BALLYMENA 1914-1918

ADRAIN, William Kearns, 2nd Lieutenant, 5th  Royal Irish Regiment (attached 1st Royal Irish. Rifles), born 27th January 1896, was killed in August 24th, 1916.  He is buried in Vermelles British Cemetery, Pas de Calais, France. Aged 20, he was the son of Robert and Jane, Ballyclare & 5 Donard Villas, Belfast. He is associated with Barclay & Crawford's shop in Ballymena and named in 1st Ballymena Presbyterian Church. A former RBAI pupil, he was in Queen's University OTC and lived at 25 University Avenue at the time of his commissioning into the 5th Royal Irish Rifles, soon transferring to the 1st Battalion.

His death is recorded in the War Diary as follows:

In the 'Quarries' Sector. At about 10.50pm, the enemy attempted to enter the 'Northern Crater'. Bombs were thrown opposite Boyau (trench) 98 to distract their attention. A party of between 20 and 30 of the enemy attempted to raid the crater. They were discovered when within 20 yards of the crater, rapid fire was opened and bombs were thrown. The enemy scattered and were seen to carry some of their men back. 2nd Lt Adrain and 1 OR killed, 14 OR wounded. Battalion subsequently withdrawn to brigadier reserve in Curley Crescent.

The family headstone in Ballynure reads as follows:

...William Kearns Adrain, 2nd lieut. 5th Batt. Royal Irish Regiment, killed in action in France, 24 Aug 1916 aged 20 years, third son of Robert Adrain. Jane, wife of Robert Adrain, died 10 Apr 1931 aged 74 years...

Right: ALLEN Charles, 1535, Private, 1st Irish Guards, was killed in action on November 18, 1914 and he is listed on the Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial. He was born at 39, North Queen Street, Belfast on the 15 August 1884 and enlisted in Ballymena. He was the son of William and Elizabeth Allen, nee McClean, of Alexander Street, Ballymena. He worked in Liscolman Spinning Mill and had a wife Matilda and three children at Dervock.

Charles Allen initially enlisted in Ballymena on 18th November 1902 and spent three years with the colours.  He then spent nine years in the reserves before being called back to his regiment on 5th August 1914.  His unit, mobilized on the 4th August, marched into Belgium on the 20th and reached the Mons area before being forced to retreat on the 26th; this was the famous Retreat from Mons, and for Charles Allen it was a fighting retreat of about 140 miles.  The unit was sent into billets at Hazebrouck in October but was then moved through Ypres and into trenches in Klein Zillebeke in November.  On his second spell of duty in the trenches there - it was snowing and the Germans were shelling them heavily - and he was killed.

Left: ALLEN, William, 59, Rifleman, 12th  Royal Irish Rifles, DOW in France on May 2, 1918, buried Bolougne Eastern Cemetery, France. He was born and lived in Ballymena, enlisted Belfast. He was the 19 year old grandson of Ellen McKee, 1, Toome Road, Ballymena.

William Allen appears to be William Robert Allen, born at Tullynamullan, Kells on the 14 August 1896,  the son of Joseph Allen and his wife Hannah, nee Mckee.  The couple, both from Tullynamullan, had married on the 5 December 1882 in 2nd Antrim Presbyterian Church.

William appears in the 1911 Irish census and he was living in Ballymena with Ellen McKee, then of Ballee, Ballymena.  She is said to be 68 years old and had been married for 40 years.  She said she had had eleven children of her own, nine of whom were still alive in 1911. She listed daughters Aggie (23) and Minnie (21) and William Allen, 12 years old and her grandson. This would have made him 21+ years old at the time of his death. The age given in Soldiers Died in the Great War and by the CWGC is 19 years.

Ellen McKee, recorded as being just 50 years old, was living at Kildrum, Kells with her husband David (55) in 1901.  The census records William (30 and mentally impaired), Bella (Isabella, born 5 Dec 1878 at Appletee. Kells), James (18 and born 27 February 1883 at Appletee, Kells), Andrew (15 and born 9 December 1884 at Appletee, Kells), Agnes (14 and born 14 May 1887 at Appletee, Kells) and Minnie (18 and born  14 February 1889 at Appletee, Kells). Ellen McKee's maiden name was Allen.

Left: ALLEN, William, 6530, Rifleman, 12th Royal Irish Rifles, DOW (He received leg wounds on May 13th, 1916) on 17th May, 1916. He is buried in Forceville Communal Cemetery, France. He was born at Dunnyvadden, Ballyclug on the 17 August 1896 and enlisted in Ballymena.  He was the 19 year old son of Samuel and Ellen Allen, nee Montgomery, of Dunnyvadden, Kells.

Right: ANDERSON, David, 4932, Rifleman, 12th Royal Irish Rifles, died of wounds on July 5, 1916, and he is buried in Puchevillers British Cemetery, Somme. Aged 39, he was born at Galgorm Parks, Ballymena on the 24 June 1877 and enlisted in Ballymena. He was the son of Adam and Jane Anderson, nee Higgins.  His sister Martha lived at 9, Bridge Street Place, Ballymena, as he did at the time of the 1901 and 1911 Irish census.

ANDREWS, William James Morrison, 2nd Lieutenant, Royal Flying Corps and General List, was killed in a flying accident during his training on Salisbury Plain on June 4, 1917.  He was the 26 year old son of Alex Andrews, a tea merchant, formerly of Woodvale, Ballymena. The family are primarily associated with Dungannon. 

William James Morrison Andrews was born at Coolhill, Dungannon on the 6 October 1890, he attended Dungannon Royal School, and his family lived there.  He is buried in Drumcoo Cemetery, Dungannon, but is also commemorated in West Church (Presbyterian), Ballymena. He had studied  engineering in London before joining the RFC.

Alexander and Violet Andrews had four children: William James Morrison Andrews, Annie May Andrews, Arthur Alexander Andrews, Fred Stanley Andrews. The three boys all served in the forces.   Second Lieutenant Arthur Andrews, formerly employed by  the Belfast Banking Company in Coleraine and Belfast, and of Royal Irish Fusiliers, was severely wounded in the thigh on the 1st July 1916 during the fighting on the Somme.  He had received his commission on 23rd August 1915.  Fred Stanley Andrews got his commission in the Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers.

ARMSTRONG, Alexander, 12958, Private, 1st Canterbury Regiment, NZ Expeditionary Force, was killed in action on December 3, 1917. He had embarked on the 6th May 1916 with the 3rd Reinforcements to the 3rd Battalion, G Company (elsewhere 3rd Reinforcements to the 4th Battalion, H Company).  He is remembered in Buttes New Cemetery Memorial, Belgium, in 1st Broughshane Presbyterian Churchyard and on Broughshane War Memorial.

He was a labourer from Fairview, Pollee, Broughshane and had been born the son of James and Margaret Armstrong on the 23 September 1882. See Ballymena New Zealanders.

Left: ARMSTRONG, William, 9196, Private, E Company, 1st Royal Highland Regiment (Black Watch), was killed in action on October 29th, 1914. He is named on Ypres Memorial (Menin Gate). He was the son of Robert and Agnes Armstrong, nee Montgomery, of Glenwherry and he had been born on the 30 June 1882. He was the husband of Agnes Armstrong, nee Montgomery, 10 Windsor Terrace, Ballymena. The couple had married in 1st Ballymena Presbyterian Church on the 5 March 1910.

