Duncairn Presbyterian Church, Antrim Road, Belfast (4)

Frank ORR. Rifleman 8298, 1st Royal Irish Rifles. Son of Mrs. E. Orr, of 278, Crimea Street, Belfast. Died 5 May 1915 aged 24 years. At rest in Royal Irish Rifles Graveyard, Laventie, France.

James Stewart ANDISON. Private 6902, 4th King’s Own Scottish Borderers. Son of Thomas B. and Jane Andison, of 230, Cliftonville Road, Belfast. Native of Galashiels. Died 12 July 1915 aged 24 years. At rest in Lancashire Landing Cemetery, Turkey including Gallipoli.

John Beck McDOWELL. Lance Corporal PS5261, 20th Royal Fusiliers. Son of John and Ada McDowell, of 10, Malone Park, Belfast. Died 13 March 1916 aged 21 years. At rest in Cambrin Churchyard Extension, France.

Samuel STRANGE. Stoker 326V Royal Naval Reserve on H.M.S. Queen Mary. Died at sea 31 May 1916. Address given as Hartwell Street, Belfast. Commemorated on the Portsmouth Naval memorial, Hampshire.

John BOYLAN. Rifleman 12558, 15th Royal Irish Rifles. Son of John and Annie Boylan, of 166, Alexandra Park Avenue, Belfast. Killed in action on the first day of the Battle of the Somme, 1 July 1916 aged 20 years. Commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial, Somme, France.

William David GIRVAN. Private 14206, 9th Royal Irish Fusiliers. Husband of Mrs. M. Girvan, of 45, Hill St., Lurgan, Co. Armagh. Died 12 February 1916. At rest in Mesnil Ridge Cemetery, Mesnil Martinsart, Somme, France.

Hugh Corry OSBOURNE. 2nd Lieutenant, 12th West Yorkshire Regiment. Died 23 July 1916. Commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial, Somme, France. Note. CWGC list OSBORNE.
Hugh Corry Osborne was born in Belfast on 20th May 1896 to Joseph and Margaret Osborne, being the eldest of their three sons. His father was a Chartered Accountant and the family lived at Hopefield Terrace, 292 Antrim Road in Belfast. His father’s accountancy business was based in the Mayfair Building in Arthur Square in 1911 and later became Osborne, Cooke & Company with premises in the Scottish Provident Buildings on Wellington Place. Hugh Corry Osborne was working in the family firm when he enlisted with the Officers’ Training Corps at Queen’s University, receiving a commission with the West Yorkshire Regiment on 20th July 1915 and joined the 12th Battalion in France in May 1916. Second Lieutenant Hugh Corry Osborne was killed in action on 23rd July 1916, aged 20. He is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial in France

Stanley Woods MAXWELL. 2nd Lieutenant, B Coy, 8th Royal Irish Rifles. Son of Mrs. Agnes Maxwell, of” Calloden,” North Parade, Belfast, and the late Samuel Maxwell. Died of wounds in a Prisoner of War Camp on Thursday 27 July 1916 aged 25 years. At rest in St Souplet British Cemetery, France.
Stanley Woods Maxwell was born on 23 January 1891 in Sullatober, Carrickfergus and he was a son of Samuel and Agnes Maxwell (nee Woods) who were married on 12 March 1884 in Ballygowan Presbyterian Church. Samuel Maxwell from Glassdrummond was a son of Adam Maxwell, a farmer. Agnes Woods from Belfast was a daughter of Andrew Woods, a farmer.
For a time, Samuel Maxwell was Printworks Manager in the Sullatober Bleaching and Printing Company, Carrickfergus, Co Antrim. Samuel and Agnes had five children.
In 1901 the Maxwell family was living at 55 Dufferin Avenue, Bangor and after that they moved to Belfast where they lived at 85 Limestone Road and later at Calloden, North Parade.
Stanley Woods Maxwell attended Bangor Grammar School and after leaving school he worked for the firm of Messrs J. Woods & Company, wholesale tea merchants in Ann Street, Belfast. Later he worked as a traveller for Messrs Byers & Company, Oxford Street, Belfast.
It was reported in the Press that he was a member of the Fortwilliam Unit of the Ulster Volunteer Force, a Lieutenant in the 14th Belfast Boys’ Brigade and a member of the Queen’s University Officers’ Training Corps. He played rugby for the North of Ireland Football Club.
In February 1915 he obtained a commission in the 17th (Reserve) Battalion Royal Irish Rifles, then in Newcastle, Co Down. He went to Ballykinler Camp and from there to the Western Front.
Second Lieutenant Stanley Woods Maxwell served with the 8th Battalion Royal Irish Rifles in 107th Brigade of the 36th (Ulster) Division and, initially, he was posted as missing in action after the first day of the Battle of the Somme. Later his mother received a letter from him dated 8 July 1916 telling her that he had sustained a broken leg and was being held as a Prisoner-of-War by the Germans. He told her that he was being moved to another PoW camp and that he was not allowed to tell her where it was located. That was the last communication she received from him and in October 1916 it was officially confirmed that Second Lieutenant Stanley Woods Maxwell l had died of his wounds in a PoW camp on 27 July 1916.
Second Lieutenant Stanley Woods Maxwell was buried in St. Souplet British Cemetery in France and he is commemorated in the Journey of Remembering Belfast Book of Honour, on the North of Ireland Cricket Club Memorial Plaque and in Bangor Grammar School.
At the time of Stanley’s death, his brother Wilfred was serving in the Army Service Corps.
Stanley’s mother Agnes died on 21 November 1949 (aged 91) and was buried in Belfast City Cemetery.

