HMS HAWKE Centenary: Heartbreaking stories of fathers-to-be who would never see their newborn children.

October 14, 2014 by hhulster Posted in News Tagged Belfast, First World War, History Hub Ulster, HMS Hawke, HMS Theseus, Navy, RMS Olympic, Uboat-9, ulster, World War One

The sinking of HMS HAWKE: One of the greatest single losses of Royal Navy sailors from Ulster with 49 Ulstermen lost to just one U-boat

During the week when the Royal Navy traditionally remembers the Immortal Memory of Admiral Nelson and his final victory at the Battle of Trafalgar in 1805, it is worth pausing to reflect on the centenary of a naval incident that had a significant impact on so many Ulster families, the sinking of HMS Hawke. One of the greatest single losses of Royal Navy sailors from Ulster, this incident occurred on the 15th October 1914 when the German Submarine U-9 which was patrolling the North Sea came across two British Cruisers HMS Hawke and her sister ship HMS Theseus.

HMS_Hawke Under the command of German hero Commander Weddigen, U-9 fired on the British ships. This was the same German submarine which had caused the deaths of almost 1500 British seamen only 3 weeks earlier with the torpedoing of the ‘Livebait Squadron’. The submarine’s first torpedo hit HMS Hawke, igniting a magazine and causing a tremendous explosion which ripped much of the ship apart. Hawke sank in a few minutes with the loss of her Commander and 523 men. Only 74 men were saved.

Sailors from Ulster lost on Hawke included the tragic loss of three fathers-to-be, leaving pregnant wives to fend for themselves throughout the difficult war years.

-Leading Stoker Joyce Power left young twins and a pregnant wife in Ballymena. His daughter Margaret Hawke Power named after the ship he was killed on.

-Also drowned was Able Seaman Albert Patterson Wilson whose first daughter Frances was born only 4 weeks later on 14 November.

-Mariette Isabella Donald was born at the end of 1914, her father Martie Donald not returning to Carrickfergus to meet his newborn daughter.

-The Gorman siblings from Clifton Park in Belfast lost one brother, Charles on HMS Pathfinder in September only to hear of the death of another brother, Able Seaman James Toland Gorman, only one month later on HMS Hawke.

-Sullatober Flute band from Carrickfergus who lost one of their players Henry McMurran on HMS Cressy just 3 weeks before, suffered yet another tragedy with the loss of another member, Stoker (1st class) Andrew McAllister.

-Another loss for Ulster was Lieutenant Commander Ruric Henry Waring, the first of the sons of Colonel Thomas Waring JP of Waringstown to be killed. Ruric’s younger brother Major Holt Waring would be killed in 1918 at the Front.

In August 1914, at the outbreak of the First World War, Hawke was part of the 10th Cruiser Squadron, operating on blockade duties between the Shetland Islands and Norway. In October 1914, the 10th Cruiser Squadron was deployed further south in the North Sea as part of efforts to stop German warships from attacking a troop convoy from Canada. On 15 October, the squadron was on patrol off Aberdeen and HMS Hawke stopped at 0930 to pick up mail from her sister ship HMS Endymion. Hawke proceeded to return to her station without zig-zagging to avoid danger, and was out of sight of the rest of the Squadron when a single torpedo from U-9 struck Hawke and she quickly capsized. The remainder of the Squadron only realised something was wrong when, after a further, unsuccessful attack on Theseus, they were ordered to retreat and no response was received from Hawke. The destroyer Swift was dispatched from Scapa Flow to search for Hawke and found a raft carrying 22 men, while a boat with a further 49 survivors was rescued by a Norwegian steamer.

524 men drowned, including the ship’s Captain, Hugh P. E. T. Williams, and 49 Ulstermen. Only 74 men were saved, of which 6 were from Ulster.

A surviving Stoker explained:
‘Those on deck for an instant immediately after the explosion saw the periscope of a submarine which showed above the water like a broomstick. The Hawke was holed above the engine room and commenced to cant over to starboard with alarming rapidity. Her plates were twisted and torn and a huge gap was rent in her side. An attempt to man the guns was made but owing to the extra acute list of the vessel it was found impossible to train them on the submerged craft. The horror of the situation was added to when a tank of oil fuel caught fire and the flames advanced with fatal rapidity. Seeing there was not the ghost of a chance of doing any good by remaining in what was obviously a death trap I determined to make a dash for it. I scrambled precipitately up the iron ladder to the main deck. All this had happened in less time than it takes to tell.’

He continued:
‘But such is British pluck and coolness of nerve even in the face of such a situation that already after the initial shock the Captain, Commander and a midshipman were on the bridge and calmly on the fleet manoeuvre in the Solent, orders were given out and calmly obeyed. The bugler sounded the ‘Still’ call which called upon every man to remain at the post in which the call reached him. Apparently during the first minute or two, the belief was entertained that all that was wrong was the boiler explosion, but the rapidity with which the cruiser was making water on her starboard side rudely and quickly disputed all minds of this belief.’