BAMBER (also Bammer and Balmer), 27519 Robert, Trench Mortar Battery, 9th Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers, was killed in action instantly by a shell on August 16th, 1917 (CWGC says Bammer and 15 Aug 1917).  He is named on Tyne Cot Memorial and remembered in St Patrick's Parish Church, Ballymena. 

He was born at Dreen, Cullybackey, the son of Susan Balmer (sic) and he enlisted in Ballymena. Susanna Bamber, aged 28 and single, was living at the Dreen, Ballyconnelly, Ballymena in 1901, and Robert Balmer, aged 14, was a farm servant employed by William John Agnew and his sister at Limnaharry, Ahoghill in 1911.  Susan was later living at Springwell Street, Ballymena.  His commanding officer wrote: 'He was a good boy and a brave soldier.'

BANKHEAD, Frank John, 424544, Private, 1st Canadian Mounted Rifles (Saskatchewan Regt.), DOW on October 29th, 1916. He was shot in the head by a sniper while on duty in an Advanced Post. He is buried in St. Catherine Cemetery, Pas de Calais. Born Pretoria, South Africa on the 25 June 1890, he was the son of Samuel and Elizabeth Anne, Ballymena. They were at William Street in 1901 and later at High Street. Frank is commemorated in St. Patrick's Church of Ireland, Ballymena.

BARR, Matthew (registered mistakenly as Duffin), 18/1197, Rifleman, 11th Royal Irish Rifles, was killed in action on December 8th, 1916. He is buried in La Plus Douve Farm Cemetery, Belgium. He was born on the 15 May 1897 at Cromkill and enlisted in Ballymena. He was the son of Duffin and Eliza Barr, nee Dempster, Cromkill. Eliza, Duffin's second wife, married him in High Kirk Presbyterian Church, Ballymena on 26 August 1893. Matthew, half-brother of John (Above) is commemorated in Wellington Street Presbyterian Church, Ballymena and the family gravestone is in Kells and Connor New Presbyterian Cemetery, Kells.

Right: BEATTIE, Samuel, 18860, Lance Corporal, 12th Royal Irish Rifles, was killed in action on March 7th, 1916. He is buried in Hamel Military Cemetery, Somme. He was born on the 25 May 1882 at Bridewell Court, the son of James and Ann, nee McVeigh, and he enlisted in Ballymena. He had married Maria Sutter in Ballymena Methodist Church on the 30 January 1909; he gave his address as 18, Duke Street, and Maria said she lived at 95, Queen Street. The couple lived at Prospect Place, Ballymena in 1911 and his widow later lived at 91, Queen Street, Ballymena.

BELL, William McNiece, 11073, Private, 4th South African Infantry Regiment, died of unspecified causes on March 24th, 1918. He is named on Pozieres Memorial, Somme. He was born on the 13 November 1880 at Ballylesson, Ballyclug, Ballymena, the son of farmers John  and Mary Bell. The family were at Ballyclug in 1901 and at 68, Queen Street, Ballymena in 1911. His wife, Hanna Grace Bell, lived at Cromkill, Ballymena; South African records give her later address as 5 Waring Street, Ballymena and refer to her husband as a farmer. He is commemorated in Harryville Presbyterian Church.

BENNETT, 269426 Engine Room Artificer 1st Class Henry John, died on the 6 August 1914 in the sinking of HMS Amphion. He was the son of Henry Bennett, Torr, Culfeightrim, Ballycastle, a boatman in the Coastguard Service, and Susan, nee Pengalley sic (Pengelly?), and he had been born on the 25 August 1877.  He was a Royal Navy regular and had served in the South African War and he held a medal for long service. He was, as indicated by his date of death, one of the first casualties of the Great War.

HMS Amphion was lost in the sinking of the Konigin Luise, a former ferry reworked as a minelayer. She left Emden on the 4th August to lay mines off the Thames Estuary.

On the 5th August HMS Amphion and others caught her laying mines and engaged. The Konigin Luise was only lightly armed was quickly sunk. She had been no threat to her attackers but Biermann, the German Captain, had drawn the British ships into a newly laid minefield. At 06.45 on 6th August, HMS Amphion struck a mine which broke the ship’s back. She lost control and struck other mines in the same row. She sank at 07.05 and 151 men were lost. A Ballymena man, Charles George McConachy, was also one of those lost.

BLACK, Robert, 12109, Lance Corporal, 2nd Highland Light Infantry, was killed in action on October 24th, 1914 when his trench was blown up by the Germans. He is named on the Ypres Memorial (Menin Gate). He was born on the 24 December 1896 at Kirkinriola, Ballymena, the son of labourer Jeremiah and Matilda Black, nee Lowery, and he enlisted in Paisley, Scotland. Local press says the family had family at Ballygarvey, Kirkinriola, Ballymena. He was the brother of William.

Widower Jeremy (sic), a farmer of Rokeel/Rathkeel, Broughshane had married Matilda Lowery, Ballygelly, Broughshane in Buckna Presbyterian Church on 19 December 1879.  In 1911 they said they had been married for 29 years and all of their 8 offspring were then alive.

BLACK, William James (brother of Robert above) 11302, Lance Corporal,  2nd Highland Light Infantry, was killed in action on November 14th, 1914. He is named on the Ypres Memorial (Menin Gate). He was born at Craigywarren, Ballymena, the son of labourer (Surfaceman) Jeremiah and Matilda Black, nee Lowery, and he enlisted in Scotland. Local press says the family lived at Ballygarvey, Kirkinriola, Ballymena.

Left: BOAL, James Spence, 2nd Lieutenant, 109th Siege Battery, Royal Garrison Artillery, died of wounds on January 29th, 1917.   He is buried at Dernaucourt Communal Cemetery Extension, Somme. He was born on the 20 May 1889 at Tullygarley and was the son of John and Margaret Boal, nee Carson, Tullygarley. He is commemorated in Wellington St. Presbyterian Church and in Ballymena Academy.

BOAL, John Kirk, Captain, 1st Royal Irish Fusiliers, KIA on May 3rd, 1917, Roeux, France. Aged 20, he was the son of John and Sophia Boal, Antrim House. The other soldier mentioned on the memorial stone is Private James Coleman Kirk, 437056 of the 3rd Canadian MGC, aged 36, who was killed on 27th September 1918.  He was the son of John and Sophia Kirk, Antrim House.  J K Boal's father was 33 in 1901 Census, his mother 29; James Coleman Kirk's  father was 53, his mother 56, in the same census and he had three brothers then listed: Martin Harper (20), Robert James (24) and Norman (17).

Editor: John Kirk Boal, as seen in the original photograph above, was identified as being from Ballymena.  This now seems a mistake, but I will leave his details here.

Left: BROWN, Joseph, 830415, Private, 44th Canadian Infantry (New Brunswick Regiment), died of wounds on 28th September, 1918 and was buried in Bucquoy Road Cemetery, Ficheux.  He lived at lived 304 Laura Street, Winnipeg. He was born at Aughavary, Ahoghill on the 1 August 1892 and his parents were James  and Jane Brown, nee Hollinger, Aughavary, Ahoghill, Co. Antrim.

Right: CALDWELL (Calwell), Samuel Coleman, 17396, Sergeant, 12th Royal Irish Rifles, died of wounds on July 3, 1916. He is buried in Puchevillers Cemetery, Somme. Son of Robert Torrens Calwell and Mary Elizabeth Calwell, of Ross Lodge, Kells, Co. Antrim. Enlisted Ballyclare. Commemorated Kells Presbyterian Church.

