Whitehead War Memorial, County Antrim

JOHN HANNA ADAMS. 2nd Lieutenant, 8th North Staffordshire Regiment.
Son of Emily F. Adams, of Annadale, Whitehead, Co. Antrim.
Died 18 November 1916 age 25. At rest in Grandcourt Road Cemetery, Grandcourt, France.

Possibly the following. JAMES ATKINSON. Fireman and Trimmer. Mercantile Marine on S.S. "Bray Head" (Belfast)
Born 1884 at Carrickfergus to James and Jane Atkinson. Husband of Matilda Atkinson (nee McConnell), of Thomas Street, Carrickfergus, Co. Antrim. Born at Carrickfergus.
On the 14 March 1917 U-44 fired a torpedo at the ship, which missed. The submarine surfaced and engaged with the ship by firing a 88mm deck gun. Bray Head also had on board a 3 pounder gun, manned by two naval gun-layers, which was no match with the submarine. The submarine fired forty-five shells. The ship was on fire following an explosion and the crew abandoned the ship. 21 crew lost their lives. He was aged 33
Commemorated on the Tower Hill Memorial, London
Source http://historyhubulster.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/The-Ordeal-of-the-Bray-Head-copy-2-2.pdf

JOHN MERCER ATKINSON. Private 17000, 2nd Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers.
Husband of Jeannie Atkinson, of 55, Fountain Street, Londonderry.
Killed in action, 10 July 1916 aged 26. Commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial, Somme, France.

H. BOYD

CHARLES F CONNOR. Gunner 80588, 74th Brigade, Ammunition Colum.
Son of Frederick and Margaret Connor, of 11, Adelaide Avenue, Whitehead, Co. Antrim.
Died 23 March 1916 age 23. At rest in Etaples Military Cemetery, France.

EDWARD HENRY CREIGHTON. First Engineer. Mercantile Marine on S.S. "Garron Head" (Belfast)
Son of David and Anna Creighton; husband of Marie Evelyn Creighton (nee Rankin), of "Mervue" Whitehead, Co. Antrim. Born at Belfast.
Died at sea 16 November 1917 age 32 on the sinking of his ship by torpedo fired U-103, 40 miles from Bayonne on route from Bilbao for Barrow and Maryport.
Commemorated on the Tower Hill Memorial, London.

Possibly ROBERT JOHN GRAY. Rifleman 17679, 12th Royal Irish Rifles.
Killed in action 15 April 1918. At rest on Tyne Cot Memorial, Belgium.

WILLIAM JAMES HAY. Sailor, Mercantile Marine on S.S. "Garron Head" (Belfast)
Son of John and Helena Hay, of Balfour Avenue, Whitehead, Co. Antrim.
Died at sea 16 November 1917 age 19 on the sinking of his ship by torpedo fired U-103, 40 miles from Bayonne on route from Bilbao for Barrow and Maryport.
Commemorated on the Tower Hill Memorial, London.

JOHN C. HOY. Master, Mercantile Marine on S.S. "Bray Head" (Belfast)
Son of Joseph and Mary Isabel Hoy, of Port Davey, Whitehead, Co. Antrim. Husband of the late Margaret Brown Gibb (formerly Hoy). Died at sea 15 March 1917 age 41. Commemorated on the Tower Hill Memorial, London.

JOHN STANLEY KNOX. 2nd Lieutenant, 7th Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers.
Died 11 July 1916 age 25. At rest in Philosophe British Cemetery, Mazingarbe, France.

FREDERICK WILSON LANGTON MAY. Captain, 11 Royal Irish Rifles.
Son of Richard Birch and Hester Jane May. Husband of Sarah Waring May.
Died 08 June 1917. At rest in Dranoutre Military Cemetery, Belgium.

A. McElroy. Possibly the following. ALFRED GEORGE McELROY. Lance Corporal 7498, 12th Royal Irish Rifles.
Son of John and Mary Louisa McElroy, of 13, Downshire Road, Bangor, Co. Down.
Died 07 July 1919 age 22. At rest in Aldershot Military Cemetery, Hampshire.

RICHARD McMAW. Stoker 3569S, Royal Naval Reserve on H.M.S. Queen Mary
Born 17 March 1889 to Walter McMaw, of Eden, Carrickfergus, Co. Antrim. Husband of Elizabeth McMaw, of Eden.
Died at sea aged 26 during the Battle of Jutland 31 May 1916 when the Queen Mary exploded from shells fired from German battle cruiser, SMS Derfflinger
1,266 crewmen were lost, eighteen survivors were picked up by the destroyers.
Commemorated on the Portsmouth Naval Memorial, Hampshire.