Another survivor explained that:
‘The Captain, Commander and the midshipman had stuck bravely to their posts on the bridge to the last, and were seen to disappear and the ship finally plunged bow first amidst a maelstrom of cruel, swirling waters’

One survivor when interviewed pointed out that:
‘the crew for the most part were Irishmen, the reason being that at the outbreak of war the Hawke which was one of the oldest ships of the British Navy, was stationed at Queenstown… there were only around 24 active servicemen on board, the remainder being fleet reservists’

None of these men’s bodies was recovered for burial, most remaining where they drowned. The centenary of the sinking of HMS Hawke and the tragic loss of so many men of Ulster will be remembered at the Royal Navy’s annual Trafalgar Day Service in Belfast on 19th October 2014.

Ulstermen known to have died on HMS Hawke are:

Stoker (1^st class) Nathaniel Agnew, born Belfast

Able Seaman Robert Algie, born Belfast

Stoker (1^st class) David Bell, born Ballymena

Stoker (1^st class) George Jackson Campbell, born Belfast

Stoker (1^st class) John Chisim, born Belfast

Stoker (1^st class) Hugh Patrick Cormican, born Belfast

Able Seaman Hugh Crawford, born Belfast

Stoker (1^st class) Robert Creighton, born Larne

Stoker (1^st class) James Dickey, born Belfast

Stoker (1^st class) Mariott (Martie) Robert D Donald, born Carrickfergus

Petty Officer (1^st class) William James Elkin, born Coleraine

Stoker (1^st class) Samuel Fee, born Belfast

Stoker (1^st class) William John Gillespie, born Lisburn

Able Seaman James Toland Gorman, born Belfast

Stoker (1^st class) William Greer, born Ballybay, Monaghan

Stoker (1st class) Robert John Hamilton, born Belfast

Stoker (1^st class) William James Harper, born Belfast

Stoker (1^st class) Robert Hunter, born Belfast

Able Seaman William Johnston, born Carrickfergus

Stoker (1^st class) Isaac Lewis, lived Belfast

Stoker (1^st class) Andrew McAllister, born Carrickfergus

Able Seaman David McCaugherty, born Belfast

Stoker (1^st class) Hugh McComb, born Belfast

Stoker (1^st class) William McFarlane

Stoker (1^st class) James McNally, born Belfast

Stoker (1^st class) John Mills, born Belfast

Chief Petty Officer Charles Molloy, born Drumragh, Tyrone

Stoker (1^st class) Edward Mullen, born Belfast

Able Seaman William James Ross, born Belfast

Leading Stoker Joyce Power, born Ballymena

Stoker (1^st class) Thomas Henry Sefton, lived Belfast

Stoker (1^st class) John Smyth, born Belfast

Stoker (1^st class) Archer Thompson, born Belfast

Stoker (1^st class) David Tully

Stoker (1^st class) Charles Edward Uprichard, born Lurgan

Stoker (1^st class) Henry Wasson, born Belfast

Stoker (1^st class) James Wilson, born Newry

Able Seaman Albert Patterson Wilson, lived Belfast

Stoker (1^st class) John Yates, born Belfast

Boy (1^st class) Clare Robert Adams, born Enniskillen

Stoker (1^st class) William Clarke, born Belfast

Stoker (1^st class) Edward Crossin, born Belfast

Able Seaman John Thomas Gibson Dawson, born Belfast

Able Seaman James Charles Gamble, born Belfast

Stoker (1^st class) Daniel Laverty, born Belfast

Stoker (1^st class) Alexander Mairs, born Ballymena

Leading Stoker Patrick McEvoy, born Dechomet, Banbridge

Stoker (1^st class) Hugh McGinley, born Inch Island, Donegal

Lieutenant Commander Ruric Henry Waring, born Waringstown

*Research by Karen O’Rawe, Chair History Hub Ulster and William Hull, Research Assistant, Now Project.

*Three years before, on 20 September 1911, Hawke, under command of Commander W. F. Blunt, collided in the Solent with the White Star liner RMS Olympic. In the course of the collision, Hawke lost her bow. The subsequent trial pronounced Hawke to be free from any blame. During the trial, a theory was advanced that the large amount of water displaced by the Olympic had generated a suction that had drawn Hawke off course. The decision of the first court to try the case provoked a series of legal appeals.

*There were 6 known Ulster men who survived the tragedy. These were: Charles Trainer from Derry, JA Allen from Belfast, Thomas H Doyle from Belfast, Thomas Hoy from Larne, John Aitken, from Belfast and James O’Neill, from Belfast.

*Newspaper photographs courtesy of History Hub Ulster member, Nigel Henderson at http://www.greatwarbelfastclippings.com

History Hub Ulster is a research group based in Belfast, but working on projects across Ulster.

