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Coleraine Heroes
1914-1918
by
Robert Thompson

Page One (this page)    Page Two    Page Three    Page Four

STREET DIRECTORIES TRANSCRIBED
1805 - 1806 - 1807 - 1808 - 1819 - 1843 - 1852 - 1861 - 1868 - 1877 - 1880 - 1890 - 1894
1901 - 1907 - 1908 - 1909 - 1910 - 1912 - 1918 - 1924 - 1932 - 1939 - 1943 - 1951 - 1960
 1913 Tel. directory    1824 Pigots (Belfast)  &  (Bangor)   1894 Waterford Directory
1898 Newry Directory      Bangor Spectator Directory 1970
 
 

Introduction

     For a number of years I have been working towards researching Coleraine War Memorial.  This was the town where the newspapers of the period were based and where the information should be available.  Strangely enough that information in a number of cases was not there and in some instances it was inordinately difficult to find.  At first glance some of the names on the War Memorial did not fit into the district.  Some of them came from Fermanagh or Tyrone and it took time to work out the criteria used for including them on Coleraine War Memorial.  It did seem strange at first that if you were born in Fermanagh and working in Coleraine when you enlisted, your name could be inscribed on the memorial, but if you were born in Castleroe it couldn't.  Two men were responsible for the list of names we now see on Coleraine War Memorial, the Town Clerk of the time, Mr. William Henry and Mr. J. G. Kydd, the Dentist from Lodge Road.  Together, they did a marvellous job.  They appear to have taken the line that if you were born in Coleraine or worked there your name could be inscribed on the war memorial, but if you were born outside the town it couldn't.  Hence the war memorials at Ballyrashane and at the Loughan.  In spite of the two war memorials just mentioned a huge number of men from the outlying districts of Castleroe, Macosquin, Articlave and Castlerock have no place of commemoration.  They are the forgotten men of Coleraine.  I have included some of them as they came to light in general research while gathering information on others.

     When Coleraine War Memorial was erected in the years immediately following the end of the Great War the names of the fallen were inscribed on the sides of the memorial, starting at the top and coming most of the way down.  It was only after the Second World War had finished and it was found that a new list of names would have to be added that the plates that we see to-day were made and erected.  One name on the memorial has eluded me.  James Barraghan can not be found.  He is not named on the Commonwealth War Graves site, nor is he named in Soldiers Died.  I believe that James was severely wounded and discharged from the army in the early years of the war and being discharged the Commonwealth War Graves Commission would have no further responsibility for his commemoration.  It is sad that this one man can not be found and properly commemorated but there is nothing more I can do about it.  At least his name is on the war memorial and I am sure someone will be tempted to delve further in an attempt to find something.

     Many of the families have been very helpful and simply couldn't do enough for me.  One of them, when I told them about a memorial to their relative in Belfast, immediately set about going to see it and bringing me back a photograph.  I have been helped by many people, not least of them, Joyce Martin.  Sadly Joyce died before she could see the results of her help and it remains my deepest disappointment that this had to happen when it did.  She was such a good friend.

     A number of Coleraine men won great distinction for their courage in face of adversity and some of the stories are very poignant.  Some of the men named on the memorial had won the Military Cross or the Military Medal and a few had the Distinguished Conduct Medal or been Mentioned in Despatches.  All of them gave their lives for their country and it is only right that we should not forget.  Some of the men named here had brought in wounded comrades or given their lives in the attempt and I believe that it is only right that these stories should be brought to light and honour given where it is due.  I hope that the stories contained in this book will be a source of comfort and pride to the families concerned.

     During research I have discovered that the man who was Town Clerk of Coleraine at the time of the Great War, William Henry, and who helped to put the names on the war memorial, collapsed and died very suddenly while on holiday in Llandudno, Wales, on 30th June 1932.  His death, like all those that he helped to put on the memorial, was a disaster to his devastated family.  To-day the grief to a great extent has gone, but the sadness and the gratitude of many of the families lingers on.  Many of these families lost two sons and this was especially hard to take, when as in many cases, the parents were already elderly.

     In June of 1925 a huge German Howitzer was presented to Coleraine and mounted on a concrete base in Anderson Park.  Like almost all of it's predecessors it has disappeared, probably as scrap for the war effort of 1939-45.  I have written to Coleraine Borough Council to point out that in the intervening years since the Great War the three Oak trees planted by the Council in memory of the men who fell on the first day of the Somme appear to have been felled, the old Russian gun has disappeared, the old German Howitzer has disappeared, and to ask if some small memorial could be placed in Anderson Park in memory of the men who gave so much for our freedom while the park is being renovated.

     In the early 1920's it was agreed to erect a War Memorial in Coleraine in memory of the men from the town who had given their lives in the quest for peace.  A Committee was set up and it took that committee two years to get everything together and to settle for a site and to get a list of names.  This same committee then published the list of names and asked the Coleraine public to add a name if they thought one was missing.  They allowed the Coleraine people only two weeks in which to have this done although it was known that many of the families would not be able to afford the luxury of a newspaper every week.  Six names were eventually put forward and I leave it to the reader to judge if all of the names should have been accepted.

Edward Ernest Hosier
James Dunsmore Elliott
George Henry Bittles		 Henry Davis Chambers
William James McKay
William McGowan

     Following a telephone conversation with Robert McClelland it has become known that his father, Joseph Kerr McClelland, was a brick layer who had served in the Great War and that he was certainly one of those who actually built the War Memorial.  It appears that at the last minute everything wasn't finished and Joseph had to work all night to get the memorial ready for dedication the following day.  Having spent a cold night outdoors working Joseph developed pneumonia and was extremely ill for a considerable time.  He eventually recovered and lived for many years in his native Coleraine.

