A Guide to First World War Commonwealth War Graves in Newry and Mourne
Total Page：16
File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb
A GUIDE TO FIRST WORLD WAR COMMONWEALTH WAR GRAVES IN NEWRY AND MOURNE i John Beattie (on the right) (Courtesy of Martin Grant) ii CONTENTS PAGE Introduction 1 Bessbrook 2 Burren 4 Camlough 5 Donaghmore 6 Killeavy 8 Kilkeel 8 Kingsmills 10 Newry 11 Newtwownhamilton 20 Poyntzpass 21 Front Cover: Warrenpoint 24 St Patrick’s Church of Ireland graveyard, Newry (Newry and Mourne Museum Collection). Included, at the front left, is the Commonwealth War Grave of John Beattie iii iv INTRODUCTION Every year thousands travel to France, Belgium and elsewhere to visit Commonwealth War Graves from the First and Second World Wars. Founded by Sir Fabian Ware, the Imperial (later Commonwealth) War Graves Commission was established in 1917. It cares for the graves and memorials of almost 1.7 million Commonwealth servicemen and women who died in service or from causes attributable to service during the two world wars. For the First World War the qualifying dates for inclusion were between 4 August 1914 (Britain’s declaration of war on Germany) and 31 August 1921 (The official end of the Great War as declared by an Order in Council). The Commission maintains graves and memorials at some 23,000 locations in over 150 countries worldwide. Its work in the countries that saw the worst of the fighting is well-known but perhaps less commonly recognised is the fact that the United Kingdom is second only to France in terms of the numbers commemorated. In 2014 Newry and Mourne Museum (as part of a Heritage Lottery Funded project) commissioned a local photographer, Christina Joyce, to photograph the First World War Commonwealth War Graves located within the Newry and Mourne District Council area, plus those in Poyntzpass which was part of Newry’s historic hinterland. This booklet seeks to tell the stories of each of the men, and one woman, who received a Commonwealth War Grave. Thiepval Memorial to the Missing of the Somme (Courtesy of Dr Robert Whan). Among the 72,195 commemorated, the following men from Newry are listed: Walter Stewart Bond, Thomas Clarke, Henry Clarke, Robert Duffy, Thomas Fegan, James Jones, John Kenneth Scott, Francis Short, Richard W. Topp and George W. A. Wauchope. 1 BESSBROOK BESSBROOK (CHRIST CHURCH) service in France, he contracted trench fever and was CHURCH OF IRELAND afterwards sent to Wales before being transferred into the Royal Army Medical Corps (108th Field Ambulance), Captain Samuel Jervois Scott from which he returned with the rank of Captain in 1918. S. J. Scott was born on 7 May 1871 at Woodfort, Bandon, Co. Cork. He was the fourth son of Benjamin Upon his return, he resumed his medical practice in and Elizabeth Scott (née Poole) of Woodfort and Bessbrook and he died in his 50th year at his Bessbrook Gortaglanna, Kilbrittain, Co. Cork. He was educated residence, “Bellevue”, on 27 May 1920, after a three- at Bandon Grammar School before studying for the month illness. He was survived by his wife Elizabeth medical profession in Dublin. He was registered as a Josephine Scott (youngest daughter of George Russell medical practitioner in May 1896. Subsequently he was Price of Booterstown, Co. Dublin), who subsequently resident medical officer to Drumcondra Hospital and moved to Surrey, with their only child, a daughter, Emily for a time was resident clinical assistant at Jervis Street Elizabeth Scott. Hospital, Dublin, before becoming a temporary medical officer to the Coalisland Dispensary District, Co. Tyrone. Among the floral tributes at his grave was a wreath Around 1903 he was appointed medical officer of the from Bessbrook District L.O.L. 11 (of which he was Bessbrook Spinning Company. Worshipful Master) and the Alexander Blane Branch of the Irish National Foresters, Camlough. Whilst at Bessbrook, S. J. Scott took an active part in the life of the community. He was Chairman of the Bessbrook Miniature Rifle Club and was extremely fond of shooting and field sports. He was also a member of Orange Lodge No. 927 and held office in his church, Bessbrook Church of Ireland, as Parochial Nominator, Diocesan Synodsman and Rector’s Churchwarden. S. J. Scott During the pre-war Home Rule crisis he acted as (Courtesy Commander of the Bessbrook Company of the Ulster of the Royal Irish Fusiliers Volunteer Force, and he was also medical attendant to Museum, the local Royal Irish Constabulary. Armagh) and (right) his grave Shortly after the outbreak of the First World War, Dr Scott accepted a commission in the 9th Battalion Royal Irish Fusiliers. He arrived in France with the 36th (Ulster) Division in October 1915. During his war 2 BESSBROOK PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH Lance Corporal William John Roy William J. Roy was born in Bessbrook. He was