Agnew, Nathaniel, Stoker, RN HMS Hawke, 19 Westminster Avenue Belfast, Died, Oct 1914

Algie, Robert, Seaman, RN HMS Hawke, 15 Ann Street Newtownards, Died, Oct 1914

Bell, David, Stoker, RN HMS Hawke, Ambleside Street Belfast, Died, Oct 1914

Campbell, George Jackson, Stoker, RN HMS Hawke, 69 East Bread Street, Died, Oct 1914, snipped

Chisim, J, Stoker, RN HMS Hawke, 20 Haldane Street Belfast, Died, Dec 1914

Cormican, H P, Stoker, RN HMS Hawke, Aldergrove Crumlin Antrim, Died, 04-11-1914

Crawford, Hugh L, Seaman, RN HMS Hawke, 56 Coolderry Street Belfast, Died, Oct 1914

Creighton, Robert, Stoker, RN HMS Hawke, 49 Mountcollyer Street Belfast, Died, Oct 1914

Dickey, J, Stoker, RN HMS Hawke, 21 Canton Street Belfast, Died, Oct 1914

Donald, Martie, Stoker, RN HMS Hawke, Salutober Red Brae Carrickfergus ANtrim, Died

Elkin, W J, Petty Officer (1st Class), RN HMS Hawke, Coleraine, Died, Oct 1914, Snipped

Elliot, John, Stoker (1st Class), RN HMS Hawke, 17 Hardinge Street Belfast, Died, Oct 1914

Fee, Samuel, Stoker, RN HMS Hawke, 28 Barbour Street Belfast, Died, Oct 1914

Gillespie, W J, Stoker, RN HMS Hawke, Wolfhill Cottage Ligoniel Belfast, Died, Oct 1914

Gorman, James, T, Seaman, Royal Navy (HMS Hawke), Summerhill Street Belfast, Missing, Oct 1914, snipped

Greer, William, Stoker, RN HMS Hawke, 16 Cluan Place Belfast, Unspecified

Hamilton, Robert J, Stoker, RN HMS Hawke, 38 Mersey Street Belfast, Unspecified, Oct 1914

Harper, William James, Stoker, RN HMS Hawke, 7 Linden Street Belfast, Died, Oct 1914

Hunter, Robert, Stoker, RN HMS Hawke, 80 Derwent Street Belfast, Died, Oct 1914

Johnston, William, Seaman, RN HMS Hawke, 9 Kitchener Street Belfast, Died, Oct 1914

Lewis, Isaac, Stoker, RN HMS Hawke, 17 Chatter Street Belfast, Died, Oct 1914

McAlister, A, Seaman, Royal Navy (HMS Hawke), Carrickfergus Antrim, Died, Dec 1914, snipped

McCaugherty, David, Able Seaman, RN HMS Hawke, 30 Hurst Street Belfast, Died, Oct 1914

McComb, Hugh, Stoker, RN HMS Hawke, 97 Ogilvie Street Belfast, Died, Oct 1914

McFarlane, William, Stoker, RN HMS Hawke, 24 Fifth Street Belfast, Died, Oct 1914

McNally, James, Stoker, RN HMS Hawke, Grosvenor Road Belfast, Died, Oct 1914

Mills, John, Stoker, RN HMS Hawke, 20 Coolderry Street Belfast, Died, Oct 1914

Molloy, Charles H, Petty Officer, RN HMS Hawke, 76 Clementine Street Belfast, Died, Oct 1914

Mullan, Edward, Stoker, RN HMS Hawke, 76 Sugarfield Street Belfast, Died, 03-11-1914

Power, Joyce, Stoker, RN HMS Hawke, Raceview Ballymena Down, Died, Oct 1914, snipped

Ross, William J, Seaman, RN HMS Hawke, 234 Upper Newtiwnards Road Belfast, Died, 03-11-1914

Sefton, Thomas H, Stoker, RN HMS Hawke, 20 Kendal Street Belfast, Died, Oct 1914

Smyth, John, Stoker, RN HMS Hawke, 26 Conningsby Street Belfast, Died, Nov 1914

Thompson, Archer, Stoker, RN HMS Hawke, 5 Teutonic Street Belfast, Died, Oct 1914

Tully, David, Stoker (1st Class), RN HMS Hawke, 95 Bristol Street Belfast, Died, Oct 1914

Upritchard, Charles, Stoker, RN HMS Hawke, 12 Rosebank Street Belfast, Died, Oct 1914

Wilson, James, Stoker, RN HMS Hawke, 63 Britannic Street Belfast, Died, Oct 1914

Wilson, P, Stoker, RN HMS Hawke, 20 Moneyrea Street Belfast, Died, Oct 1914

Yates, John, Stoker (1st Class), RN HMS Hawke, 25 Springmount Street Belfast, Died, Oct 1914

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RSPBANI Music and Songs of the Trenches Concert

October 5, 2014 by hhulster Posted in Events Tagged Burnavon, Cookstown, First World War, Royal Scottish Pipe Band Association, RSPBANI, Trenches, WW1

RSPBANI Music and Songs of the Trenches Concert to Commemorate First World War

The Royal Scottish Pipe Band Association, Northern Ireland Branch (RSPBANI) has come together with Cookstown District Council to present a Music and Songs of the Trenches concert on Friday 24^th October 2014 in the prestigious Burnavon Theatre, Cookstown to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the First World War.