Right: CAMPBELL, Robert Alexander, 18961, Private, 11th Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers, was KIA on 1st July 1916. He is named on the Thiepval Memorial. He was born in the Connor/Galdanagh area of Kells, enlisted Belfast & lived Maryhill, Glasgow.

CAMPBELL, William John, 17356, Rifleman, 12th Royal Irish Rifles, KIA on July 1st, 1916 & buried Ancre British Cemetery, Somme. Born Kells, husband of Margaret Jane, 36 Waterloo Road, Larne.

CAMPBELL, Robert, S/8176, Private, 7th Seaforth Highlanders, KIA on July 10th, 1916. He is named on Thiepval Memorial. He was from Fernagh, Rasharkin, though he had worked as a miner in the coalmines near Glasgow before the war and it was in Glasgow that he enlisted on 24th April 1915.  He was the son of Alexander and Liza Campbell and his sister was Mrs. William Kirkpatrick, 12 Albert Place, Ballymena.

CAREY (Sometimes incorrectly Cary, M'Cary), Rondaine Tristram 17359, Private, 11th Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers, died in Ballymena Workhouse Infirmary of measles on February 27, 1915. He was then 19 years old. He was born in Liverpool and was the son of Henry Stevenson and Wilhelmina Margretta Carey.  He is buried in Ballymena New Cemetery, Cushendall Road.

Original 'Dog Tag' - Identity Disc

Right: CARLETON (Carlton) David, 12/19245, Rifleman,  11th Royal Irish Rifles, DOW on November 10th, 1916 in France & Flanders.  Buried La Plus Douve Cemetery. Born Ahoghill, enlisted Belfast. Lived with wife Mary at Tullygown, Gracehill.

CARSON, John, Private, 315th Infantry Regiment, US Army,  DOW on 5/6 November, 1918. He was killed near Sedan, France. He is buried in the Meuse Argonne cemetery.  He lived in Philadelphia and was the third son of John and Margaret Carson, (Drumcon) Craigs, Cullybackey. He is commemorated in Cuningham Memorial Church, Cullybackey and named on marker in the Pound Cemetery, Cullybackey.

Left: CARUTH, James Gordon, 2 Lieutenant, 5th Royal Irish Rifles (attached 2nd Royal Irish Rifles), KIA on September 25, 1915. Named on Menin Gate, Belgium. Aged 19, son of J.D. and Constance Helen Caruth, Hugomont, Ballymena. Commemorated West Church Presbyterian Church.

CATHCART, William Rea, 7716, Private, 16th Australian Infantry, died at No3 NZ Military Hospital, England. Aged 30, he was the son of Thomas Cathcart, Windsor Terrace, Ballymena and also linked with Kinhilt Street. He is buried in Codford St Mary New Cemetery, Wiltshire, England and named in Ballymena New Cemetery, Cushendall Road.

Cathcart, single, almost 5 feet 9 inches tall and 150 lbs weight, was a bookkeeper by trade.  He lived in Perth, Western Australia and enlisted there on 27th May 1917.  He sailed from Sydney on HMAT Medic on the 1st August 1917, landed in Liverpool on 3rd October 1917,  but died of disease on the 25th November 1917.  He was initially admitted to Australian Group Hospital on the 9th November with gastritis but transferred to the NZ hospital where he subsequently died from diabetes.

Left: CATHCART, David Andrew, 2nd Lieutenant, 7th Queen's Own Royal West Kent Regiment,  DOW on July 15th, 1916 at Malcourt, France.  Aged 33, brother John at Alfred Street, Ballymena and father, late James of Slatt, sister at Slatt. Commemorated 1st Ballymena Presbyterian Church.

Right: CLARKE, John, Captain, 1st/2nd Welsh Field Ambulance, KIA on September 9th, 1915. Buried at Hill 10 Cemetery, Gallipoli. Aged 32, son of William and Mary Anne (White), High Street, Ballymena. MD in Aberbargoed, Wales. Commemorated Wellington Street Presbyterian Church.

Family Grave, Craigs Parish Church

COCHRANE Thomas Hill, 59175, Lance Corporal, 21st Bn. (East Ontario Regiment), Canadians, was shot in the chest by a sniper while trying to recover a wounded colleague, on November 11th, 1915. He is buried in Ridge Wood Military Cemetery, Belgium. He was the son of John and Margaret Cochrane, Craigs, Cullybackey and brother of John above. He had emigrated to Canada in 1910 and had married Bertha McDonald in 1912.  The couple lived in Bowmanville, Ontario.

The third serving brother was Lieutenant Hugh Henry Cochrane, Canadian forces.  He was born on 15th April 1879 and was married to Mary Florence Cochrane. The couple lived in Athabasca, Alberta and he served in the Royal North West Mounted Police.  He had previously spent 15 years in the Scottish Yeomanry and had served in the South African Constabulary.

COLGAN, Thomas (Snr.) 19418, Rifleman, 12th Royal Irish Rifles, DOW on October 22nd, 1916. Buried Bailleul Communal Cemetery Extension, France. Aged 45, husband of Catherine, Galgorm Street, Ballymena. He left eight children.

COLGAN, Thomas (Jnr.) 4291, Private, 1/5th Seaforth Highlanders, DOW from wounds received on July 30th, 1916. Buried Daours Communal Cemetery Extension, Somme. Aged 19, son of Thomas (above) and Catherine of Galgorm Street, Ballymena.

Right: CONWAY, Andrew, 50587, Private, 10th Cheshire Regiment, DOW on July 23rd, 1917. He is buried in Dickebusch New Military Cemetery Extension, Belgium. Aged 27, born Dersertmartin, enlisted Oakham, Rutland. Wife Elizabeth at Galgorm Street, Ballymena.

Left: COOKE, Thomas Haslett, 19441, Lance Corporal,  12th Royal Irish Rifles,  KIA on July 1st, 1916. Thiepval Memorial. Aged 19, born Ballymena, enlisted Belfast. Son of Alex, 22 Larne Street. Commemorated 1st Ballymena Presbyterian Church.

COULTER, Thomas J, 267106, Lance Corporal, 6th Royal Highland Regiment (Black Watch),  KIA on May 28th, 1918. Buried Ecoivres Military Cemetery, France. Born Govan, enlisted Glasgow, husband of Mrs. Coulter, Drumsough, Randalstown.

COULTER, Alexander, 3473, Private, 2nd Irish Guards, KIA on July 21st, 1917. Buried Canada Farm Cemetery. He came from Tullynahinnion/Drumraw, Cullybackey and is commemorated at 1st Portglenone Presbyterian Church.

COULTER Thomas, 13869, Private, Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers, KIA on July 1st, 1916. Thiepval Memorial. Born Ballymena, lived Moat Road. Commemorated in Wellington St. Presbyterian Church.

Right: COURTNEY, Robert, 20/40, Private, 20th Royal Irish Rifles, died of wounds in Belfast (He had been wounded July 1st, 1917) on November 13, 1917. He is buried in 3rd Ahoghill (Brook Street) Presbyterian Church. Aged 21, he was the son of Robert and Elizabeth Courtney, High Street, Ballymena. He is commemorated in West Presbyterian Church, Ballymena.

COWAN, Adam E., Lieutenant, 82nd Field Company, Royal Engineers, KIA on November 18th, 1916. Buried Connaught Cemetery, Somme. Aged 25, only son of John of 'Rathcavan', Broughshane Street, Ballymena. Commemorated in 1st Ballymena Presbyterian Church, family grave Rocavan (sometimes Rathcavan) Cemetery.

