deleted

Mark

Thats a very kind offer. If you can find anything at all on SGT Augustine Hackett of the Connaught Rangers it would be most appreciated.

Details here;

SGT Hackett

My interest being I have his medals in my collection.

Stephen

Hi Mark,

Looking for anything on Larne Urban Area and the Antrim Coast Road KIA or do you want requests for individuals.

Also very interested in any mention of shipping losses, crews etc to link with my Tower Hill Monument research also any accidently drownings in the war years. Quite a few lost going and coming from the port of Belfast .

greetings

Liam

Hi Mark,

I would be very grateful if you could look for any info on Pte John McCall, 20th Hussars, killed 30th October, 1914. His parents are given as John and Susan McFall. of Ligoniel, Belfast.

Specifically I am trying to establish a connection with Barrow-in-Furness - there is a J. J. McFall of the 10th Hussars listed but I have not been able to find anything in the local papers. My guess is he was a reservist who may have been living/working in Barrow just prior to the war.

Cheers.

Andy.

Hello Mark/Andy,
Not wishing to steal Mark's thunder, but I think I may have found the man you are looking for in Ireland's Memorial Records. He is a M'Fall (note very unusual spelling) and the entry is as follows:

M'Fall, John. Regimental No. 5274. Rank Trooper, 20th Hussars; killed in action, British Expeditionary Force, October 30, 1914; born Belfast; decoration, 1914 Star.

He is one of only two M'Falls in the Records. Hope that helps to clarify things.

Regards,

Liam.

Mark - You don't happen to have a clearer picture of Chief Stoker Peter Kennedy than I've got by any chance? He died at Jutland and was from a Ballymena family but had married and was living up around Belfast.
He went down with HMS Queen Mary and his obit would around end of June?

Hi Mark,

If you are looking for Des will you keep an eye open for anything on this larneman. I am sure there is a second one but cannot find him at this minute.

Royal Naval Reserve
H.M.S. "Queen Mary."
GRIBBEN ROBERT
39
31/05/1916
Stoker
1879T
HMS Queen Mary. Lion Class battle cruiser completed by Palmers in 1913.
31/5/16 blew up at Jutland after a direct hit from the German battlecruiser Derrflinger. 1266 dead.

greetings

Liam

firstly something for the Larne folk

Heres goes todays research-

Nothing on McFall...no photo no mention of him...not even in the memorium section a year later.

Nothing on Gribben...no photo no mention of him...not even in the memorium section a year later.


Hackett is jackpot time....no mention of him being killed....but a photo and a mention of a certificat he got
The reason for the cert
the memorial a year later..that gives an address that was a famous public house and somewhere I spent a lot of time when younger.

Just a public thank you to Mark for taking the time out to research my man Sgt Hackett. Truly outstanding and definitely beyond the call of duty!! By the way Mark could you let me know which paper/s you got the material from.

Stephen

Mark,

Thanks for looking anyway.

Andy.

Liam

I took a photo of the Gribben family grave last week. It's in Craigyhill Cemetery, Larne. You may have it already, but I'll attach it anyhow.

Regards

Carninyj

Thanks Carninyi,

I only photographs the war graves on my last trip to Craigyhill.

Liam

Hacketts house still stands!!!!!

Hello Mark
It would be great if you are able to supply me with any info on the following
3694 LCpl James Alexander Adams "D" Coy 1st Bn,Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers.
Died 11th June 1916 aged 18 .Son of William and Mary Jane Adams ,of 34,Lime St.Belfast.
Regards,
Bob

Mark
Great offer. I'm researching my G/Grandfather thomas Stead 15th btn Royal Irish Rifles KIA 22/11/17 near Moeuvres, Battle of Cambrai. He was awarded DCM ealier the same year. I have a copy of the Gazette enty but can't find the date of the incident. I would appreciate anything you might come across. Thanks Evelyn

See Sgt. T. Stead here in Ulster Div. DCM gallantry awards list

Thank you. can I ask where you got that? Would you believe tha after monhs of searching something mentioned in a letter at he time led me to look for the date of death of another soldier and I now believe the date of the incident was 24/5/17. This soldier was Lt Walter Hogg who is buried in Pond Farm Cemetery. Now I need to find out what the 15th Btn wee doing on 24/5/17

Go to Royal Ulster Rifles Museum website.
Go to Downloads.
Go to Ulster Division.
NOW ... you can download the entire history of Div.
Loads of ~# etc to get rid of ... but worth it!

