BALLYMENA 1914-1918
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War Memorial Rededication - 7th October 2018
172 New Names Added
The update of the memorial was done according to much narrower and stricter criteria than are used to incorporate names on the Ballymena and the Great War website. The emphasis on the website is on uploading all names of people who might see themselves as having a Ballymena connection, even if they do not fall within strict boundaries.
62913 Private Hugh Clarke Black, 2nd Bn. Otago Regiment, died on the 24 August 1918. He had been born on the 20 April 1881 at Ballintemple, Garvagh, Co Londonderry, the son of farmer Hugh Black and his wife Mary Jane Wilson.
The 1901 Irish census records Hugh (58), Thomas (23), Hugh C (19), Henry W (16) and Maggie A (14) at Gortfad. They were still there at the time of the 1911 census and Hugh (71) recorded Hugh Clarke (30) and Maggie Ann (24).
Miss M A Black, sister, of Gortfad, Garvagh, County Derry, Ireland was listed as his next of kin.
CWGC say he was the son of Hugh Black, of Gortfad, Ganagh (sic), Co. Derry, Ireland, and the late Mary Jane Black. His inclusion on the Ballymena War Memorial is a mistake, Gortfad, Portglenone being confused with Gortfad, Garvagh (Ballintemple and Gortfad are contiguous townlands).
Photograph courtesy of the Christchurch Sun, 4th October 1918