CRAIG, David Barkley, 24125, Private, 2nd Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers, KIA on October 14th, 1918. Buried Dadizeele New British Cemetery. Aged 25, born Ballymena, enlisted Carrickfergus. Father, brothers and sisters lived in 13 Newington Avenue, Larne.

Left: CRAIG, Adam, 4934, Rifleman, 12th Royal Irish Rifles, KIA on August 15th, 1917. Named Menin Gate. Aged 35, born Ahoghill, enlisted Ballymena. Son of Adam and Elizabeth, wife Jane and family of five at Bridge End, Galgorm. Commemorated Cullybackey UF Church.

CRAIG, Daniel, 3/6483, Private, 8/10th Gordon Highlanders, KIA on July 30th, 1916. Named Thiepval Memorial. Born James Street (?) and enlisted Leith, Scotland.

CRAIG John, Private, Canadians (1st Ahoghill list) - (see John Craig of Royal Scots Fusiliers), KIA, lived Killybegs.

CRAIG, John, 13674, Private, 7th Royal Scots Fusiliers,  KIA on September 26th, 1915. Named Loos Memorial. Aged 23, son of Mary J. Craig, Ballee. Commemorated in 1st Ahoghill Presbyterian Church.

CRAIG, Robert, C, Private, Borden's Motor Machine Gun Battalion, Canadians, was KIA by shellfire on 27th September 1916. Service No. 114556. He was born at Gracehill, and his mother Elizabeth Craig lived at Gracehill, Ballymena. Commemorated on Vimy Memorial.

CRAWFORD, Alexander, Private,  2nd Royal Irish Fusiliers, died 16th October 1917 from Malaria in No. 42 General Hospital, Salonika. Service no. 7821. Born Ahoghill, enlisted Ballymena, wife Elizabeth, Dunaird/Roughan, Broughshane. Buried Mikla British Cemetery, Kalamaria, Greece.

CRAWFORD, 681631, Private Thomas, 15th Canadian Infantry (Central Ontario Regiment),  was killed in action on 2 September 1918 in an attack on the Drocourt-Queant Line, part of the follow-up to Allied success at the Battle of Amiens and the start of efforts to reach and destroy the Hindenburg Line (Siegfriedstellung or Siegfried Position). The Drocourt-Quéant Line was itself an in-depth system consisting of a front line system and a support line system, each part employing two lines of trenches. The system additionally incorporated numerous concrete bunkers, machine gun posts and concentrated belts of barbed wire. Aged 34, he was , born on the 20 February 1884 at Loughconnolly, Broughshane, the son of Thomas and Agnes Crawford, Tullymore, Broughshane. Thomas Crawford (Snr.), Skerry, Broughshane had married Agnes Crawford, Toreagh, Raloo on the 22 February 1882.  Thomas (Jnr) is buried in Dominion Cemetery, Hendecourt-Les-Cagnicourt, France and commemorated in 2nd Broughshane Presbyterian Church. The family headstone (above) in Broughshane proudly records details of the action in which he died.

Right: CURRIE, W. H,  2nd Lieutenant, 55th Squadron, RAF,  was KIA on 16th July 1918. His wife lived at Drumrankin, Cullybackey. He is buried at Charmes Military Cemetery, Vosges, France.

CURRIE, John,  3154, Private, 2nd Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers,  was KIA on 16th May 1915. He is named on the Le Touret Memorial, France. He was born in Ballymena and enlisted in Belfast. His sister lived at 8 Patrick Place, Harryville, Ballymena.

Left: CURRIE, Samuel, 319, Sergeant, 12th Royal Irish Rifles, died of wounds on 24th November 1917. He was born in Ballymena and enlisted there. His sister lived at 8 Patrick Place, Ballymena. He is buried in Grevillers British Cemetery, France and commemorated in West Church, Ballymena.

CURRIE, 251217, James, Sergeant, 1/6th Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders, died of wounds in a casualty clearing station (gassed) on 30th October 1917. Aged 43, he was the son of William and Mary Currie. He enlisted in Paisley, Scotland. His sister lived at 8 Patrick Place, Ballymena. He is buried Lijssenthoek Military Cemetery, Belgium.

CUTHBERT, Robert, 14479, Lance Corporal, 2nd Scots Guards, died of wounds on 29th March 1918. Aged 33 years, of Cloneytrace, Broughshane. Buried St. Hilaire Cemetery, France.

DARRAGH, James Robinson,  Lieutenant, 1/6th Duke of Wellington's West Riding Regiment, died of wounds received on June 24, 1917 on the 5th July 1917. He was aged born on the 13 November 1890 and was the son of late Samuel and Jane Darragh, nee Sterrat, Ballycraigy, Ballymena. He is buried Choques Military Cemetery, Pas de Calais and commemorated 1st Ballymena Presbyterian Church.

Right: DARRAGH, Matthew Sloan,  2nd Lieutenant, 6th Duke of Wellington's West Riding Regiment, KIA leading patrol on 20th March 1917. Born on the 5 December 1882, he was the son of late Samuel and Jane Darragh (nee Sterrat), Ballycraigy, Ballymena. He is named on Loos Memorial, Pas de Calais, France and is commemorated in 1st Ballymena Presbyterian Church.

DARRAGH, 128 Trooper John McClelland Cromie, 6th Inniskilling Dragoons, died on 24th December 1916. Local press reports, including the Ballymena Observer, Jan 1917, said he had been killed in action but he actually died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound; whether this was accidential or intentional is not known.  Aged 34, he was the son of late Samuel and Jane Darragh, nee Sterrat, Ballycraigy, Ballymena. He is buried St. Riquier British Cemetery, Somme and is commemorated 1st Ballymena Presbyterian Church.

DARRAGH, Thomas, 44434, Private, 1st Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers (formerly 8720 Royal Irish Rifles), died of wounds on 19th October 1918. He was born, enlisted and lived in the Ballymena area. He is buried at Terlincthun British Cemetery, Pas De Calais, France.

DAVIDSON, Andrew, S/3716,  Private, 8th Seaforth Highlanders, KIA on 25th October 1915. Aged 33, born Ballymena. Son of Mr. Davidson, Mid Shirva Farm, Twechar. Wife and two children at Tintock, Scotland. Named Loos Memorial.

DAVIS, John, 2379239, Corporal,  1st (Depot) Bn. Canadian Infantry (Manitoba Regiment.) Died in service on 30th July 1918. Aged 27, son of Archibald and late Margaret Ann, Ballynulto, Broughshane. Buried Winnipeg Cemetery, Manitoba.

Left: DAVISON, Andrew Dinsmore,  17714, Private,  108th Company Machine Gun Corps, formerly 18942 of  Royal Irish Rifles, KIA on 1st July 1916. Born and lived/son of Sam and Elizabeth Davison, Bridge End, Galgorm. Enlisted Ballymena. Buried Mesnil Communal Cemetery, Somme. Commemorated Ahoghill Church of Ireland.

DAVISON, Andrew,  11/7288, Rifleman, 12th Royal Irish Rifles,  died 19th March 1919.  Formerly of Galgorm, buried at Bothwell Cemetery, Bellshill, Scotland.

DAWSON, Samuel,  14860, Private, 11th Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers,  KIA on 1st July 1916. Born Portglenone, enlisted Belfast, lived Glasgow. Commemorated on Thiepval Memorial.