John GORDON. Lance Corporal 3509, 1st Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers. Son of James and Elizabeth Gordon, of Whitewell, Belfast. Killed in action on the first day of the Battle of the Somme 1 July 1916 aged 22 years. At rest in Ancre British Cemetery, Beaumont Hamel, Somme, France.

John BLACKBURN. Unable to find the correct record for this person listed with the CWGC.

Andrew McKENDRICK. Private 266783, 6th (Perthshire) Territorial Battalion. Black Watch. Born at Shankill, County Antrim. Killed in action 7 April 1917. Commemorated on the Arras Memorial, France.

Andrew Arthur DORMAN. Private 291291, 46th Canadian Infantry. Husband of Effie L Dorman, later remarried as Greenwood of 116, Cresent Road, Transcona, Manitoba, Canada. Killed in action 18 August 1917 aged 34 years. At rest in Villers Station Cemetery, Villers-Au-Bois, France.

Some notes from his army record -
Born 20 July 1888 in Belfast, Ireland. His residence was 41A Stratheden Street, Belfast. Resided with his wife Effie L at 3 Richmond Park, 430 Young Street, Manitoba, Canada, occupation, office clerk. On the 6 December 1915 aged 27years and 4 months. he joined the 222nd Overseas Battalion at Private 291291. He embarked from Halifax, Canada with 222nd Battalion on S.S. Olympic for England on the 13 November 1916, disembarking at Portsmouth England on the 20 November 1916. From the port of disembarkation, the 222nd were taken to Shoreham by the sea. On the 31 December 1916 the 222nd were transferred to the 19th Reserve Battalion, 46th Regiment Canadian Infantry. On the 1 January 1917 the 46th were taken on strength at Seaford. From Seaford the 46th were posted to Bramshott Military Camp, Hampshire on the 30 May 1917 for embarkation to France the same day. The following day 31st the 46th disembarked and marched into Canadian Infantry Base Depot to await deployment to the front. On the 20 June 1917 he was posted to the front with the 46th Battalion and was killed in action the 18 August 1917.
(They were known as Suicide Battalion: 46th Canadian Infantry on the Western Front, World War One. There has been a book published about them.)

James Gray RONALDSON. 2nd Lieutenant, 10th The Queen’s (Royal West Surrey Regiment). Died 20 September 1917. Son of James and Elizabeth Ronaldson. Husband of Winifred Thelma nee Crisp. Commemorated on the Tyne Cot Memorial, Belgium.
London Gazette dated 15 August 1916.
Local Reserve. Royal West Surrey Regiment. 5 Aug. 1916
The undermentioned cadets to be temp 2nd Lts. (on prob.) James Gray Ronaldson and five others.

John McNABB. Private 16369, Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers. Born 15 November 1893 at Ballyrock, Bushmills to Mary McNabb, of Islandcarragh, Bushmills, County Antrim, Ireland. Died 8 August 1917 aged 23 years. Commemorated on the Menin Gate Memorial, Belgium.

https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/ Have the following parents. James and Emily McNabb, nee Mc Farland. of Ballinlea, Ballycastle.

Henry NICOLL. Private 56399, 22nd Coy, Machine Gun Corps, (Infantry) Born 1899 to Son of Mrs. Helen Nicoll, of Cairnside, Kirkcolm, Stranraer. Died 8 October 1918 aged 19 years. Commemorated on the Vis-En-Artois Memorial, France.