The following are the names elected to serve on the War Memorial Committee.

Mrs. Crofts
Rev. W. H. Bradley, M.A.
Messrs. H. T. Barrie, D.L.
Richard Hunter, J.P.
H. B. Gribbon
C. L. Boddie, C.E.
Hugh Eccles, J.P.
Joseph Wilson, U.D.C.
James Tomb, U.D.C.
W. W. Hill, U.D.C.		 Miss Woodburn
Rev. G. W. D. Rea, B.A.
R. F. McCartney, J.P.
Andrew Clarke
J. B. McLeese
W. J. Given, C.E.
John Shannon
J. W. Crawford
W. R. Selfridge, U.D.C.
James Henry		 Rev. J. G. Paton
Rev. W. H. Giles, B.A.
T. G. Houston, M.A., J.P.
William Henry
Dan Maclaughlin
J. A. Kydd, D.S.
Oliver Paul, J.P.
Andrew McFeeter, J.P.
S. T. Alexander, U.D.C.
Thomas Bell
174504 PO William James Elkin
H.M.S. Hawke, R.N.

Lost at Sea 15th October 1914
Aged 37

Born: Coleraine 2nd March 1877
Son of Nurse Elkin and the late Sgt. Elkin.
Joined the Royal Navy 2nd March 1895.

Commemorated on Chatham Naval Memorial
Ex-Corporal Pat McElgunn		 Ex-Corporal Pat McElgunn, New Row, Coleraine.
He was promoted to the rank of corporal in 1877, and for the subsequent three years served through the Afghanistan campaign under Field-Marshal Earl Roberts.

He holds the Queen's medal for service in this campaign.  On the outbreak of the war he was appointed recruiting officer for Coleraine.
 

8840 Private Edward Kelly
2nd Bn. Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers

Killed in Action 1st November 1914
Aged 24

 

 Born: Enniskillen
Son of Matthew and Kathleen Kelly.
Husband to Maggie Long Kelly
Enlisted: Coleraine

No known grave
Commemorated on the Ploegsteert Memorial, Panel 5.

 8963 Private John O'Connell
1st Bn. Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers

Killed in Action 2nd May 1915

Born: Cashel, Co. Tipperary
Lived: Coleraine
Enlisted: Coleraine

No known grave
Commemorated on the Helles Memorial
 

4125 Private William McKay
2nd Bn. Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers

Killed in Action 25th February 1915
Aged 19

A little poem written by William for his mother

 Born, Lived and Enlisted in Coleraine.
Son of Samuel and Margaret McKay, Long Commons, Coleraine.

Interred in Browns Road Cemetery close to Festubert, Plot 8, Row F, Grave 8.
Commemorated on R.O.H. at the Irish Society School, Coleraine.
Commemorated St. Patrick's Parish Church.

 13801 Private James McKay
10th Bn. Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers

Killed in Action 10th August 1917

brother of William (left)

 Born: Coleraine
Son of Samuel and Margaret McKay, Long Commons, Coleraine.
Lived: Coleraine
Enlisted: Donegal
No known grave
Commemorated on Menin Gate Memorial
Commemorated at the Irish Society School, Coleraine.
27873 Private Henry (Harry) Burnside
10th Bn. Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers

Killed in Action 8th August 1917
Aged 24		 Born: Templemore
Husband of Margaret (McKay)
Lived: Coleraine
Enlisted: Londonderry

Interred in Wieltje Farm Cemetery in Belgium Row C, Grave 1

  

4186 Private Charles Doherty
2nd Bn. Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers

 

Killed in Action 16th May 1915

 

 Born: Glenullin, Co. Londonderry
Lived: Londonderry

No known grave
Commemorated on the Le Touret Memorial
6788 Private George Curran
2nd Bn. Leinster Regiment

Killed in Action 20th October 1914
Aged 27		 Born: Tashinny, Mullingar 1887
Married to Jane 1908 with one child - Mary
Lived: Coleraine
Enlisted: Longford

Commemorated Ploegsteert Memorial, Panel 10

 7907 Private Walker Henry
2nd Bn. Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers

Killed in Action 21st October 1914
Aged 29		 Born: Coleraine 27th July, 1885
Son of Thomas and Martha (Baird) Henry
Lived: Taylors Row, Coleraine
Enlisted: Omagh

Commemorated Ploegsteert Memorial
Commemorated on plaque in Irish Society School, Coleraine

Commemorated in New Row Presbyterian Church, Coleraine
6792 Private James Herbert Clarke
2nd Bn. Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers

Died of Wounds 8th November, 1914
Aged 32		 Born: Coleraine 1882
Son of Henry and Mary Clarke
Married with 4 children
Lived: Coleraine
Enlisted: Cowshot

Interred in Bailleul Cemetery, B. 23

Commemorated on plaque in Irish Society School, Coleraine

Commemorated in Coleraine Congregational Church

 3929 Private Samuel McCormick
2nd Bn. Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers

Killed in Action 8th November 1914
Aged 23		 Born: Coleraine 1891
Son of James and Mary McCormick
Married Mary Allen, 4 Strand Road, Coleraine.
Lived: Londonderry
Enlisted: Coleraine

No known grave
Commemorated on the Ploegsteert Memorial
 

4456 Private William McCready Stewart
2nd Bn. Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers

Killed in Action
Aged 17

 