DAWSON, Eveline Maud, Matron, Queen Alexandra's Imperial Nursing Service, drowned in sinking of hospital ship 'Salta' on 10th April 1917. She had been a missionary and had worked for eight years in St. Catherine's Hospital, Cawnpore, India. On the outbreak of war, and being on leave in Ballymena, she had decided to help with the war effort and had spent two years and eight months on nursing duties. She had intended to return to India after the war.  She is buried Etaples Military Cemetery, France. She was aged 49 years and was the 3rd daughter of Albert Dawson, Ballymena. Her sister resided at 27 Queen's Road, Bromley, Kent.

DEAN(E), Joseph, 3739, Rifleman, 'C' Coy, 11th Royal Irish Rifles, died of pneumonia while training at Clandeboy, Co. Down on 3rd March 1915 and he is buried in Belfast City Cemetery.  He was born at Balnamore, Ballymoney, the son of Joseph and Susan Dean.  He enlisted in Randalstown and his wife Annie lived at 15, Daisy Hill, Randalstown.

Right: DEMPSEY, Isaac,  27520, Private,  9th Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers, died of wounds in No. 62 Casualty Clearing Station, Arneke, France on the 29th July 1918. These wounds were received at Bonnegues earlier in the day. He was the son of William Dempsey,  farmer,  of Artiferal, Dunloy. His wife Mary and children,  Isaac, Rose, Hannah and Maud, lived at Dunboy, Dunloy. Commemorated in Killymurris Presbyterian Church.

DEVLIN, Samuel Cromwell - there is NO RECORD of a Samuel Cromwell Devlin being killed on the date in question. It is highly likely that he served as Henry James Cromwell.

DICKSON, John, 972, Rifleman, 16th Royal Irish Rifles, died 7th July 1916.  Born and lived Ballymena, 3rd son of George Dickson, Craigywarren. Commemorated Thiepval Memorial and Cloughwater Presbyterian Church.

DILLON, John Patrick, 23042, Private, 8th Royal Irish Fusiliers, died of wounds in a Bethune hospital on 28th May 1916, aged 19 years. He was born in Ballinaloob, Dunloy and enlisted in Ballymoney.  He was the eldest son of John and Annie (nee Heron, born near Letterkenny, Co Donegal) of Ballymacaldrick, Dunloy, the remaining children being Elizabeth, Charles and Francis.

Right: DUNCAN, Andrew Warwick (MC), Lieutenant, 38th Bn. Canadian Infantry (East Ontario Regiment),  KIA on 9th April 1917. Aged 25 son of Archibald and Margaret, Carnearney, Kells. Buried Villers Station Cemetery, Viller au Bois, Pas de Calais. Commemorated Connor Presbyterian Church. See section on Canadian soldiers.

DUNLOP, David Lynn, First Engineer, SS Essonite. The ship was torpedoed and he drowned 1st February 1917. He was the eldest son of James and Mary Dunlop, Carnlough. He was born at Carncairn, Broughshane.

DUNLOP, Nathaniel, 5700, Rifleman, 7th Royal Irish Rifles, KIA on 16th August 1917 (Note the date on the family headstone, 1st July 1916). Aged 20. Born Craigs, Cullybackey, enlisted Ballymena. Son of John Dunlop, Loan, Cullybackey. Commemorated Tyne Cot Memorial and Cullybackey UF Church.

DUNN, Thomas, 2323,  Private 44th Bn. Australian Infantry, died of pneumonia on 7th February 1917 (Australian record says 1919!). Aged about 44, he was the son of Charles and Margaret Dunn, Ballymena. He had been educated at Edenderry National School and had emigrated to Australia when 22 years old.  He was a bush worker and gave his address as East Narrogin, Western Australia.  He enlisted on the 9th May 1916 at Belmont, left Freemantle on HMAT Macquarie on the 13th October 916 but died of pneumonia on the 7th February 1917. He is buried Durrington Cemetery, Wiltshire.

ELLIOTT, Thomas, Private, 62nd Coy. Machine Gun Corps (formerly 7657 of Connaught Rangers), KIA 26th March 1918. Aged 34. Born Ahoghill, son of John and Margaret Elliott, Ahoghill. Enlisted Glasgow. Boxing champion. Buried Bienvillers Military Cemetery, Pas de Calais. Commemorated at Ahoghill Roman Catholic Cemetery.

ELLIS, Samuel, 19472, Lance Corporal, 11th Royal Irish Rifles, KIA on 1st July 1916.  Born Mossend, Scotland, enlisted Antrim, lived Toomebridge. Commemorated Thiepval Memorial.

ELLIS, William, 4612, Corporal, 11th  Royal Irish Rifles, KIA on 1st September 1916. Born Grangetown, Yorkshire, enlisted Clandeboye, lived Creagh, Toomebridge. Commemorated Menin Gate.

ERVINE, Samuel,  43831, Private,  1st Duke of Edinburgh's Wiltshire Regiment, formerly M/372233 of Royal Army Service Corps, KIA on 23rd October 1918. Born and lived Ahoghill, enlisted Ballymena, buried Ovillers New Communal Cemetery, France. Commemorated in 3rd Ahoghill Presbyterian Church.

Left: ERWIN (Ervine) , James,  10621, Private,  2nd Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers, died of wounds received 10th June 1916 on 19th June 1916. Aged 20, son of John, born and lived at Ballygarvey, enlisted Ballymena. Buried Puchevillers British Cemetery, France.

EWART, James,  48042, Private,  8th Royal Scots Fusiliers, died 19th September 1918 in Balkans theatre. Born Ballymena, enlisted Glasgow. Husband of Margaret Fulton Ewart, Crosshouse, Kilmarnock. Commemorated Doiran Memorial, Greece.  

FALLS, James,  4792, Private,  51st Bn. Australian Infantry, KIA on 3rd September 1916 at Mouquet Farm.  He arrived in Australia aged 18 and was employed as a motor driver.  He gave his address as c/o Grave & Dwyer, 919 Hay Street, Perth, Western Australia. He was single, aged 22, just 5 feet 6 inches tall and 163 lbs when he enlisted on 28th October 1915 in Perth.; their parents dead, he gave his brother as next of kin; he was Mr J Falls, Gibbletts, Coast Road, Manjimup, Western Australia.  James left Freemantle on HMAT Ulysses on the 1st April 1916, trained with 3rd Training Bn at Tel-el-Kebir after landing at Alexandria, Egypt on 25th April 1916, and then went to Marseilles, France on HMAT Huntspill.  He joined his unit on 21st August 1916 and was initially posted as wounded and missing on the 3rd September 1916; he was deemed KIA on that date on 24th April 1917. He was the son of John and Maggie Falls, formerly of Ballymena. His body found in 1925, he was buried Villiers Brettonneaux Cemetery, Somme.

FARANGHAM , 22655, Thomas Henry, Sergeant, 23rd Manchester Regiment, KIA on 20th July 1916. Born Cullybackey, enlisted Manchester, lived Oldham. Son of W.J. Farangham, Chadderton, Oldham. Commemorated Thiepval Memorial.

FAULKNER, Thomas, 1885, Private,  1st Irish Guards, KIA on 18th May 1915. Aged 33, son of Alex and Annie Faulkner, Ahoghill. Wife Sarah lived at 10 Somerset Street, Belfast. Commemorated Le Touret Memorial, France.