Robert Blair CAMPBELL. Rifleman 14159, 12th Royal Irish Rifles. Born 25 February 1896 at 17 Mornington Street, Belfast to William James and Maggie Blair Campbell, nee Blair. At the time of heis death his parents were residing at 222, Upper Meadow Street, Belfast. Died 15 April 1918 aged 22 years. Commemorated on the Tyne Cot Memorial, Belgium.

Walter Alexander TYRRELL. Military Cross. Captain, 32nd Squadron Royal Air Force. Born 23 August 1898 to Son John Tyrrell, J.P. and Jeanie Tyrrell, nee Todd of Fairview Building, Crumlin Road, Belfast. At the time of his death his parents were residing at The Cairn, Ballyholme, Bangor, Co. Down. Killed 9 June 1918 aged 19 years. At rest in Beauvais Communal Cemetery, Oise, France.


Extract credited to Glightglobal/Archive
Military Cross citation -
T. Sec. Lieut. WALTER ALEXANDER TYRRELL, Gen. List, attached to R.A.F.
For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. On one day this officer attacked two enemy triplanes, destroying one and driving down the other out of control. After this he was attacked by two other machines, one of which he forced to land, taking the occupants prisoners. On various other occasions he has destroyed or driven down out of control enemy machines.

His brother John Marcus Tyrrell also fell. He was also brother to Lieut.-Col. Wm. Tyrrell, D.S.O., M.6., M.B., R.A.M.C., who had been on active service on the western front since the opening of the war.
John Marcus TYRRELL. Captain, 3rd Reserve Royal Irish Fusiliers, attached to the Royal Air Force. Born 27 March 1895 to John Tyrrell, J.P. and Jeanie. Tyrrell, nee Todd of Fairview Building, Crumlin Road. Belfast. At the time of his death his parents were residing at The Cairn, Ballyholme, Bangor, Co. Down. Native of Belfast. At rest in Boulogne Eastern Cemetery, France.
Extract credited to Glightglobal/Archive
Capt John MARCUS TYRRELL, Royal Irish Fusilier, attached R.A.F., who was killed on active service in France on Thursday, June 20th, was the son of Alderman John Tyrrell, J.P., of Belfast, and the Cairn, Ballyholme, Bangor, County Down.
The late Capt. Marcus Tyrrell was 23 years of age. He survived his younger brother only eleven days, Capt. Walter A. Tyrrell, M.C., also of the R.A.F., having been killed in action on the 9th inst. The eldest brother, Lieut.-Col. Wm. Tyrrell, D.S.O., M.6., M.B., R.A.M.C., has been on active service on the western front since the opening of the war.

John Kingham CLARKE. 2nd Lieutenant, Connaught Rangers attached to 103rd Squadron Royal Air Force. Born 1894 to Son of the Rev. Edward Clarke and Janie G. Clarke, of The Manse, Strabane, Co. Tyrone. Educated at Campbell College, Belfast. Joined up at the outbreak of the war employed at Messrs. McLoughlin & Harvey of Belfast. Reported missing from bomb raid, presumed killed in action 22 July 1918 aged 24 years. He was the observer in a De Havilland D.H.9, C1213 biplane bomber, flown by 2nd Lieutenant Cyril Thomas Houston. Both are at rest next to each other at Cabaret-Rouge British Cemetery, Souchez, France.

Some notes from his army record -
Joined the Royal Irish Rifles 7 October 1914 aged 19 years and 11 months, as Private 16/936. Occupation, apprentice builder with McLaughlin and Harvey. After he had completed his training he embarked from Southampton 2 October 1915 to France. On the 10 October 1916 he was shot and wounded in his right thigh. On the same day he was treated at 109 Field Ambulance then transferred to 8th Causality Clearing Centre, then onto No 3, Canadian Stationary Hospital, Bolougne. 17th October 1916 invalided to England on Hospital Ship, St David. At some date he was discharged fit for war service and sent back to France. On the 22 January 1917 as Corporal he was posted back to the Regimental Depot on a Cadet course and struck off the strength of Royal Irish Rifles. On the 26 June 1917 he was appointed to temporary commission in the Connaught Rangers.

Lowry LEES. Sergeant 511845, 2/14th London Regiment (London Scottish). Born 27 March 1896 to Son of John Lowry Lees. and Frances Ann. Lees, nee Hughes of 129 Limestone Road, Belfast. At the time of his death his parents were residing at 31, Hughenden Avenue, Belfast. Died 14 October 1918 aged 22 years. He is commemorated on a family memorial in Dundonald Cemetery, Belfast and is at rest in Derry House Cemetery No 2, Belgium.