You will find Stead on the ROH at end of document.
The one I have pasted is from a 1970s/80s A-4 booklet.
Dunno if it is still available ... Three Kings Publishing, 152 Albertbridge Road, Belfast.
Tel (old style) 0232 731763 nowadays that would be 028 90 731763???
Or directory inquiries??

Lt. W. F. Hogg R. Ir. Rif. received MC

Mark,

Hope you maybe able to help with a soldier of the Royal Irish Fusiliers

Robert John Shiels

He was a private serving in the Royal Irish Fusiliers, no. 16133. Born in Ballybay, Co Monaghan. Soldiers Died gives his date of death as 1st July 1916, but CWGC shows his date of Death as 1st July 1917. I believe this to be an input error on the part of the CWGC, but in order to amend the entry they require documentary evidence, I obtained his death certificate which shows 1916, but they still want more.

This was their response

''I would explain that before we can consider amendment to the date of death of the casualty, we would require to see a copy of the casualty's Death certificate, and also additional documentary evidence which connects the certificate with the casualty - this could be a memorial card or obituary notice etc. The reason for this is that we must be sure that the certificate does refer to the casualty commemorated by the Commission.

Should you also have a copy of the casualty's birth certificate, subject to you also providing "Linking evidence" as mentioned above, we could also consider adding the names of the casualty's parents, and his age, to our records.''

Any info greatly received

Regards

Andy

Suggest 'Armagh Guardian' believe it or not ... or 'Dundalk Democrat' but I don't know how old that one is.
Will try as well Andy.

Hello Andy,
Your man is recorded in Ireland's Memorial Records, but I'm afraid his entry doesn't do much for your case:

Shiels, Robert John. Reg. no. 16133. Rank, Private, 9th Royal Irish Fusiliers; killed in action, France, July 1st, 1916; born Ballybay, Co. Monaghan.

The Memorial Records may well be drawn from the same database as CWGC, so no guarantee they didn't simply transcribe the error.

If you want a copy of his entry in the Records, send me a PM with your email address.

Regards,

Liam.

Hello Evelyn,
I should have added this to the last post. Your Great Granfather is also mentioned in Ireland's Memorial Records;

Stead, Thomas. Reg. No. 11748. Rank Sergeant, Royal Irish Rifles, 15th Battalion; killed in action, France, November 22, 1917; born Lanarkshire; decoration, D.C.M.

Send me a PM with your email address if you want a copy of his page from the Records.

Welcome to the Forum, by the way!

Regards,

Liam.

For Andy ..
I'm with you on Shiels .. 9th R Irish Fus.
Cert to be 1st July 16 man.
If anyone has the old book 'Soldiers who died on first day of the Somme' .. could they do a look up for 9th R Ir. Fus?
Sorry I only have a couple of btns. photocopied at home.

Evelyn - Check the caption - perhaps a relation??
If it is whoopeeee!

Have you ever come across anything on James Howard Calvert on your travels ?

Conor

Hi Andy,
I've just realised that the entry in the Memorial Records does actually back up your case. This is the second date mistake I've made in the last few postings .

No drink was taken prior to these posts

Regards,

Liam.

Guys,

Thanks for looking, I believe that both the ‘Memorial Records’ and ‘Soldiers Died on the First Day of the Somme’ would have taken their information from the government records used to compile ‘Soldiers Died’, if this is the case I think CWGC will still want additional information.

I haven’t had the chance to check at the NA for his records, I have his mic, but have not searched the medal rolls or for his papers. If his papers still exist then maybe...

Has anyone managed to get a record changed in the past just by producing a copy of the death certificate?

Regards

Andy

Again I find it such a pity that only officers are named in war dairies etc.