Right: FENTON, James, 17629, Lance Corporal,  12th Royal Irish Rifles,  KIA on 1st July 1916. Born third of a family of six, he lived near Dunloy, the son of Samuel and Margaret Fenton. His sister Maggie married Richard McKendry in 1919, a boy whose brother William (1777, 12th Royal Irish Rifles) had been killed on the Somme the same day as James. Maggie died a few years later and Richard McKendry married Sarah McCracken.  Her brother David (9035, 2nd HLI) had been killed at Loos in September 1915.  James, who was just 19, is commemorated Thiepval Memorial, Somme, France.

FERGUSON, James McKee, Captain, Royal Army Medical Corps (attached 6th Bn. Connaught Rangers), died on the 22nd December 1917 and buried in Ronssoy Communal Cemetery.  Aged 31, he was the son of the Rev. James E & Rachel Ferguson (nee Glover), Randalstown, Co. Antrim.

FISHER, Hugh, 13907, Private, 1st Royal Scots, died of wounds on 30th September 1916.   Aged 22, son of Sam and Margaret, Old Green, Kells. Enlisted Glasgow, buried Struma Military Cemetery, Greece. Commemorated Kells Presbyterian Church.

FLANAGAN, Hugh Edmond, 41229, Lance Corporal,  9th Royal Irish Fusiliers (formerly 1508 North Irish Horse), KIA on 22nd November 1917. Aged 21.  Born Ballymena, enlisted Antrim. Son of R.H. and Martha Flanagan of 129 Dunluce Avenue, Belfast. Commemorated Cambrai Memorial.

FLYNN, William George Acheson, 18981, Rifleman, 12th Btn. Royal Irish Rifles,  died 11th August 1917.  Aged 22, born Co. Down, lived Londonderry, father was manager of Lisnafillan Bleaching Works, Galgorm. Commemorated Menin Gate and in Ahoghill Church of Ireland.

FORBES, John, 41453, Private,  9th Royal Irish Fusiliers (formerly 1924 NIH), KIA on 29th March 1918.   Born Dungall, Clough and enlisted in Antrim. Son of George Forbes, Moneydollagh, Ahoghill. Commemorated on  Pozieres Memorial, Somme and 1st Ahoghill Presbyterian Church.

FORSYTHE, John, 1077, Guardsman, 2nd Coy. 4th Bn. Irish Guards Machine Gun Regiment, KIA on 9th October 1917.  Aged 26. Born, enlisted and lived Ballymena.  He was the youngest son of James and Maria Jane Forsythe of the Fire Station, Castle Street, Ballymena.  Commemorated on a headstone in Ballymena New Cemetery, Cushendall Rd.

FOSTER,  Allen, 3749, Rifleman, 11th Royal Irish Rifles, died of  wounds on 17th March 1916. Born Ahoghill, enlisted Randalstown. Husband of. M. Foster, Cloghogue. Buried Mesnil Ridge Cemetery, Somme.

Left: FOSTER,  David, J/36501, Able Seaman on HMS Ariel. He died after a mine explosion sank HMS Ariel in the North Sea on 2nd August 1918. HMS Ariel was an Acheron Class destroyer which was converted to mine laying in 1917. Her main claim to fame was that she, together with HMS Attack and HMS Acheron, rammed and sank the U12 off Aberdeen.  He was 20 and the eldest son of David and Elizabeth Foster, Ballycraigy, Ballymena. Commemorated on  Plymouth Naval Memorial and in Harryville/Connor Presbyterian Churches.

FOSTER, John Barkley, 3734, Lance Corporal, 11th Royal Irish Rifles, KIA on 1st July 1916. Aged 28, Born Drummaul near Randalstown and enlisted in Randalstown. He was the son of William and Betty Anne Foster, Randalstown. He is commemorated on  Thiepval Memorial and Randalstown Old Presbyterian Church.

Right: FOSTER, Robert, 5412, Rifleman, 7th Royal Irish Rifles, KIA on 7th September 1916. Born Ballyclug, enlisted Ballymena. Son of Mrs. Margaret Foster, Ballymarlow, Ballymena. Commemorated on Thiepval Memorial.

FOSTER, Robert, 11356, Private, 3 Bn Scots Guards, , born in Ballymena, died at home at the age of 45 and is buried in Glasgow Eastern Necropolis.  He was the son of William & Margaret, and the husband of Jessie Jamieson Foster, 35, Braemar Street, Langside, Glasgow.

FOSTER, Vernon Burnett, 15366,  Private, 2nd Dorsetshire Regiment, KIA on 31st December 1916. Born Ballymena, enlisted Bareilly, India, lived Ongerup, Western Australia. Commemorated on Basra Memorial, Iraq.

FRANCEY, William, 17697, Private, 1st Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers,  KIA on 1st July 1916. Born Ballymena, enlisted Hamilton. Commemorated on Thiepval Memorial and in 1st Ballymena Presbyterian Church.

Left: FRANCEY, George, 404342, Private, 14th Bn.Canadian Infantry (Quebec Regt.),  KIA between 12th June 1916 and 13th June 1916.  Aged 25, formerly of Kells, son of John Francey. Buried Bedford House Cemetery and commemorated Connor Presbyterian Church.

FRANCEY, James, 17487, Private, 2nd Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers,  KIA on 22nd July 1915. Aged 38, son of William and Ellen Jane, 88 Queen Street, Ballymena, enlisted Hamilton, lived Queenstown. Buried Bethune Town Cemetery, Pas de Calais. Commemorated 1st Ballymena Presbyterian Church.

FRANCEY,  Thomas,  8061, Private,  2nd Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers,  KIA on 16th May 1915. Aged 29, born Ballymena, husband of Mary Jane Francey, 117 Thorndyke Street, Belfast. Named Le Touret Memorial, Pas de Calais.

FRATER (Foster on Scottish National War Memorial and Soldiers Died in the Great War), John, 21818, Rifleman,  4th Royal Irish Rifles, killed in accident on Salisbury Plain on 28th October 1918. Aged 17, born at Milton of Campsie, Glasgow, enlisted Ballymena, son of William and Margaret Frater, Main Street, Cullybackey.  He is buried Durrington Cemetery, Wiltshire and commemorated in Cuningham Memorial Presbyterian Church.  

Right: FULLERTON, George Edmond, 20/58, Rifleman,  13th Royal Irish Rifles, died at home on the 19th March 1917 from an illness caught at the front. Aged 21, son of Ellen, 9 Clonavon Road, Ballymena. Buried 1st Ahoghill Pres. Church. (photo courtesy of N Henderson, Great War Ulster Newspaper Archive)

FULTON, John, 412650, Private, 2nd Canadian Infantry ( Eastern Ontario Regiment), killed on the 22nd September 1916, was the 31 year old son of William & Jane Fulton, Garrifgeary, Randalstown. He is buried in 2nd Canadian Cemetery, Sunken Road, Contralmaison.  A labourer by calling and born on 21st March 1886, he served as John Watt.

FULTON,  W A,  418938, Private,  42nd Bn. Canadian Infantry (Quebec Regt.), died of wounds in accidental rifle discharge on 4th February 1917. His mother resided at Casement Street, Ballymena. He is buried in Ecoivres Military Cemetery, France and commemorated in Harryville Presbyterian Church.

FURGROVE, William, 6362, Lance Corporal 12th Royal Irish Rifles, KIA on 1st July 1916. he was born at Moneymore, enlisted in Ballymena, and was the only son of William Furgrove of Main Street, Cullybackey. He is buried in Ancre British Cemetery, Somme and commemorated in Cuningham Memorial Presbyterian Church, Cullybackey.