Matthew Henry GIBSON. Military Cross and Bar. Captain, 12th Royal Irish Rifles. Born 1890 to David and Annie E. Gibson, of 1, Chesnut Gardens, Cliftonville, Belfast. Died 29 October 1918 aged 28 years. At rest in Duhallow A.D.S. (Advance Dressing Station) Cemetery, Belgium.

Supplement to London Gazette dated 24 November 1915.
The Royal Irish Rifles. The undermentioned to be temporary Second Lieutenants
Dated 16 November 1915. Matthew Henry Gibson.
London Gazette dated 18 October 1917
Military Cross Citation
For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty in rallying men of other units who were falling back owing to loss of their officers, leading them forward again and holding on to the position under heavy fire. Some months ago.
Supplement to London Gazette dated 2 December 1918
Bar citation.
T./Lt. Matthew Henry Gibson, M.C., R. Irish Rif., attd. 12th Bn.
For great determination and gallantry.
He was ordered to attack and clear up a village which was a nest of machine guns. After one and a-half hours’ severe house-to-house fighting, he succeeded in establishing his company on the far side of the village. Being short of officers, on six separate occasions he personally led his platoons forward and captured four machine guns at the point of the bayonet.
(M.C. gazetted 18th October, 1917.)
His brother Jack, late of the **Y.C.V., who won the Divisional Certificate for gallantry at the battle of the Somme in July, 1916, was wounded twice, and was discharged as unfit for further military service.
**Y.C.V. The Young Citizen Volunteers was an Irish civic organistation founded in Belfast in 1912. Not until the outbreak of WW1 did the YCV by then a battalion of the UVF, become part of the British Army as the 14th Battalion Royal Irish Rifles

Harold Percival NIXON. 2nd Lieutenant, 6th (Wiltshire Yeomanry) Battalion, Wiltshire Regiment.
Son of Alexander and Annie Nixon, of 12, Hopefield Avenue, Belfast. Died 26 October 1918 aged 22 years. At rest in Warcoung Churchyard, Hainaut, Belgium.
Harold Percival Nixon was born on 25 May 1896 at 61 Benwell Terrace, Belfast, the sixth of seven children of mercantile clerk Alexander Nixon and his wife Annie (nee Morrison). Educated at the Municipal Technical Institute, by 1911 he was living with his family in Hopefield Avenue, Belfast. That year he began a five year apprenticeship as a flax manager with the York Street Flax Spinning Company, Belfast.
Nixon enlisted in the North Irish Horse at Belfast on 1 September 1914 (No.1075 – later Corps of Hussars No.71225), overstating his age by a year. He embarked for France with D Squadron on 1 May 1915.
On 6 June at Carvin Nixon was punished for a series of offences over the previous two days – for being "late for stables" (two days Field Punishment No.2), and "When on Main Guard absent from Guardroom" and "When a prisoner under open arrest being outside camp precincts" (three days Field Punishment No.1).
Nixon was promoted to lance corporal (unpaid) on 15 August 1917. On 20 June he had applied for a commission in the infantry, with a preference for the Royal Irish Fusiliers. He departed for the UK at the end of September and on 9 November 1917 reported for duty at the No.7 Officer Cadet Battalion at Fermoy. He was commissioned as a 2nd lieutenant on 1 May 1918 and posted to the Wiltshire Regiment. Soon after he embarked for France, where he was posted to the 6th Battalion.
Also commemorated on a family headstone in Belfast City Cemetery. Nixon's two brothers served in the war, Robert in the US Army's 129th Infantry, and Cecil Albert in the 10th Battalion, Royal Irish Rifles.

Thomas WILSON. Gunner 40176, 1/1st Essex Battery, Royal Garrison Artillery. Son of Thomas and Isabella Wilson, of 46, Thorndale Avenue, Belfast. Died 26 October 1918 aged 23 years. At rest in Busigny Communal Cemetery Extension, France.

William Alexander ERSKINE. Rifleman 12758, 15th Royal Irish Rifles. Son of William B. Erskine, of 14, Sealands Parade, Seaview, Belfast. Died 21 March 1918 aged 27 years. Commemorated on the Pozieres Memorial, Somme, France.

William BICKERSTAFF. Private 51063, Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry (Eastern Ontario Regiment). Son of William and Agnes Bickerstaff, of 19, Lawther Street, Belfast. Died 17 July 1919 aged 29 years. At rest in Carnmoney Cemetery, County Antrim, Northern Ireland

George LOCKE. There are only two G (variant) Locke who died in 1919. Neither show any connection the Ireland.