Two-and-a-half thousand pipers served in the Great War; men from Scotland, Ireland, Canada, Australia and New Zealand. Over five hundred of these men never returned home. Two pipers were awarded the Victoria Cross for their bravery and many other medals were presented to these courageous men. The RSPBANI are proud to commemorate the lives of all those who lived, fought and died in the Great War through the music, tunes and songs of the period.

The programme will feature tunes composed by some of the greatest pipers of 1914 – 1918 including William Ross, William Lawrie and George Stewart McLennan performed by P.M. Ian Burrows and Pipers from Ballybriest, Cloughfin, Matt Boyd and Tullylagan Pipe bands as well as celebrated Uilleann Piper Chris McMullan.

There is great variety in the programme with the songs from the First World War sung by well-known baritone Karl McGuckin, the Willie Drennan Folk Band performing excerpts from their Somme CD and the local Tamlaghmore Silver Band leading a sing-along as well as playing tunes from the period.

Tickets are on sale priced at £10 seat and are available from Burnavon Theatre Box Office: Tel 028 8676 9949 or http://www.burnavon.com/theatre/whats-on/Music-and-Songs-of-the-Trenches/info

The Livebait Squadron: One of the largest Naval disasters in history with 31 of Ulster’s men lost to just one U-boat

September 20, 2014 by hhulster Posted in News Tagged First World War, HMS Aboukir, HMS Cressy, HMS Hogue, Livebait Squadron, Royal Navy, U-9, Weddigan, World War One

Exactly seven weeks into the First World War, the action of 22^nd September 1914 saw three large but old British Royal Navy cruisers, manned mainly by reservists and referred to as the Livebait Squadron, sunk by just one German submarine while on patrol in the North Sea. In all 1,459 men were lost off the Dutch Coast, on the three ships HMS Aboukir, HMS Cressy and HMS Hogue. Of these, at least 31 men had connections to Ulster, most of them Stokers and three quarters of them part time reservists. Their average age was only 27 years old. 30 Ulstermen are buried at sea, with only 1 Ulsterman with a known grave.

HMS Aboukir

The cruisers were part of the 7th Cruiser Squadron, which was assigned patrol duties in the North Sea. Although concerns had been expressed about the vulnerability of these old ships, no changes had been made. There was less concern about submarine attacks at this point in the war than later, despite the previous sinking of HMS Pathfinder.

The morning of 22 September found a single U-boat, U-9 passing through the Broad Fourteens on her way back to base. Surfacing after taking shelter from a storm, U-9 spotted the unprotected British ships and moved to attack.

She fired one torpedo from a range of 500m, which struck Aboukir, flooding the engine room and causing the ship to stop immediately. Aboukir capsized and sank within 30 minutes. It was assumed that the ship had hit a mine, and the other two cruisers closed in to help.

U-9 resurfaced to observe Hogue and Cressy trying to rescue men in the water, and fired two torpedoes at Hogue from a range of 270m. Despite the ship opening fire on U-9, the two torpedoes struck Hogue and within 15 minutes she capsized.

HMS Hogue

The last remaining cruiser Cressy was left to face U-9 alone but failed. Hit by two torpedoes, she capsized and floated upside down for 40 minutes before sinking.

One survivor explained how the men were;

‘much bruised and the skin was knocked off their bodies by the buffeting of the waves and contact with the wreckage’

Another man writing to his mother told of his experiences;

‘the sea was literally alive with men struggling and grasping for anything to save themselves. To add to the horror of the scene the Germans kept firing their torpedoes at us.’

He goes on to explain how he lost both of his brothers, all three of them serving on HMS Cressy;

‘I was just going to jump when I saw dear brother Alfred coming along the deck which was then all awash. Together we lingered for a moment, shook hands and told each other that whoever was saved to tell dear mother that our last thoughts were of her. We then kissed, wished each other goodbye, and plunged into the sea together, and we never saw each other again. Nor did we see any sign of brother Louis’

Witness reports of the time are inconsistent with survivors saying that anything up to 20 submarines where involved and that at least 2 were destroyed. In fact the only submarine involved, U-9 returned home the next day to a hero’s welcome with Commander Weddigen and his crew all receiving the Iron Cross. U-9 and Commander Weddigan would go on to sink HMS Hawke three weeks later with the loss of 524 men, over 40 of them from Ulster.

HMS Cressy

Despite rescue attempts by Dutch merchant vessels, of the combined crew of 2296 men there were only 837 survivors. 1459 men, mostly part-time men from the Royal Naval Reserve rather than regular sailors, had died. For weeks after this catastrophe bodies of British sailors were washed ashore on the Dutch coast, a few men buried at cemeteries in Holland.

The disaster shook British public opinion and the reputation of the Royal Navy. There were reprimands and criticisms for those in charge. The reputation of the U-boat as a weapon of war was established. Sceptics in Germany fell silent and the Royal Navy never underestimated the U-boat threat again. In later years, it is estimated that 15,000 seamen fell victim to torpedo attacks. In this first major incident alone one tenth of that number perished.