the son of William and Isabella Roy, who were both employed by the Bessbrook Spinning Company. William (Jnr) enlisted in Newry and became a Lance Corporal in the Royal Irish Rifles. He died in the Royal Herbert Hospital, Woolwich, aged 23, on 11 May 1915. The cause of death was tetanus as a result of wounds received at the Front in France. In his final letter home to his father, then a widower, William wrote about how he looked forward to helping his aged father in the family garden. William’s remains were brought back to Edward Street Railway Station, Newry, from where they made their way to Bessbrook. The shops in the village all closed and the blinds in houses were drawn as the procession made its way to the Presbyterian graveyard. The minister of the congregation, Rev. Alexander Stuart, officiated and at the close of the burial service the Last Post was sounded by a member of the Bessbrook Boy Scouts. Wreaths were laid by Bessbrook Victoria Flute Band and Bessbrook Orange Lodge, which William had been a member of. His younger brother, Samuel, who was also a Lance- Corporal in the Royal Irish Rifles, had been killed in action two months earlier, on 3 March 1915. 3 BURREN William was survived by his father and one sister, ST MARY’S ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH, Miss Margaret Roy, who chose to have the words “He BURREN gave his beloved sleep” inscribed on the headstone in Bessbrook Presbyterian Church. He is also listed on the Frederick Joseph Maginnis congregation’s Roll of Honour. Frederick was born in Newry and came from a farming family. His parents John and Cecilia Maginnis resided at Corrags, Newry and Frederick had seven siblings. He moved to Manchester where he found employment as a draper and resided at 138 Slater Street, Oldham Road, Manchester. In April 1915 he enlisted in Manchester, joining the 16th Manchester Regiment. He was 5 feet, 9¼ inches tall and at his enlistment was 12½ stone. Some records relating to his military service are held at the National Archives, Kew, London and among them are sheets relating to conduct. These show that on December 1915 he was confined to barracks for 4 days as punishment for having a “Dirty Rifle on Parade”. In 1916 he received a fracture to his forearm as a result of a gunshot wound. He died, aged 23, on 4 November 1916 when travelling from Ireland to England to re-join his unit. He was sailing on the SS Connemara when it collided with a collier, the Retreiver. Grave of W. J. Roy (Newry and Mourne Museum Collection) 4 CAMLOUGH ST MALACHY’S ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH, CAMLOUGH Rifleman Thomas Hughes Thomas Hughes, born in Bessbrook, Co. Armagh, was the son of Richard and Catherine Hughes. He was a career soldier and before the outbreak of the First World War had spent six years serving in India. Whilst serving with the Royal Irish Rifles in France he was seriously wounded and was sent to the 3rd Northern General Hospital, Sheffield where he spent over a year. He was then transferred to the Royal Victoria Hospital in Belfast to be nearer to home for relatives to visit and it was in the Belfast hospital that he died, aged 29, on 29 January 1918. He was survived by his widow, Annie Hughes (née Hanna), who he had married in Bessbrook Presbyterian Church only a few months before his death. Rev. Fr. James Quinn, C.C., officiated as his remains were laid to rest, with full military honours. CORPORAL MICHAEL JAMES McCONVILLE Michael James McConville was the son of Patrick and Sarah McConville of High Street, Bessbrook. He enlisted in the Royal Irish Fusiliers on 29 July 1909. He arrived in France on 22 September 1915 and after receiving serious injuries at the Front was discharged because of those wounds on 9 February 1918. McConville received the Silver War Badge on 21 October 1918. A member of Grave of F. J. Maginnis (Newry and Mourne Museum the Newry Branch of the Discharged and Demobilised Collection) Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Federation, Michael died from his wounds on 5 November 1918, aged 26. Rev. Fr. Quinn officiated at his funeral and full military honours were accorded, including the playing of the Last Post. 5 DONAGHMORE Private Thomas Williams ST BARTHOLOMEW’S, DONAGHMORE Thomas was the son of James and Mary Williams of Sapper Henry Marshall Betturb, Co. Cavan. He had been in the Royal Irish Fusiliers from 1901–1904 and upon his return home Henry Marshall was born at Warrenpoint. He was the found work as a labourer. Thomas re-enlisted at the son of James Finlay and Mary Marshall of Church onset of the First World War in August 1914. Later, he Street, Warrenpoint (who later moved to Tullymurry, transferred to the Northumberland Fusiliers. After five Donaghmore). Prior to enlisting, Henry was a carpenter years of service he was discharged as medically unfit in like his father.