisted: Randalstown
Born: Bushmills 25/2/1891 - 25/1/1891
Resided: Portrush
Son of Captain Hugh and Mrs. Mary McGrattan of Portrush

Captain Hugh McGrattan and his ship were lost at sea in 1916

Mendinghem Military Cemetery, Belgium, Plot 2, Row F, Grave 53

His sister Isabella died of TB in 1916, aged 16

James and his brother John both contracted and died of Pneumonia.

Another brother Patrick served through both World Wars and survived.

VERSE

No Known grave, Commemorated on the Basra Memorial, Iraq, Panels 35-64

Enlisted: Glasgow
Born: Drumnagee, Bushmills 21/6/1883
Resided: Glasgow
Son of James and Jane Elliott
The family appears to have moved to Glasgow as no further trace of them remains at Dunseverick

Private James McKay 6087
2nd Battalion Irish Guards
Killed in Action 15th September 1916

Commemorated in Toberkeigh Presbyterian Church

Thiepval Memorial France, Pier 7, Face D

Rifleman Gordon Brown 17324
12th Battalion Royal Irish Rifles

Killed in Action 6th March 1917
Aged 26

Enlisted: Ballymoney
Born: Portballintrae 2/3/1889
Resided: Portballintrae
Son of James and Mary Brown (nee Cochrane)

Commemorated in Dunluce Presbyterian Church

Buried in St. Quentin Cabaret Military Cemetery, Wulvergem, Belgium, Plot 2, Row B, Grave 6

Sergeant Peter Kane 5985
12th Battalion Irish Rifles

Killed in Action 18th May 1917
Aged 28

Enlisted: Ballymoney
Born: Lisnagunagh 24/2/1890
Resided: Stranocum
Son of Peter and Jane (McNeill) Kane
Husband of Caroline (Hutchinson) Kane of Stranocum
Father of Walter Kane of Mosside and Mollie
Grandfather of Carol, Peter and Valerie

Commemorated in Dunseverick Parish Church

Bailleul Communal Cemetery, France, Plot 3, Row B, Grave 151

Private William Boyle 472868
46th Battalion Canadian Infantry (Saskatchewan Regiment)
Killed in Action 15th May 1917
Aged 26

Buried in Barlin Communal Cemetery Ext., France, Plot 3, Row B, Grave 29

Enlisted: Canada 22/12/1915
Born: Lisnagunogue,  4/10/1889
Son of Daniel and Agnes (Nancy?) Boyle of Daisy Hill, Bushmills

Commemorated in Dunseverick Parish Church

A nephew Jim Boyle was KIA at the Battle of Loos on 25th September 1915 and is buried in Cambrin Churchyard Cemetery

Calais Southern Cemetery, France, Plot 4, Row G., Grave 15

Born: Ballyhome on 18/8/1877
Resided: Ballymacrae, Portrush
Son of James and Anne Jane McNabb of Ballymacrae

Commemorated in Dunluce Presbyterian Church

VERSE

Enlisted: Belfast
Born: Bushmills 12/7/1891
Resided: Bushmills
Son of Edward and Margaret Mitchell

Commemorated in Dunluce Presbyterian Church

Buried at Dunluce Presbyterian Church, Bushmills

Thanks are due to Sammy McClelland of Portballintrae for the photograph of Samuel Mitchell.

Born: Bushmills 2/7/1898
Resided: Bushmills
Son of Samuel and Nancy Liken of Bushmills

Commemorated in Dunluce Presbyterian Church

Commemorated on the Nieuport Memorial, Belgium

Rifleman William McKeague 660
'D' Company 12th Battalion Royal Irish Rifles

Killed in Action 13th February 1917
Aged 24

Enlisted: Ballymoney
Born: Dunluce
Resided: Bushmills
Son of Thomas and Mary McKeague of Bushmills

Commemorated in Dunluce Parish Church

St. Quentin Cabaret Military Cemetery, Wulvergem, Belgium, Plot 2, Row A, Grave 5

 Private Samuel J. Peden 183994
of Clintagh, Macosquin
7th Battalion Canadian Infantry (British Columbia Regiment)
Killed in Action 9th April 1917
Aged 30

Son of William Peden, of Clintagh, Macosquin, Coleraine, Ireland

brother-in-law of  James and John McGrattan (above)

Arras Road Cemetery, Roclincourt
I. B. 32.