 Born: Coleraine 1898
Son of John and Mary Stewart
Enlisted: September 1914

No known grave
Commemorated on the Le Touret Memorial

Commemorated in St. Patrick's Parish Church

  

9961 Private Hugh McFadden
1st Bn. Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers

Killed in Action 22nd May 1915
Aged 22

 

 Born: Londonderry 1894
Son of Maggie McFadden, North Brook Street, Coleraine
Lived: Coleraine
Enlisted: Coleraine

Interred in Coleraine Cemetery
Commemorated in St. Patrick's Parish Church
10453 Private Robert Parke
2nd Bn. Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers

Killed in Action 7th June 1915
Aged 20		 Born: Coleraine 1894
Son of William and Maggie Parke, 10 Park Street, Coleraine
Lived: Coleraine
Enlisted: Coleraine

Commemorated on plaque in Irish Society School, Coleraine

Interred in Fosse 7 Cemetery between Lens and Mazingarbe

 16388 Private Henry McCormick
5th Bn. Royal Irish Fusiliers

Killed in Action 16th August 1915
Aged 29		 Born: Coleraine
Son of James and Mary McCormick, 2 Pates lane, Coleraine.
Husband of Edith McCormick, 3 Dunlop Street.
Lived: Portrush
Enlisted: Belfast

No known grave
Commemorated on the Helles Memorial
 

9833 Private James Ritchie Dymond
9834 1/8th Bn. Scottish Rifles

Killed in Action 28th June 1915
Aged 39

 

 Born: Coleraine 1876
Son of John and Elizabeth (Ritchie) Dymond, Terrace Row, Coleraine
Married
Lived: Coleraine and Glasgow
Enlisted: Glasgow
Commemorated in Terrace Row Presbyterian Church		  

696633 Private Daniel Mulholland
87th Bn. Canadian Infantry

Killed in Action 26th October 1918
Aged 22

 

Born: Coleraine 21st January 1896
Son of William John & Frances Mulholland, Castleview Terrace, Coleraine
Lived: Alberta, Canada
Enlisted: Medicine Hat, Alberta 3rd April 1916
Interred in Denain Comm Cemetery, Row A, Grave 14
Commemorate in Irish Society School and 1st Coleraine Presbyterian Church

It's of a young fellow I'm going to tell,
He hailed from Coleraine, you know him quite well,
He left for old England, sailed far o'er the foam,
And left his old Mother and left his old home.

Mother, dear Mother, I bid you adieu,
Wherever I wander my heart is with you,
Wherever I wander my heart will remain,
With all that I love in the town of Coleraine.

Goodbye my old comrades, goodbye to all,
To all my old comrades from bold Donegal,
I am leaving in pain, farewell again,
To my friends and comrades in the town of Coleraine.
by William McKay

 7437 Private William Murray
2nd Bn. Irish Guards

Killed in Action 21st October 1915
 Born: Coleraine
Son of William Murray, Bellhouse Lane.
Husband to Lizzie with 2 children
Lived: Coleraine and Drogheda
Enlisted: Drogheda

Interred in Vermelles Cemetery Plot 1, Row E, Grave 9.
 

3775 Private Patrick Cassidy
1st Bn. Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers

Died of Wounds
Aged 23

 

 Born: Templemore, Co. Londonderry
Son of William Cassidy, Stone Row.
Lived: Coleraine
Enlisted: Coleraine
Interred in Lancashire Landing Cemetery, Row K, Grave33.		  

S3600 Private James Gibson
11th Bn. Argylle & Sutherland Highlanders

Killed in Action 20th October 1915

 Born: Coleraine
Lived: Coleraine
Enlisted: Stirling

No known grave
Commemorated on the Loos Memorial
18621 Private Henry Duddy
6th Bn. Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers

Died of Wounds (11th) 15th November 1915
Aged 46		 Born: Faughanvale, Co. Derry 7th August, 1869
Son of Henry and Ann (Curran) Duddy
Husband to Catherine Doherty, 17th November, 1892.
Lived: Coleraine and Carluke
Enlisted: Carluke, Lanarkshire 28th December, 1914

Buried in Alexandria (Chatby) Cemetery, Row A, Grave 23.

Commemorated on a Memorial in Carluke, Lanarkshire

 Private Wm. Duddy
12th Bn. Highland Light Infantry

Died of Wounds 25th April 1917
 Born: Co. Derry 1st of March 1897

Son of Henry Duddy (left)

 

Interred in Duissans Cemetery at Etrun, Plot 4, Row E, Grave 14.

Commemorated on a Memorial in Carluke, Lanarkshire
T4/091189 Private Robert McNeill
36th Field Bakery R.A.S.C.

Died 8th December 1915
Aged 22		 Born: Coleraine 1893
Son of Robert and Annie McNeill, Killowen Street.
Lived: Coleraine
Enlisted: Belfast

Interred in St. Marie Cemetery at Le Havre.

Commemorated in First Coleraine Presbyterian Church.

 3209 Private James Wallace Henry
1/15th County of London Bn. P. W. O. Civil Service Rifles

Killed in Action 21st December 1915		 Son of Samuel Henry, Railway Road.
Husband of Mabel
Lived: East Finchley
Enlisted: London

Commemorated on the Loos Memorial

Commemorated in Terrace Row Presbyterian Church, Coleraine
 

13917 Corporal John McDiarmid
5th Bn. Royal Irish Fusiliers

Killed in Action 16th August 1915

 

 Born: Londonderry
Married Annie with 4 children
Lived: Coleraine
Enlisted: Glasgow

No known grave
Commemorated on Helles Memorial on Gallipoli

  

C. P. O. Z245 Thomas McLaughlin
Nelson Bn., Royal Naval Div, R.N.V.R.

Killed in Action 28th December, 1915
Aged 27

 

 Son of James McLaughlin.