There were at least 31 casualties related to Ulster on board HMS Aboukir, HMS Cressy & HMS Hogue:

HMS ABOUKIR

Stoker (1^st) Norman Sidney Burrard, born Monaghan, died aged 20

Stoker (1^st) Matthew Cleland, born Belfast, died aged 26

Stoker (1^st) Hugh Donnelly, born Belfast, died aged 26

Stoker (1^st) John Foster, born Dromore, lived Belfast, died aged27

Stoker (1^st) William James Gordon, born Downpatrick, died aged 27

Stoker (1^st) William Johnston Kerr, born Belfast, died aged 25

Stoker (1^st) William Martin, born Belfast, died aged 22

Stoker (1^st) Gilbert McBride, born Belfast, died aged 26

Stoker (1^st) Francis Leonard McLoughlin, lived Ballycashon, died aged 21

Stoker (1^st) Edward Thomas Quinn, lived Belfast, died aged 29

Stoker (1^st) Hugh Sands, lived Belfast, died aged 24

Able Seaman Edward Henry Everall, born Annalong, died aged 26

Sick Berth Steward Reuben John Johnston, born Belfast, died aged 37

Able Seaman Frederick Charles Hamilton, born Lisburn, died aged 35

HMS CRESSY

Stoker (1^st) Peter Breslin, born Ardara, Donegal, died aged 27

Stoker (1^st) Samuel Chancellor, born Belfast, died aged 22

Stoker (1^st) Joseph McBride Hilland, born Belfast, died aged 24

Stoker (1^st) Thomas Joseph Hughes, born Belfast, died aged 29

Stoker (1^st) Alexander Jamison, born Doagh, lived Belfast, died aged 28

Stoker (1^st) David Lewis, lived Belfast, died aged 25

Stoker (1^st) John Logan, born Belfast, died aged 23

Stoker (1^st) Isaiah Marshall, born Belfast, died aged 23

Stoker (1^st) Henry McMurran, born Whitehead, lived Carrickfergus, died aged 27

Stoker (1^st) Thomas Murphy, born Newry, died aged 31

Stoker (1^st) Charles Neill, born Belfast, died aged 26

Stoker (1^st) William Joseph Redmond, lived Belfast, died aged 29

Leading Carpenter’s Crew Joshua Singleton, born Hillsborough, died aged 37

Engine Room Artificer William Wright, born Belfast, died aged 31

Lieutenant Philip Arthur Graham Kell, linked to Portrush, died aged 37

HMS HOGUE

Stoker William Clair, born Belfast, died aged 41

Stoker (1^st) David Graham, born Whiteabbey, lived Whitehouse, died aged 36

Only one of these men’s bodies was recovered for burial, most remaining where they drowned. They are remembered at either Chatham or Portsmouth Naval Memorials. The wrecks of the three cruisers still rest on the seabed, the mass graves of so many men, although these are not protected and it is alleged that the wrecks are being salvaged for metal. The anniversary on 22^nd September will be marked at the Historic Dockyard, Chatham with a Drumhead service and fall of 1,459 poppy petals, one for each life lost.

Research by Karen O’Rawe, Chair of History Hub Ulster.

Servicemen images courtesy of History Hub Ulster Member, Nigel Henderson at http://www.greatwarbelfastclippings.com

Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers baptism of fire at Le Cateau

August 26, 2014 by hhulster Posted in News Tagged First World War, History Hub Ulster, Le Cataeu, Private John McKean Simms, private samuel hoy, Royal inniskillings, World War One, WW1 Research Ireland

Exactly 100 years ago, the 2^ndBattalion Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers had a ferocious baptism of fire near the small town of Le Cateau in Northern France. Thirty six men were killed, twenty four of them from Ulster, two of them teenagers from East Belfast. 19 year olds Private John McKean Simms and Private Samuel Hoy lived only a few streets away from each other and died together in battle.

Three weeks earlier, the Inniskillings had been performing guard duty at Dover Castle but now, made up to active service strength with drafts of reservists, they found themselves in the front line only two days after arriving in France. Their position was on the very left of the British line, facing overwhelming odds from a buoyant German army. Trenches as we think of them now did not exist then, and the soldiers had to make do with what cover existed or could be hastily created.

The German Army pressed the retreating British and French armies following the battle of Mons on 23^rd August. However, General Horace Smith-Dorrien, the Corps Commander ordered his troops to stand and fight at Le Cateau, as he believed a continued retreat would have led to a rout.

The attack began before dawn with a move by the German Jagers, to encircle the Inniskillings but they were driven back by accurate rifle fire. This set a pattern for the rest of the day, until an organised withdrawal was arranged.

By the end of the day, the Inniskillings had lost thirty-six men killed, and many more wounded.

Nine of those killed were from the greater Belfast area, including two Belfast teenagers.