Enlisted: Coleraine
Born: The Craig, Bushmills 12/5/1894
Resided: The Craig, Bushmills
Son of Matilda (Todd) McCaughan of The Craig, Bushmills and the late Alexander.
No known grave

Commemorated in Dunseverick Parish Church

Commemorated on Menin Gate Memorial, Ypres, Belgium, Panel 56

Son of John and Elizabeth McFall of Magherintendry, Bushmills

Potijze Chateau Grounds Cemetery, Belgium, Plot 2, Row C, Grave 27

Thomas is commemorated in the HQ of the now Northern Bank in Belfast by a memorial window and on a bronze plaque in the same building.

Photo of Thomas' sister Aggie McFall (nurse)

another photo of his sister

photo of Thomas's father and 2 of his brothers

Taylor.

I never will forget you, dear Alex,
Nor your happy smiling face;
You died for your King and country,
And the honour of your race.
I may grudge the sacrifice,
But this I know full well,
He helped to keep the flag afloat,
And like a soldier fell.
Jesus called him, he was ready
For that home so bright and far,
Up among the happy angels,
He is waiting for me there.
We have lost the dearest brothers,
And we mourn their absence sore:
Their loving form and kindly smile
We will see on earth no more.
The hardest part is yet to come,
When the heroes all return,
And I missing among the cheering crows
The faces of my darling sons.
'Tis hard to feel the bitter loss
Of ones we loved so dear;
It is hard to say, Thy will be done,
And not shed many a tear.
But it is sweet to know we'll meet again,
When parting is no more,
And that the ones we dearly loved
Are only gone before.

On the ground we softly laid him,
Thinking he no more will wake,
When with eyelids widely open,
Pointing upwards, thus he spake,
"Comrades, listen don't you hear it
Hear the roll-call there on high;
Hark! my name the Saviour's calling;
Jesus, Captain, here am I."

Oh! from many a field of battle
Earnest prayer has gone to God
From the lips of dying soldiers
As their life-blood drenched the sod,
And to many came the whisper,
"Son, thy sins are all forgiven,"
And their lips with joy responded
When the roll was called in Heaven.

Asleep in Jesus - blessed sleep
From which none ever wake to weep.

Inserted by his loving father and cousins, Jim and Elizabeth McNabb, Ballymacrae, Portrush

I little Thought when I said Good-bye
It would be the last parting between you and I;
I loved you in life, you are dear to me still,
But in grief I must bow to God's holy will.

In the bloom of life death claimed him;
IN the pride of his manhood days;
None knew him but to love him,
None mentioned his name but with praise.

Friends may forget him, but mother will never;
He will dwell in my heart till life's journey is done;
Lord, teach me to live when my days are ended
I will be met at the gated by my dear hero son.

Deeply regretted by his heart-broken mother, sister and brothers

Why was he taken so young and so fair?
Cut down in the midst of his bloom;
Yet his memory will live with us always,
Though he lies in a far distant tomb.
We never thought when we did part
He would no more return;
Now he lies in a soldier's grave,
And we are left to mourn.
Could I, his mother, have clasped his hand,
The son I loved so well;
To kiss his brow when death was night,
And whispered, "Dan, farewell."

Inserted by his loving father, mother, sisters and brother, The Park, Priestland

The day brings back to our memory dear
A dear one who has gone to rest,
And those who think of him to-night
Are those who loved him best.

Inserted by his loving grandmother, aunt and cousins