No known grave
Commemorated on the Helles Memorial on the Gallipoli Peninsula
15850 L/Cpl. David Maguire
10th Bn. Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers

Killed in Action 26th February 1916
Aged 22		 Born: Coleraine 8th April 1892
Son of John and Mary Ann (Lynn) Maguire, 10 Park Street, Coleraine.

Interred in Sucrerie Cemetery Plot 1, Row C, Grave 26

Commemorated in Coleraine Methodist Church

Commemorated on plaque in Irish Society School, Coleraine

 L10978 Private Isaac Leonard
8th Bn. Queens Royal West Surrey Regiment

Killed in Action 17th March 1916
Aged 23		 Born: Coleraine
Lived: Coleraine
Enlisted: Guildford, Surrey

No known grave

Commemorated in Terrace Row Presbyterian Church

Commemorated on plaque in Irish Society School, Coleraine

An early batch of German soldiers		 15927 Private Samuel Parke
10th Bn. Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers

Died of Wounds 25th March 1916
Aged 28		 Born: Coleraine
Son of Robert Parke, Shuttle Hill, Coleraine
Husband of Elizabeth (Getty) Parke, 2 children

Interred in Beauval Communal Cemetery Row D, Grave 23

Commemorated in St. John's Parish Church, Killowen
3261 Private Henry Mitchell Kelly
1/6th Bn. Black Watch

Killed in Action 3rd April 1916
Aged 24		 Born: Castlecaulfield 19th May 1892
Son of John and Rebecca (Hadden) Kelly, Mochan, Castlecaulfield, Co. Tyrone.
Lived: Coleraine
Enlisted: Coleraine

Interred in Mareouil Cemetery Plot 2, Row B, Grave 2

Commemorated in Clenanees Presbyterian Church

 S43279 Signaller John St. Clair McIlhatton
9th Bn. Black Watch

Died of Wounds 19th October 1916
Aged 18		 Born: Coleraine 1898
Son of George Dallas & Ellen McIlhatton, Clonard, Captain Street, Coleraine
Lived: Coleraine
Enlisted: Coleraine October 1915

Interred in Etaples Cemetery Plot 12, Row A, Grave 8a

Commemorated in New Row Congregational Church

POEM
18638 Corporal William Millar
109th Machine-Gun Corps (Infantry)

Killed in Action 8th May 1916
Aged 27		 Born: Portstewart
Son of William Millar, Heathmount, Portstewart
Married ? Maguire
Lived: Coleraine
Enlisted: Finner Camp

Interred in Authuille Cemetery Row D, Grave 57

Commemorated in St. Patrick's Parish Church

 436533 Private James Wilson
49th Bn. Canadian Infantry Alberta Regiment

Killed in Action 9th October 1916
Aged 19		 Born: Coleraine 1897
Son of Joseph & Margaret Gracey Wilson, Bridge Street, Coleraine
Lived: Canada
Enlisted: Canada

Commemorated on Vimy Memorial

Commemorated on plaque in Irish Society School, Coleraine

Commemorated in New Row Presbyterian Church
2nd Lieut. William J. McKenney
6th Bn. Highland Light Infantry

Died 9th May 1916
Aged 44		 Son of W. J. & Mary (Woods) McKenney, Eastbourne, Lodge Road, Coleraine.
Married with 1 child

Interred in Dean or Western Cemetery
he is actually interred in Plot 189 of the Dean Cemetery , Edinburgh - info. courtesy of his grandson Mike Bucher

Commemorated on Bann Rowing Club Boat House

Commemorated on Coleraine War Memorial

brother of Edward R. (right)

 2nd Lieut. Edward R. McKenney
Attd. 6th Bn. Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers

 

Killed in Action 18th October 1918
Aged 37

 Son of W. J. & Mary (Woods) McKenney, Eastbourne, Lodge Road, Coleraine

Interred in Honnechy Cemetery Plot 2, Row C, Grave 49

Commemorated in Coleraine Academical Institution

brother of William J. (left)
SS 116687 Stoker 1st Class Patrick Joseph Doherty
H.M.S. Lion R.N.

Killed in Action 31st May 1916
Aged 22		 Born: Coleraine 21st September 1894
Son of John Doherty, Irish Houses, Coleraine
Joined the Navy 26th January 1915

Buried at Sea

Commemorated on Plymouth Memorial, Panel 15.

Commemorated on Coleraine War Memorial

 3667 Private Bernard Boylan
6th Bn. Royal Irish Regiment

Killed in Action 6th June 1916
Aged 20		 Born: Killowen District, Coleraine 1895/6
Son of William (Spoutfields) & Margaret (McLaughlin, Ballinteer) Boylan
Lived: Coleraine
Enlisted: Coleraine 1915

Interred in Dud Corner Cemetery, Loos, Plot 1, Row K, Grave 10

Commemorated on Coleraine War Memorial
 

5278 S Stoker Robert Doherty
H.M.S. Hampshire

Lost at Sea 5th June 1916
Aged 32

 

 Born: Coleraine 10th December, 1884
Son of Robert & Mary Doherty, Kyles Brae, Coleraine
Enlisted: Glasgow 6th January 1915 R.N.		  