Private John McKean Simms, 19 years old, was born in Carrickfergus. He came from a large family of ten brothers and sisters. His father Robert was a cattle dealer and at the outbreak of war, the family was living at 58 Portallo Street, Belfast. A message boy before enlisting, John was posted as missing after the battle, but his body was subsequently recovered and he was buried near where he fell in Esnes Communal Cemetery alongside seven of his comrades. John is commemorated on both the Cregagh Presbyterian Church and Strand-Sydenham Presbyterian Church Roll of Honour. Two of his brothers also served in the Great War. Thomas Simms had enlisted with Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers but was discharged as being under-age. He later served with Machine Gun Corps, achieving the rank of Sergeant and being awarded the Military Medal in 1918 whilst serving with MGC as part of the Egyptian Expeditionary Force. Robert James Simms served as a Shipwright with the Royal Navy.

A few streets away in Belfast at 82 Newcastle Street off the Newtownards Road was home to 19 year old Private Samuel Hoy. The eldest son of Samuel and Margaret Hoy, prior to the war he had followed his father’s trade as a carpenter. Samuel’s body, like the majority of those of his comrades killed that day, was never recovered and he is commemorated on the La Ferte-sous-Jouarre Memorial to the Missing. He is also commemorated on the Westbourne Presbyterian Church Roll Of Honour. Eight years after his death in 1922, Samuel’s mother received his medals.

An official communique published in the Belfast News Letter on 31 August stated:

“The battle on this day 26^th August was of the most severe and desperate character. The troops offered a superb and most stubborn resistance to the tremendous odds with which they were confronted, and at length extricated themselves in good order, though with serious losses and under the heaviest artillery fire.”

A number of John and Samuel’s brothers-in-arms who died that day were not much older at only 20 and 21 years old. The 36 men killed that day were the first soldiers from the Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers to be killed on active service in the Great War.

The 24 men from Ulster killed on 26 August were:

Private William Robert Elliott, Holywood, Co. Down

Private James Smyth, Louisa St, Belfast

L/Corporal Robert McCorkell, Clonleigh, Co. Donegal

Private Thomas Murray, Antrim

Private Charles O’Donnell, Glendermott, Co. Londonderry

Private John Rafferty, Butler St, Belfast

Private Samuel Ritchie, Manderson St, Belfast

Private William Ruddy, Ardgowan St, Belfast

Private Robert Scott, Seapatrick, Co. Down

Private Francis Joseph Quinn, Cappagh, Co. Tyrone

Private James Templeton, Cupar St, Belfast

Private William Warnock, Richmond St, Belfast

Serjeant Thomas Wilkinson, Cappagh, Co. Tyrone

Corporal George Ayer, Doagh, Co. Antrim

Private Robert Falls, Cookstown, Co.Tyrone

Private James Carr, Downpatrick, Co. Down

Private James Browne, Hillview St, Belfast

Private William Harvey, Convention St, Belfast

Private George Henning, Bessbrook, Co. Armagh

Private William Nixon, Portadown, Co. Armagh

Private Thomas Donnelly, Belfast

L/Corporal Joseph Willey, Christopher St, Belfast

History: The Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers have a long and proud history and attachment with Ireland. The origins of the Regiment can be traced back to 1688 when citizens of Enniskillen organised to defend the town against the forces of King James. They were incorporated into the British army as the 27^th Regiment of foot and fought with distinction at Waterloo. In 1881, as part of Army reforms, the 27^th became the 1^st and 2^nd Battalions Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers. Three further battalions, 3^rd, 4^th and 5^th became militia or reserve battalions.

Battles Fought: In addition to le Cateau, the 2^nd Inniskillings fought at the battles of Marne and the Aisne in 1914, at Festubert in 1915, the Somme in 1916 and at St Quentin during the German spring offensive of 1918. At le Cateau, the Inniskillings had a battle strength of around 1,000 officers and men. In addition to the thirty-six killed, many more were wounded and a number taken prisoner.

Research completed by Michael Nugent, Associate Member of History Hub Ulster https://historyhubulster.co.uk

Michael Nugent has recently launched a new research website for families hoping to find out more about their World War One ancestors at http://ww1researchireland.com

Pictures courtesy of History Hub Ulster Member, Nigel Henderson at http://www.greatwarbelfastclippings.com

Moira Hero Captain William James Lyness MC**

August 25, 2014 by hhulster Posted in News Tagged Belfast Banking Company, Captain William James Lyness, First World War, Military Cross, Moira, Northern Banking Company, World War One 1 Comment

Moira Hero Captain William James Lyness MC** was one of only 168 men in the British Army to receive three Military Crosses in the First World War.

Around 200 bank officials from the Northern Banking Company and the Belfast Banking Company served in the Great War. 15% of them died during the conflict.

Amongst those bank officials who volunteered and served was Tullyard man, Captain William James Lyness. He was the son of William John Lyness and Frances Mary Lyness from Tullyard, Moira, Co. Down.

Lyness worked in the College Green, Dublin branch of the Belfast Banking Company prior to his enlistment as a cadet in Colonel Shannon-Crawford’s battalion. He then went on to serve with the Royal Irish Fusiliers and attained the rank of Temporary Lieutenant (1916), Captain and Adjutant (1918).