J. NICHOLSON.

WILLIAM PEREGRINE O'CLERY. Corporal 1452. 15th Royal Irish Rifles.
Son of the Rev. C. A. and Sarah O'Clery, of Browns Park, Marino, Co. Down.
Died of tubercle of the lung 11 July 1918, aged 20 at Military Hospital, Curragh. At rest in Curragh Military Cemetery, Ireland.

J. O’DONNELL.

JEROME LENNIE WALKER. 2nd Lieutenant, 14th Royal Irish Rifles.
Son of F. Manderson Walker and Helen Lennie Walker of Mount Royal, Whitehead, Co. Antrim.
Died 06 May 1916 age 27. At rest in Authuile Military Cemetery, Authuille, France.


1939-1945

HAROLD GIBSON BLACK. Sergeant 1517655, Royal Air Force attached to no2 Flying Instructor School
Son of Harold Eveleigh Black and Agnes Black, of Whitehead.
He was part of a crew of two both of whom died in a flying training accident on board an Airspeed Oxford ED188 when it crashed near Brechin Scotland the 28 December 1944. He was aged 23. He is at rest in Holy Evangelists Cemetery, Newtownabbey, Co. Antrim. The other person was Pilot Officer A Whiteley DFC.

JOHN DALTON. Senior Third Engineer Officer. Merchant Navy on M.V. Empire Attendant (Glasgow)
Son of John Dalton and of Agnes Dalton, of Greenisland, Co. Antrim, Northern Ireland.
Died at sea 15 July 1942 age 25. Commemorated on the Tower Hill Memorial, London.

WILLIAM FERGUSON. Able Seaman, 142504 Merchant Navy on S.S. Castlehill (Belfast) and owned by coal merchants, John Kelly Limited, Belfast.
Born at Island Magee County Antrim to James and Martha Ferguson, of Belfast, Northern Ireland.
His death record shows he resided at 94 Gainsborough Drive, Belfast.
Died in the Bristol Channel east of Minehead 02 March 1941 age 19, when the Luftwaffe attacked and sunk the ship Eight crew members were killed.
Commemorated on the Tower Hill Memorial, London.

WILLIAM PAUL GETTY. Chief Officer 148865, Merchant Navy on S.S. Ashbury (Glasgow)
Born 1918 to William Frederick and Josephine Getty of Whitehead, county Antrim. Husband of Erena Marjorie Getty, of The Elms, Bankside, Thorne, Yorkshire.
Drowned off Kyle of Tongue, Scotland 08 January 1945 age 26. At rest in Mount Vernon Cemetery, Thurso, Caithness-shire, Scotland

DESMOND HENSHAW. Leading Airman. FAA/FX85331 Royal Navy of H.M.S. Daedalus attached to Service Flying Training School, No.1, Netheravon, Wiltshire
Son of Joseph McKeown Henshaw and Lillian Henshaw, of Whitehead.
Died in an aircraft accident, 2 miles east of |Shrewton, Salisbury, Wiltshire, 15 December 1941 aged 19. At rest in Ballyharry Cemetery, Islandmagee, County Antrim, Northern Ireland.


JOHN McADAM. Sergeant 748076 Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve attached to 41 Squadron RAF
Born in Gillingham Kent 21 March 1919 to John Lusk Torrens and Lily M McAdams
He was shot down by Major Molders on 20th February 1941 over Dover, in Spitfire P7302. He baled out but was picked up dead from the sea. At rest in Ballyharry Cemetery, Islandmagee, County Antrim, Northern Ireland.


ANDREW WILLIAM McCALLION. Master 105315 Merchant Navy on S.S. Oranmore (Belfast)
Son of James Alexander and Mary McCallion, of Island Magee; husband of Elizabeth McCallion, of 35 Adelaide Avenue, Whitehead.
Died at 328 Skegoniel Avenue, Belfast, 21 January 1940 aged 46.
At rest in St John Church of Ireland churchyard, Island Magee, County Antrim

JAMES PALMER

JAMES RANKIN. 2nd Steward 128317, Merchant Navy on S.S. Duke of Rothesay (Lancaster)
Son of Thomas and Mary Rankin. Husband of Mary Agnes Rankin, of 02 Balmoral Avenue, Whitehead, County Antrim.
Died at his home 07 December 1944 age 61. He had suffered from a hernia, haemorrhoids and general disability. At rest in Ballyharry Cemetery, Islandmagee, County Antrim, Northern Ireland.