11633 Rifleman James Allen
18th Bn. Royal Irish Rifles

Died 28th June 1916
Aged 42

 

 Born: Portrush
Son of James Allen
Husband of Mary Ann, 81 Fortingale Street, Belfast
Lived: Belfast
Enlisted: Belfast
Interred in Dundonald (Belfast) Cemetery F6, 552.
Commemorated in St. Patrick's Parish Church, Coleraine
27925 Private David Carson McClelland
2nd Bn. Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers

Died of Wounds 6th June 1916
Aged 23		 Born: Coleraine 13th November 1892
Son of Robert & Nancy McClelland, St. James Street, Coleraine
Husband of Sarah (Stockman) McClelland
Lived: Coleraine
Enlisted: Londonderry

Commemorated on plaque in Irish Society School, Coleraine

Interred in Warloy-Baillon Cemetery

 1624 Rifleman John McLean
12th Bn. Royal Irish Rifles

Killed in Action 1st July 1916
Aged 21		 Robert Thompson: 'I'm as sure as I can be that this the correct John McLean as there were several listed'

Born: Cloughanmurray, Ballycastle 27th May 1895
Son of John & Letitia McLean
Lived: Ballycastle
Enlisted: Ballymoney 1915

No known grave

Commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial

15290 Private Robert Anderson
10th Bn. Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers

see photo far right

Killed in Action 1st July 1916
Aged 26

Born: Coleraine 1890
Son of Hessie & James Anderson
Married and living at Blackhill, Coleraine
Lived: Coleraine
Enlisted: Finner Camp Sept. 1914

No known grave
Commemorated on Thiepval Memorial

brother of Archibald Anderson (right) also see photo (right)

15293 Private Archibald Anderson
2nd Bn. Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers

Killed in Action 16th April 1918
Aged 22

Born: Coleraine 1897
Son of Hessie & James Anderson, Bellhouse Lane, Coleraine
Lived: Coleraine
Enlisted: Finner Camp

No known grave
Commemorated in the Irish Society School, Sr. Patrick's Parish Church and on Tyne Cot Memorial

Front: James Anderson, Mrs. Anderson, Mrs. Connor, Robert Anderson (KIA 1.7.16)
Back: James Anderson, William Connor, Archie Anderson (KIA 16.4.18)
The Anderson Family of Bellhouse Lane
 

13599 Private Joseph Cuthbertson
Royal Army Service Corps

Died 1st July 1916
Aged 30

 

 Born: Castleroe, Coleraine 27th March 1886
Son of Mary Jane Cuthbertson, Park Street, Coleraine
Married
Lived: Glasgow
Enlisted: Stockton-on-Tees		  

27937 Private Archibald Kelly
9th Bn. Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers

Killed in action 1st July 1916
Aged 18

 

 Born: Dundooan, Coleraine 1897
Son of Joseph & Maggie Kelly, 33 James Street
Lived: Coleraine
Enlisted: Coleraine

Commemorated on plaque in Irish Society School, Coleraine and the Orange Hall
15511 L/Cpl. Charles Eyre
10th Bn. Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers

Killed in Action 1st July 1916
Aged 19		 Born: Sligo
Lived: Coleraine
Enlisted: Coleraine

No known grave
Commemorated on Thiepval Memorial

Commemorated in Terrace Row Presbyterian Church

 15562 Sergeant James Grundle
10th Bn. Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers

Killed in Action 1st July 1916
Aged 23		 Born: Armagh 1894
Son of Henry Grundle
Lived: Killowen Street, Coleraine
Enlisted: Finner Camp

No known grave

Commemorated on Thiepval Memorial

Commemorated in the Orange Hall, Killowen

Commemorated in First Coleraine Presbyterian Church
18637 L/Cpl. William Robert Gardiner Kennedy
109th Coy. Machine Gun Corps.

Killed in Action 1st July 1916
Aged 19		 Born: Coleraine 12th July 1897
Son of W. R. Kennedy, Ardbana House, Coleraine
Lived: Coleraine
Enlisted: Finner Camp

Commemorated on plaque in Irish Society School, Coleraine

 20372 Private Robert John Letson
1st Bn. Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers

Killed in Action 1st July 1916
Aged 27		 Born: Coleraine
Married
Lived: Glasgow
Enlisted: Glasgow

No known grave
Commemorated on Thiepval Memorial

Commemorated on plaque in Irish Society School, Coleraine

Commemorated St. Patrick's Parish Church, Coleraine
 

23294 Private William Anderson
10th Bn. Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers

Killed in Action

 

 Born: Coleraine
Lived: Greenock
Enlisted: Enniskillen

Commemorated on Thiepval Memorial

Commemorated in Terrace Row Presbyterian Church

  

15303 L/Cpl. Robert Bacon
10th Bn. Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers

 

Killed in Action 1st July 1916

 

 Born: Portstewart
Son of Robert Bacon, Agherton, Portstewart
Married ? Daly, 2 children
Lived: Coleraine
Enlisted: Portstewart

No known grave
Commemorated on Thiepval Memorial
Commemorated in Agherton Parish Church

Unveiling and Dedication of the War Memorial Ceremony in Coleraine
3561 L/Cpl. Samuel Mulholland
12th Bn. Royal Irish Rifles

Killed in Action 1st July 1916		 Born: Coleraine
Lived: Coleraine and Revallagh
Enlisted: Belfast 1914