Right: GALBRAITH, Robert, 15160, Private, Otago Regiment, N.Z.E.F. (2nd Bn.), died of wounds in 13th General Hospital Boulogne of wounds received on his first day in trenches (15th November 1916); he passed away 8th December 1916. Aged 25, he was the son of Alex and Elizabeth Galbraith, Carnlea, Ballymena. Buried Boulogne Eastern Cemetery, Pas de Calais. Commemorated Clough Presbyterian Church.

GALLAGHER,  John, 5702,  Rifleman, 1st Royal Irish Rifles, died of wounds on 29th October 1917. Aged 23,  born Ramoan, enlisted Belfast, lived Ballymena. Son of John Gallagher. Buried Pont-d'Achelles Military Cemetery.

Left: GAMBLE,  Frank, 18993, Rifleman, 12th Royal Irish Rifles, KIA on 1st July 1916. 7/1916.  Aged 21, born Connor, enlisted Ballymena, son of Mr. and Mrs. John Gamble, The Moat, Kells. He is commemorated on Thiepval Memorial and in Connor Presbyterian Church.

GAMBLE, John, 17890, Lance Corporal,  2nd Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers,  KIA on 23rd November 1916. He was born at Craigs, Cullybackey (Ballymoney Heroes by Rt. Thompson says on weak evidence that he came from the Craigs, Finvoy.  John Gamble is listed on the Ballymena War Memorial & his photograph appears in the Ballymena Weekly Telegraph of 20th January 1917.)  and enlisted Glasgow. His father lived at 16, Queenshill Street, Glasgow. He is buried Waggon Road Cemetery Somme.

GARRETT,  James Millar,  10554, Rifleman,  7th Royal Irish Rifles (formerly S/19159 Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders) KIA on 16th August 1917. Enlisted Paisley. From Tamneybrack. Commemorated Tyne Cot Memorial and Buckna Presbyterian Church.

GASTON, James (MC),  Captain, Royal Army Medical Corps,  attached Suffolk Regiment,  wounded 3rd September 1916 and died from those wounds on 5th November 1918. Aged 36, son of Andrew and Marianne, Carnbeg (sometimes Carabeg), Cloughmills. He was educated at Ballymena Academy and Queen's University, Belfast and had been a doctor in Washington, Co. Durham before the war - he is named on the war memorial there. He joined the army, landed at Le Havre on the 9th November 1914 and was commissioned in January 1915.  He saw much action and won the Military Cross for attending 'the wounded of five other units besides his own throughout the day' and for, on the following day, 'leading a party out in front to recover twelve more wounded'. He is buried Arras Road Cemetery, Roclincourt, Pas de Calais. Commemorated Killymurris Presbyterian Church. His brother was Captain Andrew Gaston, Royal Army Medical Corps.

Left: GETTY (or Gettis),  Robert, 6444, Rifleman, 2nd Royal Irish Rifles, KIA on 27th October 1914. Aged 24, enlisted Ballykinlar, husband of Ellen Sinclair Getty, James Street, Ballymena. Commemorated Le Touret Memorial, Pas de Calais.

GIBSON, David, 1004, Rifleman, 14th Royal Irish Rifles,  KIA on 1st July 1916. Born and lived Kellswater, enlisted Ballymena. Commemorated on Thiepval Memorial and 1st Ballymena Presbyterian Church.

Right: GIFFIN, William,  36034, Private, 2nd/5th Loyal North Lancashire Regiment,  died of wounds on 28th October 1917.  Lived 3 Mackenzie Street, Greenock. Eldest son of Frank, 42 Mount Street, Ballymena.  Buried Dozinghem Military Cemetery, Poperinge, Belgium. Commemorated in 2nd Ballymena Presbyterian Church.

GILDEA, James, 64253, Sergeant,  122 Field Coy. Royal Engineers, having enlisted in Belfast where he was living in 1914, was KIA on 27th March 1918.  He was born Ballymena and was married to Margaret (Maggie) McCaughrin. The 1911 Census and other sources suggest he was an 18 year old carpenter, the son of William & Ellen (nee Douglas), and that the family lived on 15, (later 50) Springwell Street, Ballymena. He had two brothers, George (born 1871) and Robert (born 12 July 1891).  He is commemorated on Pozieres Memorial, France.

GILLEN,  James,  6480, Private, 1st Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers,  KIA on 31st July 1915. Aged 33, next of kin Mary Killen, Glenbuck, Dunloy, formerly instructor to Dunloy Irish National Volunteers.  Named Helles Memorial, Gallipoli.

GILLESPIE, Hugh, S/4812, Private, 8th Gordon Highlanders, was killed in action on 12th December 1915.  Aged 30, he was the son of Hugh & Ellen Gillespie, Glenravel, Ballymena.  He was the husband of Margaret Gillespie, of 17, Archibald Place, Musselburgh, Midlothian.

GILLESPIE, James, 41266, Private, 2nd Scottish Rifles (Cameronians),  formerly Glasgow Yeomanry, KIA on 24th March 1918. Born Carmegrim, Ahoghill. Commemorated on Pozieres Memorial, France and 1st Ahoghill Presbyterian Church.

GILMORE, Hugh, 29168, Private, 1st Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers, died on 21st October 1916 and is named on the Thiepval Memorial, Somme.  He was the 23 year old son of Patrick and Mary Gilmore, Staffordstown, Randalstown.

GLASS, Robert, 18998, Rifleman, 12th Royal Irish Rifles, died of wounds as a POW on 28th June 1918.  Aged 29, born and lived Cullybackey. Son of James and Eliza, Ballyconnelly, enlisted Ballymena. Buried Aulnoye Communal Cemetery, France. Commemorated 2nd Ahoghill Presbyterian Church.

Right: GLENDINNING,  David, 1290, Corporal, 11th Royal Irish Rifles,  KIA  on 1st July 1916.  Age 22. He was born in Randalstown and enlisted in Lisburn. He was the son of David and Mary Glendinning, Duneany, Glarryford. His wife and child lived at Ballyronan. He is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial.

GLENHOLMES, John, 1418, Rifleman,  8th Royal Irish Rifles, died of wounds  on 7th June 1917.  He was from the Ballycowan, Kells/Connor area and enlisted in Ballymena. He is buried Bailleul Communal Cemetery Extension, Nord, France. Commemorated in Connor Presbyterian Church.

GLENHOLMES, James, 442, Lance Sergeant,  15th Royal Irish Rifles, died of wounds as POW on 20th September 1918 at Niederzwehren. He was from Ballycowan, Kells and enlisted in Ballymena. He is buried Niederzwehren Cemetery, Germany.  He was the son of William & Matilda Glenholmes.

Left: GORDON,  James, 3747, Rifleman, 11th Royal Irish Rifles, KIA on the 15th November 1916. Age 24, he was the son of Wilson Gordon and Agnes Gordon,  Straid, Gracehill, Ballymena. He is buried La Plus Douve Farm Cemetery, Belgium and is commemorated in Ahoghill (St Colmanell's) Church of Ireland.

GORDON James, 799154, Private, 15th Bn. Canadian Infantry (Central Ontario Regt.), died  on 2nd March 1917.  Age 23.  He was the son of William and Martha Gordon, Ballymarlow, Ballymena, and he is buried in Fosse No. 10 Communal Cemetery, Pas de Calais, France. Commemorated in 1st Ballymena Presbyterian Church.