JAMES ROSS Chief Officer. 145413 Merchant Navy on S.S. Orlock Head (Belfast)
Son of Thomas and Annie Ross. Husband of Agnes Isobel Ross, of Benhra, Whitehead, County Antrim
Died of his wound received by the bombing and sinking of his ship of the north coast of Scotland by German bombers 28 July 1940 He died in hospital in Thurso, Scotland age 49. At rest in Ballyharry Cemetery, Islandmagee, County Antrim, Northern Ireland.

JOHN SCOTT

BASIL SHERRY. Sergeant Wireless Op/Air Gunner 979599, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve attached to 70 Squadron, RAF
Son of Thomas and Gertrude Sherry, of Whitehead, Co. Antrim, Northern Ireland.
He was part crew of six in a Wellington Bomber HZ247
Died 07 May 1943 age 26. At rest in Tripoli War Cemetery, Lybia.

The following is an extract from a report into the accident from the service records of WO1 Ira Irvan Kliman of the Royal Canadian Air Force.

Circumstantial Report – Accident to Wellington MK. III HZ. 247 on 7th May 1943.

Wellington aircraft was detailed to attack enemy concentrations on the roads South East of Tunis and took off from Base 20.50 “Z” hours on 7th May 1943.

The above aircfart returned with engine trouble. The captain contacted Bas by R/T and asked for instruction regarding the jettisoning of his bombs; he was told to jettison half his bomb load five miles south east of the Landing Ground, which he proceeded to do. On return to Base he made a circuit and the engines appeared to be running normally. He was given a ‘green’ and this he acknowledged. While going across wind on the up wind end of the flare path he was seen to dive, loosing a considerable amount of height. He then levelled out and continued at the same height, approximately 600 feet, until on the cross wing leg, downwind of the flare path. He was then seen to loose more height and continued to fly along at extremely low altitude until the aircraft hit the ground exploding approximately 3 miles from the flare path and was completely destroyed.
The accident occurred at 21.56 “A” hours.
The sole survivor of the crash, the Rear Gunner, was thrown clear of the aircraft, sustaining burns to hands and face and lacerated left thigh.



The following link is to his service record. Just scroll down and you find the report.



Not on the memorial but have a connection to Whitehead.

WW1.

JOSEPH CHANDLER. Chief Officer. H.M. Coastguard.
Son of Mrs. Chandler, of 4, Windsor Terrace, Whitehead, Co. Antrim.
Died 05 February 1916.
At rest in Christ Church, Church of Ireland, Omey (Clifden), Near Eastern boundary of Republic of Ireland

SAMUEL C. HARDING. Private 4070816, 6th Canadian Garrison Regiment.
Son Archibald and Jane Anna Harding, of Windsor Avenue, Whitehead, Co. Antrim, Ireland.
Died 03 December 1918 age 35. At rest in Brookside Cemetery, Winnipeg, Canada.

PATRICK McLARNON. Boatswain, Mercantile Marine on S.S. "War Clover" (London)
Son of James and Bella McLarnon. Husband of Catherine McLarnon (nee Mateer), of 4, Adelaide Avenue, Whitehead, Antrim. Born at Islandmagee.
Died at sea 19 October 1917 age 34. Commemorated on the Tower Hill Memorial, London.

GEORGE POWTER. Sergeant, Nigeria Regiment (W.A.F.F.) West African Frontier Force.
Son of Mr. H. Powter, of King's Amore, Whitehead, Co. Antrim, Ireland.
Died 27 May 1917. At rest in Mobasa British Memorial, Kenya.

WW2

JOHN LEADBETTER CARSON. Sergeant 543418, Royal Air Force attached to 201 Squadron RAD.
Son of Robert and Elizabeth Carson, of Whitehead. Died 29 October 1940 aged 21
At rest in Church if the Holy Evangelist, Churchyard extension, Carnmoney, County Antrim

DAVID ALEXANDER CLENDINNING. Able Seaman C/SSX 13199 Royal Navy on H.M.S. Whirlwind
Son of Robert Alexander and Agnes Clendinning, of Whitehead, Co. Antrim, Northern Ireland.
Died at sea 05 July 1940 age 30. Commemorated on the Chatham Naval Memorial, Kent.