No known grave

Commemorated on Thiepval Memorial

Commemorated on plaque in Irish Society School, Coleraine

 16002 Private John Simpson
10th Bn. Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers

Killed in Action 1st July 1916		 Born: Coleraine
Son of James and 'Baby' (McLaughlin) Simpson
Married Annie Tweed 1914 1 child
Lived: Coleraine
Enlisted: Donegal

No known grave
Commemorated on Thiepval Memorial

Commemorated on plaque in Irish Society School, Coleraine

Commemorated in St. Patrick's Parish Church
 

17421 Rifleman Joseph Cassells
14th Bn. Royal Irish Rifles

Killed in Action 16th August 1917
Aged 20

 

 Born: Tandragee 7th December 1896
Son of Robert & Alice Cassells, Killowen Street, Coleraine
Lived: Coleraine
Enlisted: Whiteabbey

No known grave
Commemorated on Tyne Cot Memorial, also in St. John's Parish Church, Coleraine

  

15931 Private David Thompson Patterson
10th Bn. Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers

Killed in Action 1st July 1916
Aged 22

poem

 Born: Coleraine 1894
Son of Alex and Agnes (Wallace) Patterson. Shell Hill, Coleraine, formerly Scotland
Lived: Coleraine
Enlisted: Londonderry

No known grave
Commemorated on Thiepval Memorial
Commemorated on plaque in Irish Society School, Coleraine
A poem by David Thompson Patterson

You sang me the song of the roses
In tones more sweet than they
You asked me to leave the roses
So with you I went away.

There are sweeter flowers than roses
So ran your lovely song
For your sake I left the roses
And joined the city's throng.

The petals fell from the roses
The frost soon nipped their stem
You left me far from the roses
And now I long for them.

I'm going back to the roses
The sweetest flowers of all
For love will dwell with the roses
Though the petals from them fall.

 15328 Private John Alexander Thompson Boone
10th Bn. Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers

Died of Wounds 9th July 1916
Aged 20		 Born: Limavady 1896
Son of William & Alice (McWilliams) Boone, Margretta Terrace, Coleraine
Lived: Coleraine
Enlisted: Finner Camp September 1914

Interred in St. Souplet Cemetery Plot 3, Row AA, Grave 20

Commemorated on plaque in Irish Society School, Coleraine

Commemorated in First Coleraine Presbyterian Church
 

23824 Private Robert John Shirley
11th Bn. Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers

 

 

Killed in Action 1st July 1916
Aged 26

 

 Born: Fintona, Co. Tyrone 1890
Son of Robert John and Elizabeth (McDermott) Shirley, 4 James Street, Coleraine
Lived: Coleraine
Enlisted: Clydebank, Glasgow

No known grave
Commemorated on Thiepval Memorial

Commemorated on plaque in Irish Society School, Coleraine

 14182 Private George Shirley
1st Bn. Royal Scots Fusiliers

Killed in Action 26th September 1917
Aged 26		 Born: Coleraine 1892
Son of Robert John and Elizabeth (McDermott) Shirley, 4 James Street, Coleraine
Lived: Dalmuir, Dumbarton
Enlisted: Cumnock, Ayrshire

No known grave

Commemorated on Tyne Cot Cemetery, Panels 60-61

Commemorated on plaque in Irish Society School, Coleraine
 

16018 Private James Smyth
10th Bn. Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers

Killed in Action 1st July 1916

 

 Born: Coleraine
Lived: Coleraine
Enlisted: Donegal

No known grave
Commemorated on Thiepval Memorial
Commemorated on plaque in Irish Society School, Coleraine

  

26692 Private James Taylor
9th Bn. Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers

Killed in Action 1st July 1916
Aged 26

 

 Born: Coleraine
Married to Nellie (McCallion) 1 child
Lived: Coleraine
Enlisted: Coleraine

No known grave
Commemorated on Thiepval Memorial
Commemorated in St. John's Parish Church
 

16075 Private Frederick Watt
10th Bn. Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers

Killed in Action 1st July 1916
Aged 21

 

 Born: Coleraine
Son of Andrew and Elizabeth Watt, Long Commons
Enlisted: Finner Camp

No known grave
Commemorated on Thiepval Memorial
Commemorated in Irish Society School, Coleraine

  

2nd Lieut. David Bertram Corbett
17th Bn. Royal Irish Rifles

Killed in Action 3rd July 1916

 

 Born: 17th December 1888
Son of John Corbett, Ardsallagh, Derryvolgie, Belfast
Husband of Maud Dorothy Ireland, 1 child

Interred in Martinsart Cemetery
16094 Private John White
10th Bn. Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers

Killed in Action July 1916
Aged 32		 Born: Coleraine
Son of Andrew White, Killure, Drumcroone
Husband of Lizzie Creelman 4 children
Lived: Coleraine
Enlisted: Finner Camp

No known grave

Commemorated on Thiepval Memorial

Commemorated in Irish Society School, Coleraine

 Captain Samuel Willis
14th Bn. Royal Irish Rifles

Killed in Action 1st July 1916
Aged 43		 Son of Jacob Willis.

No known grave

Commemorated on Thiepval Memorial

Commemorated in Coleraine Academical Institution, Castlerock Road

Commemorated on plaque in Bann Rowing Club Boathouse

Commemorated in St. Patrick's Parish Church, Coleraine
16116 L/Sgt. John Small Wright
10th Bn. Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers

Killed in Action 1st July 1916
Aged 25		 Born: Coleraine 7th September, 1891
Son of William John & Mary (Macready) Wright, 37 Fish Loughan, Coleraine.
Lived: Coleraine
Enlisted: Finner Camp

Buried in Serre Road Cemetery No 2, Plot 10, Row B, Grave 4.

