St Enoch Presbyterian Church, Duncairn, Belfast (2)

John KELLY. Lance Corporal, (Private) 10489 6th Royal Irish Rifles. Residing at 278 Crumlin Road, Belfast. Killed in action 10 August 1915. Commemorated on the Helles Memorial, Turkey including Gallipoli.

William John LAVERTY. Rifleman 949, 1st Garrison Battalion, Royal Irish Rifles. Born at Drumagh, Omagh, County Tyrone, Ireland. Husband of Minnie Ann Laverty, of 36, Willow Bank Gardens, Antrim Rd., Belfast, Northern Ireland. Died in India 10 November 1916 aged 47 years. At rest in Cawnpore Cantonment New Cemetery, India.

Thomas Edwin LOWRY. Lance Corporal, 10/15177, 10th Royal Irish Rifles. Husband of Minnie Lowry, of 33, Matlock Street, Belfast, Ireland. Died 12 June 1918 aged 23 years. Laid to rest as Thomas Edward Lowry 15 June 1918 Plot P Grave 300 at the Belfast City Cemetery. His wife is also interred in the grave and is named as Mary Ann.

James MURPHY. Sergeant 5/12045, 5th Royal Irish Fusiliers. Son of Mrs. Elizabeth Murphy, of 23, Jennymount Terrace, York Road, Belfast. Later of 96 Henry Street, Belfast. Killed in action 10 March 1918 aged 23 years. At rest in Jerusalem War Cemetery, Palestine including Gaza.

Alfred McCLELLAND. 2nd Lieutenant, 5th Royal Irish Rifles. Son of James and Charlotte Miriam McClelland of 34 Shore Road, Duncairn, Belfast. 1911 his occupation was an office apprentice. At the time of his death his parents were residing at 105 Cavehill Road, Belfast. Died of wounds 13 October 1917 aged 24 years. At rest in trois Arbres Cemetery, Steenerck, Nord France.

Hugh Beggs McCLURE. Sapper 64264 150th Field Coy, Royal Engineers. Born 17 February 1885 at Mead street, Larne to Thomas Beggs and Margaret Jane Gleghorn McClure, nee Meekin the residence of his parents. They later resided at 8 Newington Street, Belfast, Ireland Husband of Maud, nee McClure of 63 Everton Street, Belfast. He was married on the 13 April 1911 at Magheramore Presbyterian Church, County Antrim. His wife died at Maternity Hospital in Belfast 9 October 1915 of heart failure and septicaemia after childbirth. His son Lorrimer Drummond Mclure died aged 5 weeks at his grandparents Robert and Ellen McClure residence 197 Crumlin Road, Belfast on the 28 October 1915. On the 11 February 1915 aged 29 years he joined the Royal Engineers and then was posted to the R.E. Depot, Chatham, civilian occupation painter. On the 30 November 1915 he was posted to France. He was killed in action 6 October 1916 aged 30 years. His effects went to his father in law Robert McClure, retired compositor. At rest in Pond Farm Cemetery, Belgium.

Two of his brothers, James and Robert, were also serving in the war -
James McClure, married, was serving as Sapper 89976, 145 Army Troops Coy, Royal Engineers
Some notes from James' army record -
Born 19 October 1880 at Inver, Larne to Thomas and Margaret Jane Gleghorn McClure, nee McMeekin. He enlisted at into the Royal Engineers at Larne and joined at Londonderry as Sapper 7156 on the 24 November 1900 aged 20 years, occupation painter. He married Elizabeth Jane McClean at St Michael the Archangel, Aldershot, Surrey on the 23 April 1904. He was aged 24 years and stationed at Stanhope Lines, Aldershot. His wife was aged 29 and she resided at Alexander Road, Aldershot. At some time, his wife died, and he remarried in 1913 to Tabitha Hunt.
On the 23 November 1912 he was discharged from the army on the termination of the 1st period of engagement. No other records to show when he was called to the colours. His birth certificate show he was registered as James. When he remarried, he used the name of Jams McMeekin McClure

Robert McClure was Born 8 December 1890 to Thomas Beggs McClure and Margaret Jane Gleghorn McClure nee McMeekin of Back Road, Larne. His father was a house painter. Serving as Private 18229 12th Central Antrim Regiment, Royal Irish Rifles, Ulster Division at master’s Stores, Base Depot, Le Havre, France. Both demobilized to Class Z Army Reserve
Some notes from Robert’s army record -
He joined up at Larne, County Antrim 15 September 1914 aged 24 years and 9 months, occupation, painter. He was posted the same day to Clandeboye Estate Army Training Camp, near Bangor, County Down. His parents Thomas Beggs and Margaret McClure of 8 Newington Street, Belfast were his next of kin. He embarked to join the BEF in France 15 September 1914 and left 18 January 1919, having one period of leave. On the 16 February 1919 he was demobilized at Dublin to his residence at 5 Newington Avenue, Belfast after serving 4 years and 155 days. On the 24 October 1927 he wrote to the army requesting a character reference for employment purposes. His residence at that time was 21 Frampton Street, Strandtown, Belfast, Northern Ireland

Robert Harper McELRATH. Private 25459, 1st Royal Dublin Fusiliers. Born 1886 to James and Mary McElrath, of "Mill Farm", County Antrim. Died 21 October 1918 aged 32 years. At rest in Dadizeele New British Cemetery, Belgium.
Also commemorated on his parents' headstone in Killead Presbyterian Churchyard, Killead, Co Antrim.