He saw action at Messines, Langemark, Cambrai and the Somme (1918). During his military career Lyness was awarded 3 Military Crosses and the Croix de Guerre. Only 168 men received 3 Military Crosses during World War One, a testament to how brave Captain Lyness was.

“For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty when clearing a wood with his platoon. In spite of the very strong resistance which he met, his dispositions and leadership were excellent, and after heavy fighting at various points he captured a large number of prisoners and guns of various calibre. His splendid gallantry and coolness proved invaluable as an example to his men.”

The London Gazette of 17th September 1917

“For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. When visiting his outpost line he was fired on by the enemy at forty yards range, whereupon he obtained a Lewis gun, stood up in full view of the enemy and fired it from his shoulder until it jammed. He then rushed the enemy post with two bombers, and cleared them out. He had already led a successful attack on the two preceding nights, and it was entirely due to his initiative and personal courage, in spite of three days without sleep, that his posts were established and our position made secure.”

The London Gazette of 18th October 1917

“When the right flank of the brigade war held up he went forward to reconnoitre and unexpectedly met with a nest of machine guns and about fifty of the enemy, who opened very heavy fire. With great difficulty he made his way back, got a Lewis gun and a man with a supply of magazines and went forward again, engaged the strong point, firing eleven magazines, killing the majority of the enemy, and capturing a machine gun. He then led the flank forward about 500 yards and straightened out the line. The man with him was killed and he was wounded. He showed great gallantry and determination.”

The London Gazette of 10th January 1919

“Captain and Adjutant W. J. Lyness, M.C. Royal Irish Rifles, wounded, is a son of Mr. W. J. Lyness, Tullyard House, Moira, and nephew of Mr. R. Logan, Belfast Bank, Bangor. Before the war Captain Lyness was on the Belfast Bank’s Dublin staff. He was a cadet in Colonel Shannon-Crawford’s battalion prior to receiving his commission. Captain Lyness, who has been adjutant of his battalion since 22nd March, has a fine record of service, having won both the Military Cross and a bar thereto. His brother, Lieut. I. Lyness, of the Tank Corps, also holds the Military Cross. Captain Lyness has been wounded in the shoulder by a bullet, but his injury is not serious.”

Lisburn Standard of 13^th September 1918

The Lyness family still reside at Tullyard, Moira.

Military Cross Statistics – The Great War – 37,104 singles, 2,984 with 1^st bar, 168 with 2^nd bar, 4 with 3^rd bar

In December 1914 the Military Cross was instituted to recognise “distinguished services in times of war of Officers of certain ranks in Our Army”. The majority of Military Crosses were awarded for gallantry, but the decoration could also be granted for “distinguished and meritorious service”.

The French Croix de Guerre was either awarded as an individual or unit award to those soldiers who distinguished themselves by acts of heroism involving combat with the enemy.

For further information on Banking memorials visit

http://northernbankwarmemorials.blogspot.co.uk/

http://ulsterbankwarmemorials.blogspot.co.uk/

Research by Gavin Bamford, a member of History Hub Ulster https://historyhubulster.co.uk

Christopher Fitzgibbon – First Ulster fatality of WW1 in an Irish Army Regiment

August 18, 2014 by hhulster Posted in News Tagged Connaught Rangers, Ferozepore Military Cemetery, First World War, Karachi memorial, Kilkeel, Private Christopher Fitzgibbon, Private Jeremiah Cronin, Private Martin Keeley, Private Michael Lapparth, World War One

History Hub Ulster is asking people living in the Kilkeel area for help to find information on First World War serviceman Christopher Fitzgibbon. It is believed Private Fitzgibbon enlisted in the Connaught Rangers in Dublin around August 1909 and died on 17 August 1914. He is buried in the Ferozepore Military Cemetery in India.

Fitzgibbon, Christopher MIC

Christopher Fitzgibbon is believed to be the first Ulster fatality in World War One serving with an Irish Army Regiment. However research has produced very little information on his life. He is noted to have been born in Kilkeel although no evidence for this has been found.

The Connaught Rangers’ War Dairy notes the following:

Ferozepore 17th August 1914.

“Battalion entrained for KARACHI. Marching out strength 14 officers 878 other ranks. Owing to intense heat 10 men had to be left at FEROZEPORE suffering from heat stroke. Of these three died. Most of the remainder subsequently rejoined. One man died from heat stroke in train.”

These four casualties were Private Jeremiah Cronin from Cork, Private Christopher Fitzgibbon from Kilkeel, Private Martin Keeley from Galway and Private Michael Lapparth from Mayo. Privates Cronin, Keeley and Lapparth are all remembered on the Kirkee War memorial while Private Fitzgibbon is remembered on the Karachi memorial. This indicates that he was most likely the soldier who died from heat stroke on the train.