Commemorated on plaque inside the Orange Hall, Union Street, Coleraine.

Commemorated in Ballyrashane Presbyterian Church

brother of Thomas Wright (right)

 1582 Private Thomas Wright
North Irish Horse

Died of Wounds 28th July 1916
Aged 22		 Born: Pullans, Coleraine 1894
Son of William John & Mary (Macready) Wright, Damhead Cottages, Coleraine
Lived: Coleraine
Enlisted: Antrim

Interred in the Cemetery at Etaples Plot 9, Row A, Grave 11a

Commemorated in Ballyrashane Presbyterian Church

(brother of John Small Wright (left)
6825 Private William Anderson
2nd Bn. Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers

Killed in Action 12th July 1916		 Born: Coleraine
Son of Alex & Mrs. Anderson, Upper New Row, Coleraine
Lived: Greenock
Enlisted: Coleraine

No known grave

Commemorated on Thiepval Memorial

Commemorated in the orange Hall, Union Street, Coleraine

Commemorated in Terrace Row Presbyterian Church

 4529 Private James Keers McGrotty
1st Bn. Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers

Died of Wounds 8th July 1916
Aged 19		 Born: Glasgow 1897
Son of William & Matilda McGrotty, Strand Road, Coleraine
Lived: Coleraine
Enlisted: Londonderry

Interred in Wimereux Cemetery Plot 1, Row N, Grave 24a

Commemorated in St. John's Parish Church, Killowen
 

3823 Private John McFall
6th Bn. Black Watch

 

Killed in Action 25th July 1916

 

 Born: Camus, Coleraine
Son of Robert John & Mrs. McFall
Enlisted: Perth

Interred in Flat Iron Copse Cemetery

  

3602 Private John Rodmont
2nd Bn. Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers

 

Died of Wounds 2nd August 1916

 

 Born: Glasgow
Son of John and Jane (Campbell) Rodmont
Lived: Coleraine
Enlisted: Coleraine

Interred in Stoke-on-Trent (Hartshill) Cemetery
Commemorated in Irish Society School, Coleraine
15648 Rifleman Samuel Mulholland
10th Bn. Royal Irish Rifles

Died of Wounds 6th August 1916		 Born: Coleraine
Son of James Mulholland, Circular Road, Coleraine
Married Sarah McQuillan (died) 1 child
Lived: Belfast
Enlisted: Belfast

Interred in Etaples Cemetery Plot 9, Row C, Grave 2

Commemorated in Irish Society School, Coleraine

 686 Sergeant Charles Alfred Jewell
16th Bn. Australian Infantry

Died of Wounds 10th August 1916
Aged 43		 Born: New Row, Coleraine 20th December 1872
Son of Robert William & Jane Jewell, Dundooan House, Coleraine
Lived: Western Australia
Enlisted: Helena Vale, W. A. 19th October, 1914

Interred in Warloy Baillon Cemetery

Commemorated in St. Patrick's Parish Church
2nd Lieut. John Henry Conolly
6th Bn. Royal Munster Fusiliers attd. 11th Bn. Royal Irish Rifles

Died of Wounds 1st September 1916
Aged 19		 Born: 4th November 1896
Son of John Matthew & Ellen Jane (Henry) Conolly, Cranagh Hill, Coleraine

Interred in Bailleul Cemetery

Commemorated in St. John's Parish Church, Killowen

(see photo below)

 18791 Sergeant Timothy Carroll
2nd Bn. Canadian Infantry

Killed in Action 3rd September 1916
Aged 27		 Born: Coleraine 21st May 1889
Son of Timothy & Catherine Carroll
Lived: Edmonton, Alberta 24th August 1914
Enlisted: Edmonton, Alberta

Interred in 2nd Canadian Cemetery Contalmaison

Cranagh Hill National School about 1911
(1) Sam Connolly   (2) Harry Connolly   (3) Miss McLaughlin   (4) John M. Conolly, headmaster   (5) John Henry   (6) David Kerr   (7) Sheila Kerr
   (8) Roy Henry   (9) Alfred Conolly   (10) Margaret Conolly   (11) Helen Conolly   (12) Lucas Twins
Families also in the photograph:- Loughrey, Arthur, Samuel, Henry, John, Bessie & Mollie   -   McNeill, Lizzie, Jimmy, Samuel James, John & William
Kerr, Sadie, Maureen, Maureen, Jean
4394 Private Robert McCormick
7th Bn. Royal Irish Rifles

Killed in Action 9th September 1916		 Born: Coleraine 1895
Son of George & Mary McCormick, Kyle's Brae, Coleraine
Lived: Coleraine
Enlisted: Glasgow 1914

No known grave

Commemorated on Thiepval Memorial

 2079 Private William John McToal
6th Bn. Royal Irish Regiment

Killed in Action 9th September 1916
Aged 30		 Born: Ballynock, Glenbush, Co. Antrim.
Son of John & Mary McToal, Long Commons, Coleraine.
Husband of Fanny (Workman), 1 child.
Lived: Loughguile.
Enlisted: Ballymoney.

No known grave

Commemorated on Thiepval Memorial
100694 Private James Patterson
49th Bn. Canadian Infantry, Alberta Regt.