William McGOOKIN. Private 17806, 9th Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers. Son of William and Rachel McGookin, of Black Hill, Cookstown, County Tyrone. Killed in action 1 July 1916 aged 19 years. Commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial, Somme, France.

James Bailie McQUOID. Corporal 9681, 1st Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers. Son of William and Elizabeth McQuoid, of 94, Chief Street, Belfast. At rest in Shrapnel Valley Cemetery, Turkey including Gallipoli.

David NELSON. Private 420210, 43rd Canadian Infantry. Born in Belfast on the 30 July 1880 to Samuel and Annie McDowell Nelson of 32, Marsden Gardens, Cavehill Road, Belfast, Ireland, husband of Margaret who later re-married to Mr Kelly. Commemorated on the Menin Gate Memorial, Ypres, Belfast.

Samuel PATTON. Private 3422, 2nd Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers. Born in the Shankill area of Belfast. Killed in action 16 May 1915. His grandmother Anne M was granted a war gratuity 17 September 1917, revised 1 October 1919. Commemorated on the Le Touret Memorial, France.

William PATTON. Private 17460 Durham Light Infantry. Son of John Patton of 53 Cambrai Street, Belfast. Killed in action 7 July 1917 aged 38 years. At rest in Belgian Battery Corner Cemetery, Belgium.

Paul Gilchrist POLLOCK. Lance Corporal 15780, 14th Royal Irish Rifles. Son of John and Marion J.F. Pollock, of Duncairn, Antrim. Killed in action on the first day of the Battle of the Somme, 1 July 1916 aged 20 years. Commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial, France.

John Singleton Henry ROBINSON. Captain, 13th attached to 12th Welsh Regiment. Born in Newtownards, County Down, Ireland. Killed in action 24 September 1918. At rest in Marteville Communal Cemetery, Attilly, France. Also commemorated on a family grave in Movilla Cemetery, Newtownards, County Down, Northern Ireland.

Joseph ROY. Private 13457, 15th Royal Irish Rifles. Son of John. 1901 residing with his father and siblings at 27 Christopher Street, Belfast. 1911 residing at the home of his married sister Mary and her husband George French ay 34 Ballycastle Street, Belfast. Died 25 June 1918. His brother Robert and sister Mary French were both granted a war gratuity 13 September 1919. At rest in Sarralbe Military Cemetery, Moselle France.

Thomas SILLARS. Lance Corporal 17/1301, 8th Royal Irish Rifles. Born 27 November 1888 to John and Anne Jane Sillars, nee Smith at 158 Argyle Street, Belfast. Husband of Annie Victoria Sillars, nee Black of 3, Ballyclare Street, Belfast. Died 2 July 1916. His widow was granted a war gratuity 1 August 1917 revised 15 November 1919. At rest in Grandcourt Road Cemetery, Grandcourt, Somme, France.

Thomas Arnold STEAD. Driver 785526, A Battery, 312th Brigade, Royal Field Artillery. Son of Sidney and Edith Alice Stead, of 30, Jarrow Road, Sharrow, Sheffield. Died 29 September 1918 aged 20 years. At rest in Flesquieres Hill British Cemetery, Nord, France.

Robert James THOMPSON. Rifleman 3408, 15th Royal Irish Rifles. Son of James and Mary Ann of 35 Hanover Street, Belfast. Killed in action 22 November 1917 aged 21 years. Commemorated on the Cambrai Memorial, Louverval, Nord France.

John Arthur TREW. Rifleman 689, 12th Royal Irish Rifles. Born 17 April 1895 to Arthur and Annie Trew, nee Young of 15, Clovelly Street, Belfast. Died 25 July 1918 aged 23 years. Commemorated on the Ploegsteert Memorial, Belgium. Birth registered as John Trew, residing at 57 Willow Street, Belfast.

Frederick Ramsey WALKER. Military Cross. 2nd Lieutenant 2nd Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders. formerly Sergeant Major. Husband of Josephine Margaret Walker, of 107, Donegall Street., Belfast. Awarded Medaille Militaire (France). Fought in the Boer War 1899 -1902 Died in Scotland 6 January 1917. At rest in Dalry Cemetery, Edinburgh, Scotland.

The following extract is credited to Dukie News Issue 8. June 2017 -
Frederick was born in the military barracks in Tipperary on 27 July 1882. His father Tom was a staff sergeant in the 25th (the King’s Own Borderers) Regiment of Foot at the time and his mother was recorded as Mary Susanna (nee Lawson). He was orphaned sometime after between 1891 and 1893; and coming from a military background he was duly admitted to the Duke of York’s Royal Military School in Chelsea on 26 May 1893. On leaving the school on 8 August 1896 aged just 14 he joined the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders (Princess Louise’s).

https://doyrms.alumni-online.com/StaticFiles/DoyrmsITW_0000000957.pdf

Extract credited to the newspaper The Scotsman -
Lt Walker who was born in Tipperary in Ireland and joined the army as a boy soldier when he was 13 years old. He died suddenly at Dreghorn camp, in Colinton, Edinburgh, on 6 January, 1917, aged 34. When he died, The Evening Despatch of 10 January 1917 reported that a large number of people accompanied the cortege from camp to the cemetery, preceded by pipe and brass bands of his battalion and followed by six hundred men from different battalions. There was a graveside service, and shots were fired.

War hero’s grave restored by mystery benefactor -