***********************************************************8

The numbers from 9th Royal Irish Fusiliers advancing to the attack were

Officers Other Ranks

15 600 (approximately)


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

CASUALTIES
Officers
Captain Johnston C.M. Killed in Action 1st July 1916

Lieut & Adjutant Cather G. St. G. S. Killed in Action 2nd July 1916


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Captain Brew J.G. Wounded 1st July 1916

Captain Ensor C. H. Wounded 1st July 1916

Lieut Jackson H.E. Wounded 1st July 1916

Lieut Gibson J.E. Wounded 1st July 1916

Lieut Shillington T.G. Wounded 1st July 1916

Lieut Smith E.M. Wounded 1st July 1916

2nd Lieut Barcroft G.E. Wounded 1st July 1916

2nd Lieut Andrews A.A. Wounded 1st July 1916

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Major Atkinson T.J. Missing believed killed 1st July 1916

Lieut Townsend R.S.B. Missing believed killed 1st July 1916

Lieut Hollywood A.C. Missing believed killed 1st July 1916

2nd Lieut Montgomery R.T. Missing believed killed 1st July 1916

2nd Lieut Seggie A. Missing believed killed 1st July 1916

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

2nd Lieut Stewart W.J. Missing 1st July 1916

2nd Lieut Craig G.D. Shell Shock 1st July 1916.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Other Ranks
Killed 56

Wounded 303

Missing 159

Total= 518

Borrowed from 9th Royal Irish Fusiliers

For Liam 'curranl'

As you can see I'm not used to this yet. I don't know what a PM is and do I send you my email address here

DEsmond7
This might be a cousin. Thomas Stead was born in Glasgow and he had a brother James but the parents initial is wrong. However William is a family name. I'm online to scotlandspeople to research the family connection so I'll check. I have a photo of Thomas Stead and I can see a family resemblance. If this works out it'll be brilliant. Thanks

Mark et al

I don't seem to spend much time researching my own family now, but seeing this thread I wondered if anyone can shed light on how this family member won his Military Medal - it appears in the supplement to the LG on 11 November 1916:

L/Cpl 17875 Alexander Hildersley
14th Battalion Royal Irish Rifles
Killed in Action 1st July 1916

I have a fair bit of 'family tree' information, and a 'tall story' version of the winning of the medal, but it would be nice to have a bit of genuine padding.

Thanks
Sue

Hi Sue,
I had a look through my material, but no mention of your man other than in the Memorial Records. There is no additional information over what you already have, other than he was born in West Hartepool, Yorkshire.

Send me an PM with your email if you want a copy.

Regards,

Liam.

Sue - if you browse the forum for 'Jim Maultsaid's Diary' it will be helpful on the 14th Rifles front.
Also do you want a scan of his name on the list of winners? Same as Evelyn's above?

For Desmond7,

Shiels, Robert John 16133, 9th. Royal Irish Rifles, appears on page 184 of "Soldiers killed on the 1st. day of the Somme"

Book now in single leaf format due to duff binding!

Best wishes Roy

Des

Thank you very much, it's kind of you. And for 'Jim Maultsaid's Diary' - I hadn't even looked at the thread - it just goes to show how much you miss on the Forum. It looks an amazing read.

Regards
Sue

Here you go.
P.S. I love Maultsaid's drawings .. and may I ask, what's a guy from Hartlepool doing in the YCVs? Was he working over here at the time?
Des

Also cheers to Roy for Shiels .. maybe that adds a little more to Andy's campaign?

Des

Thanks very much for that. The Hildersleys are a dream to research as the surname is as unique as you can get. In the 18th and early 19th centuries the family were chair and sofa makers, carvers and gilders, in the Soho area of London. Then a couple of them moved to Edinburgh. Alexander's father [also Alexander] was born in Edinburgh, and he married a Bridget Caroline Egan, born in 'Ireland' [somewhere!] in 1872. I don't know how Alexander came to be born in Hartlepool, but his three younger siblings, Lilian, Hilda and Victor were all born in Belfast, so they must have moved there when he was quite young - probably to be near family.

19 related Hildersley men served in the Great War, including a chaplain, and 6 died, in a wide range of regiments - English, Scots and Irish. Alexander's younger brother Harold died in WW2.

Regards
Sue

Hello
I am indebted to you and you are to be congratulated.
Sorry to hear about your computer problems.
Hope you manage to sort it out soon.
My e-mail address is bobnorman@fsmail.net
Will reimburse you for your expenses.
Regards,
Bob

Hi

Probably a longshot, but any info on these 3 Northern Irish chaps.