Killed in Action 15th September 1916
Aged 27		 Born: Coleraine 1894
Son of Alex and Agnes (Wallace) Patterson, Shell Hill, Coleraine.
Lived: Canada
Enlisted: Edmonton 1915

No known grave

Commemorated on the Vimy Memorial

Commemorated in Irish Society School, Coleraine

Commemorated in New Row Presbyterian Church, Coleraine

 2nd Lieut William James Dunlop
Royal Field Artillery

Killed in Action 21st September 1916
Aged 26		 Born: Straidkillen 25th October 1889
Son of Dr. Joseph & Elizabeth Dunlop, Straidkillen, Bushmills
Lived: Straidkillen

Interred in Albert Communal Cemetery
 

231745 Private James Bernard MacLaughlin
2nd Bn. Otago Regt.

Killed in Action 15th September 1916
Aged 29

 

 Born: Coleraine 10th August 1888
Son of Daniel & Mary MacLaughlin, Breezemount, Coleraine
Lived: Oamaru, South Island, New Zealand
Enlisted: Trentham Camp 2nd Nov. 1915

No known grave
Commemorated on Caterpillar Valley Memorial

  

1332 Private Thomas James Moody
9th Bn. Royal Irish Rifles

Died 13th November 1916
Aged 34

 

 Born: Coleraine 1881
Son of Matthew & Esther Moody
Married
Lived: Downpatrick
Enlisted: Downpatrick
Major George Henry Bittles
Indian Ordnance Corps

Died 21st September 1916		 Lived: Adelaide Avenue, Coleraine

Interred in Coleraine Cemetery

Commemorated in St. Patrick's Parish Church

 877 Cpl. Andrew Curry McBride
42nd Bn. Australian Imperial Force

Killed in Action 5th April 1918
Aged 28		 Born: Ballymoney
Son of David & Mary McBride, Seacon, Ballymoney
Lived: Australia
Enlisted: Brisbane 28th December 1915

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

Commemorated on Coleraine and Ballyrashane War Memorial, also in Ballyrashane Presbyterian Church and Bann Rowing Club Boathouse
15959 Private Robert Rankin
10th Bn. Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers

Died of Wounds 3rd October 1916
Aged 29		 Born: Coleraine 1887
Son of Joseph & Maggie Rankin, Cross Lane, Coleraine
Husband to Elizabeth, 2 children
Lived: Coleraine
Enlisted: Donegal September 1914

Interred in Bailleul Cemetery

Commemorated in Irish Society School, Coleraine

Commemorated in St. Patrick's Parish Church

 3222 Private John McGregor
10th Bn. Gordon Highlanders

Died of Wounds 20th October 1916
Aged 21		 Born: Glasgow 1895
Ward of Mr. & Mrs. Jane Cameron
Lived: Coleraine
Enlisted: Greenock September 1914

Interred in Contalmaison Cemetery Plot 1, Row C, Grave 12

Commemorated in Irish Society School, Coleraine

Commemorated in New Row Presbyterian Church
 

3rd Engineer Thomas Martin
Mercantile Marine S.S. Brantingham

Lost at Sea 4th October 1916
Aged 22

brother of William Henry (right)

 Born: Coleraine 2nd September 1893
Son of Thomas & Mary (Henry) Martin, 3 Ardbana Terrace, Coleraine

Commemorated in Irish Society School, Coleraine
Commemorated on Tower Hill Memorial
Commemorated in First Coleraine Presbyterian Church

  

237083 Private William Henry Martin
75th Bn. Canadian Infantry

Killed in Action 15th August 1917
Aged 26

brother of Thomas (left)
Born: Coleraine 19th April 1890
Son of Thomas & Mary (Henry) Martin, 3 Ardbana Terrace, Coleraine
Lived: Toronto
Enlisted: Toronto 8th March 1916
Commemorated in Irish Society School, Coleraine
Commemorated on Vimy Memorial
Commemorated in First Coleraine Presbyterian Church
9866 L/Cpl. Archibald Murphy
1st Bn. Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers

Died of Wounds 7th May 1916
Aged 24		 Born: Ballymoney
Son of John and Elizabeth Murphy, Stone Row, Coleraine
Lived: Coleraine
Enlisted: Belfast

Interred in Auchonvillers Cemetery Plot 2, Row D, Grave 20

Commemorated in Terrace Row Presbyterian Church

brother of Hugh (right)

 10913 Private Hugh Murphy
1st Bn. Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers

Killed in Action 30th January 1917
Aged 20		 Born: Ballymoney 1897
Son of John & Elizabeth Murphy, Stone Row, Coleraine
Lived: Coleraine
Enlisted: Coleraine September 1914

Commemorated in Irish Society School, Coleraine

Commemorated in Terrace Row Presbyterian Church

brother of Archibald (left)

My mind goes back like shadows
To the years that's passed away
And near me comes the loved one
And my heart would bid him stay
His smile of peace now absent is
And the joy he held in store
For his face was like the sunshine
But I'll never see it more

In the home where dwells thy loved ones
Who had learned to love thee well
And they gathered round the family hearth
Each would their sorrow tell
And the story of your hero'd life
Seemed like a tale of yore
In the wars contending armies
And we never saw you more

For the war guns know no pity
As they thunder forth their call
But the soldier presses onward
And the brave and good may fall
Hence we raise our war memorials
That our grateful thoughts may soar
To the Heaven where dwells the loved one
We shall meet on Earth no more

But the war guns now are silent
God has made the war to cease
He turns the wrath and hate of men
Into a reign of peace
He breaks down all oppressors
And as Captain goes before
Till we reach the hero's homeland
Where there's life for ever more.

.....George D. McIlhatton

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