Right: GORDON, Robert James, 26091, Rifleman, 4th Battalion, 3rd New Zealand Rifle Brigade, was killed in action in Belgium on the 7th June 1917. He was the son of Mrs. T Gordon, Lislea, Portglenone and he listed his brother in law, a Mr J T Kyle, Waipukurau, New Zealand, as his next of kin.  He was a farm labourer and had left New Zealand on 25th September 1916 with the 11th Reinforcements 2nd Battalion, F Company aboard the troopship Devon. He is remembered on the Messines Ridge (NZ) Memorial.

Left: GORDON, William, 862164, Private, 4th Canadian Infantry (Central Ontario Regt.) KIA by a shell at 10.30 a.m. as he stood in his own line at Vimy Ridge on 3rd (4th?) May 1917. He was the son of Smyth & Nancy Gordon, Killybegs, Slatt, Ballymena. Commemorated on Vimy Memorial.

GORDON-KIDD, DSO, Arthur Lionel,  Captain, 19th Squadron, Royal Flying Corps  (Secondary Regiment was 4th (Royal Irish) Dragoon Guards), died of wounds on the 27th August 1917. He was the son of the late Captain James Gordon-Kidd, Broughshane Street, Ballymena, a soldier who had served in the Indian Army. His cousin was the Reverend T J Forsythe of Randalstown.

A L Gordon-Kidd was in England training to join the Indian police when the war broke out.  He enlisted and was wounded while serving with an Indian regiment in France.  He transferred to the Royal Flying Corps and won a DSO for a bombing attack on a German ammunition train.  He dived his aircraft from 7500 feet and, just 900 feet above the ground, he released a bomb that devastated both train and track.  His plane was rocked by the upwards force of the explosion. Major-General Trenchard wanted a VC for him and Haig in a letter of 7th July 1916 agreed, though he wanted 'corroborative evidence'.  This was not provided and the DSO was awarded.

A L Gordon-Kidd was shot down by Werner Voss, the Hun's 4th ranked ace, on the 23rd August 1917 at 10.10 am.  He managed to crash land his aircraft at 23 Squadron's airfield south west of Diksmuide but died of his wounds. He had become the 38th victim in this man's 48 kill career while flying B3528, a Spad VII of 19th Squadron, RFC.  He is buried Mendinghem Military Cemetery, Belgium.

Viknor Graves on Rathlin Island, North Antrim 

Left: GOURLEY, Samuel Mooney , Clyde 3/2177, Able Seaman, Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve, H.M.S. "Viknor."  He died on the 13th January 1915. (HMS Viknor was an armed merchant cruiser of 10th Cruiser Squadron and was under the command of E O Ballantyne.  She had been a ship of the Blue Star Line before being requisitioned and modified by the Royal Navy.  Her crew, 22 Officers and 273 Men, were all lost when she struck a mine off Tory Island.  25 men, of whom Gourley was probably one, came from the Newfoundland Division of Royal Navy Reserves.  All crew were lost and, though some bodies did wash ashore and are buried in Ballintoy, Rathlin, etc, most crew have no known grave.)  He was aged 21 and was the son of James Gourley, Portglenone. He is commemorated on Portsmouth Naval Memorial.

GOURLEY (or Gourlay), Thomas Chesney,  17742, Rifleman, 12th Royal Irish Rifles, was MIA and then KIA on 1st July 1916. He was born in Ahoghill but had emigrated to Canada.  He returned shortly before the war to his parents' home in Larne and then enlisted in Larne with a brother. He was the fifth son of James and Elizabeth Gourlay, 3, Waterloo Road, Larne. He is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial.

GRAHAM, Andrew Greer, 11524, Private, 2nd Irish Guards, died of wounds on 1st May 1918.  Born Craigs, enlisted in Ballymena and was son of Wilson and Maggie Graham, Ballyreagh, Clough.  Buried Les Baraques Military Cemetery, Pas de Calais, France.

GRAHAM, Nathaniel, 152774, Private, 13th Canadian Infantry (Quebec Regiment), died of pneumonia at No. 8 Stationary Hospital, France on 12th February 1919 and is buried in Terlincthun British Cemetery, France.  He was the 28 year old son of David & Agnes Graham, Blacktown, Ballyligpatrick, husband of Annie, Teenis, Broughshane.

GRAHAM, Samuel, S/342597, Chief Shipwright, HMS Victory, died of wounds on 23rd October 1918 and is buried in Kells & Connor New Presbyterian Cemetery.  He was the son of William & Eliza Graham of Connor.

GRANT, William, 19003, Sergeant, 12th Royal Irish Rifles, KIA on 1st July 1916. He was born at Galgorm and enlisted in Ballymena.  He lived at Railway Cottages, Ballymena. Commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial and in 2nd Ballymena Presbyterian Church.

GRAY, David,   10449, Private, 'B' Company, 1st Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers,  KIA on 28th January 1917. Aged 21, he was the youngest son of Robert  and Mary Gray of William Street, Ballymena. Commemorated on Thiepval Memorial, Somme and Wellington Street Presbyterian Church.

GRAYSON, John Henry, Lieutenant, 6th Royal Irish Regiment, KIA on 20th November 1917. Aged 20.  He was a former pupil of Ballymena Academy and was residing in Malahide at time of enlistment. He was the son of John J. and Margaret E. Grayson, of Delmaine, Malahide, Co. Dublin.   He is buried Croisilles Railway Cemetery, Pas de Calais.

GREENWOOD, William, 19426, Private, 12th (S) Highland Light Infantry, died of wounds on 31st July 1917. Aged 27.  He was born in Ballymena and was the son of John and Isabella Greenwood of Broughdone, Cullybackey. Enlisted Coatbridge, lived Airdrie. Buried Brandhoek New Military Cemetery No. 3, Ypres. Commemorated in Cullybackey UF Church.

GREER, Joseph,  S/13953, Lance Corporal, 1st Gordon Highlanders, died of wounds on 5th June 1918.  Aged 23 and the son of M. Greer, Sprucebank, Portglenone. Buried Mont Huon Military Cemetery, Le Treport.

GREER, William, 17770, Rifleman, 12th Royal Irish Rifles, died 10th August 1917.  He is commemorated on Ypres Memorial (Menin Gate), Belgium.

Left: GRIBBEN, Robert, 23/1393, Rifleman, 1st Bn. N.Z. Rifle Brigade, died of wounds on 17th June, 1916.  Aged 28, he was the son of James Gribben, of The Race Course, Lower Broughshane, Ballymena, Co. Antrim. Buried Bailleul Communal Cemetery, Nord. France. Commemorated 2nd Broughshane Presbyterian Church.

Right: GRIBBEN, Samuel, 19419, Corporal, 11th Highland Light Infantry, died in Lincoln Hospital on 29th February 1916 of wounds received at Loos.  Aged 31 & the son of James Gribben of The Race Course, Broughshane. Enlisted Coatsbridge, husband of Agnes of Ronald Road, Coatbridge. Buried Lincoln Newport Cemetery.  Commemorated 2nd Broughshane Presbyterian Church.

GUTHRIE,  George,  10425, Lance Corporal,  2nd King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry, died of wounds 10th April 1918. Aged 21, born Drummaul, Randalstown, enlisted Pontefract, Yorkshire. Wife and child at Princes Street, Ballymena.  Son of RSM Guthrie, Derby Road, Nottingham. Buried Doullens Communal Cemetery, Somme. Commemorated on Ballymena War Memorial.