Cpl Hugh Maguire Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers 2nd Battalion KIA 16/5/15
Born Templemore Co. Derry
Enlisted Londonderry


Pte Francis Curran Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers 9th Battalion KIA 5/7/16
Born Shankhill Co. Antrim
Enlisted Belfast

Pte John McDonald Liverpool Regt. 13th Battalion KIA 17/4/18
Born Londonderry
Enlisted Liverpool
Residence Liverpool


Thanks

Damien.

Hi Mark

That's great thanks!
I have his BWM, I will pm you my email.

Much appreciated!

Damien

Mark
Apologies but in all the excitement I don't believe that I sent you my address
which is
Bob Norman.
14, Copse Road.
Burley.
N'r Ringwood.
Hants.
BH 24 4EG.
Kindly let me know of any expenses incurred and will reimburse.
Many thanks.
Bob

I will certainly do that having recently lost my dear old Mum.
Thank you very much indeed you are a Gentleman.
Regards,
Bob

Hi Mark

A very big thank you for the pic of Francis Curran, I received today.
What a handsome chap he was.

Your help is greatly appreciated.

Damien.

Hello
I don't know if you will ever get to read this but once again many thanks.
Extract from paper arrived yesterday.
Regards,
Bob

What a great site this is : I started researching my great uncle, Sgt. Augustine Hackett, 6th Btn Connaught Rangers a couple of months ago. This is the first time I've done this, and I haven't the time or resources to obtain official records / source documents quickly, so my research so far was limited to general reading about the area and period in which AJH died. I thought it would take me years to obtain as much as a photo, but today I not only saw a shot of him, but also learned that his medals exist, are together and in the hands of someone who appreciates them (and might send me a photo??). Thanks fellas, you really have made me a happy man.

This intriguing coincidence may interest someone: AJH died on 19th Feb 1917, and is buried at Kemmel, south of Ypres, and a mile or so from the front line at Petit Bois where the 6th Btn were stationed at the time. He is buried with 6 other men from his Btn who died the same day, so it more likely he died in an action rather than accident / disease. But I could find no real record of any action on 19th......

What I did find (in 'They Called It Passchendaele', Lyn Macdonald 1978, and in 'War Underground', Alexander Barrie 1961 - both great reads, incidentally) was reference to heavy shelling of the Petit Bois area after the arrival, on 17th Feb 1917 - two days before AJH's death - of a giant experimental boring machine which weighed 7.5 tonnes, was packaged in 24 enormous and cumbersome crates, and which both sources say attracted the attention of German artillery as the RE tried to unpack and assemble it. Although this was a 'Most Secret' deployment, the mechanics of getting the thing to the pit head at Petit Bois (a hundred yards or so from the German front line!) in the conditions of that freezing winter meant that German spotters couldn't help but notice the commotion. Did AJH die in one of these resulting bombardments?

The boring machine was made by Stanley Heading Machine Company of Nuneaton - funnily enough an area of Coventry where I was born & bred - and the whole thing was a disaster. It took the best part of a month to get it assembled and working at the front, and whilst it made good yardage when going, it was prone to breakdowns and would become glued to the Ypres Salient clay when stationary. The men spent more time digging it free manually than it was worth, and it finally died on them after making a few hundred feet. It still lies beneath Petit Bois 80' under to this day.

Could anyone tell me where the War Dairies for the 6th Btn Connaughts would be held (Ireland or the Army Museum at Chelsea) as I'd like to trace more of AJH's battles, and uncover the truth about his gallantry references in 1916.

I'm going to pay my respects to his grave in May 06. Does anyone know if the Kemmel Chateau Cemetary where he lies is likely to have kept a 'Visitors / Condolence Book' where there may be an entry recording any visit to the grave by his immediate family after the war? My side of the family seem to know so little of him, and it seems tragic that he was almost forgotten. Are there any records available of when the remains would have arrived at the cemetary - ie any details of exactly where and how he and his men died?

Any steers on AJH, the Connaughts or the known 6th Btn deployments around 19th Feb 1917 would be gratefully received.

Thanks again, all.

John Hackett

19th Feb. 1917 - 6th Connaughys involved in large scale trench raid.

"The first wave of the left party started off well under 2nd Lt. Cummins, a very gallant young officer whom I had put in command in place of the original commander. Then SEGEANT HACKETT was almost imediately killed."

From "War Letters to a Wife" Rowland Fielding (who was CO of 6th CRs at the time).