While we know how Private Fitzgibbon died and where he is buried, his early life remains a mystery as his birth has not been sourced nor was he entered on either the 1901 or 1911 census in Kilkeel. Where did he grow up in Kilkeel? Who were his family? Are his family still in the area? Is he remembered on a war memorial in Kilkeel? Who took receipt of the British War Medal he was awarded?

Karen O’Rawe, Chair of History Hub Ulster said “While no-one will remember Christoper Fitzgibbon directly, we are asking Kilkeel residents to contact us if they are aware of any Fitzgibbon families in the area. Perhaps he enlisted under an alternative name or was not born in Kilkeel at all. Maybe you have an idea about where else we could look for information?”

If you have any information please contact research@historyhubulster.co.uk

Additional information:

Christopher Fitzgibbon was a Private in the 1st Battalion, Connaught Rangers, service number 9750. His service number suggests an enlistment date around August 1909. The 1st Battalion of the Connaught Rangers was stationed in India from March 1908. It is likely that Private Fitzgibbon joined the battalion in India between Dec 1909 and March 1910. He was awarded the British War Medal. He died from heatstroke on 17th August 1914 and is buried at FEROZEPORE Cemetary in India.

HMS Amphion – First Ulster deaths of World War One

August 5, 2014 by hhulster Posted in News Tagged Amphion, Charles George McConachy, First World War, Henry John Bennett, HMS Amphion, Joseph Lynch, Royal Navy, ulster, William Clarke, World War One

HMS Amphion Lost 06 August 1914

The first Ulster casualties of the Great War were sailors on the HMS Amphion, the first ship of the Royal Navy to be lost in the First World War on 6^th August 1914. HMS Amphion was an Active-class scout cruiser and the wreck site is designated under the Protection of Military Remains Act 1986.

Newsletter, 8 Aug 1914

These Ulster men were:

Engine Room Artificer (1st Class) HENRY JOHN BENNETT born at Tor Head in County Antrim, died aged 36.

Able Seaman WILLIAM CLARKE born in Moville, County Donegal, died aged 26.

Petty Officer (2nd Class) JOSEPH LYNCH born in Bright, County Down, died aged 39.

Able Seaman CHARLES GEORGE McCONACHY born in Belfast, died aged 25.

On August 4th 1914, Britain declared war on Germany. In anticipation of war, Germany had converted the Konigin Luisea former holiday ferry into a minelayer. On the night of 4th August she left her home port of Emden and steamed south through the North Sea to lay mines off the Thames Estuary.

Meanwhile, HMS Amphion and the destroyers of the 3rd Flotilla were preparing to sail from Harwick. By daylight on the 5th August they were in the North Sea where they received reports of an unknown vessel ‘throwing things over the side’. At 10.25 Amphion sighted the unknown steamer and sent the destroyers Lance and Landrail to investigate. The Konigin Luise alteredher course and disappeared into a squall where she began laying mines. HMS Lance signalled she was engaging the enemy and is credited with firing the first shot of World War I. The destroyers were soon joined by Amphion (which had won the fleetgunnery prize for 1914). The Konigin Luise was only lightly armed and offered little resistance. Commander Biermann changed course hoping to draw the British ships into her minefield. However, after receiving numerous hits, the ship was sunk.

HMS Amphion

The British destroyers sighted another ship flying a German flag and began an attack. Amphion recognised her as the St.Petersburg which was carrying the German Ambassador back to Germany from England. Amphion signaled the destroyers to cease fire but the signal was ignored. Captain Fox then put the Amphion between the destroyers and the St. Petersburg to deliberately foul the range and allow the ship safe passage. That evening Amphion and the destroyers set course to return to Harwick but due to reported problems with mines and submarines, the allocated course ran very close to where the Konigin Luise had laid her mines. HMS Amphion

At 06.45 on 6th August, the Amphion struck a mine which exploded and broke the ship’s back.Abandon Ship was ordered. As most of Amphion’s boats were destroyed, the destroyers sent their boats to rescue the crew. However, although Amphions’s engines were stopped, she continued turning in a circle and she struck the same row of mines. Her magazine detonated and the destroyers were showered with debris. Amphion sank at 07.05 and 151 men were lost.

With the war only 32 hours old, HMS Amphion, which had primarily assisted in inflicting the first German Naval loss of the war, became the first British Naval war loss.

Known Irishmen on the Amphion were:

First Name	Surname	Rank	Area
OWEN	CALLAGHAN	Stoker 1st Class	Waterford
GEORGE	CHRISTIE	Shipwright 2nd Class	Cork
ANDREW	COLLINS	Leading Stoker	Cork
TIMOTHY	HOURIHANE	Able Seaman	Cork
MAURICE PAUL	JORDAN	Cooper’s Crew	Cork
JEREMIAH	MINIHANE	Able Seaman	Cork
MARTIN	MUNNELLY	Chief Stoker	Sligo
JOSEPH PIERCE	MURPHY	Signalman	Dublin
SAMUEL	PARSLOW	Stoker 1st Class	Wexford
ELI WILLIAM	WARSAW	Able Seaman	Cork
HENRY JOHN	BENNETT	Engine Room Artificer 1st Class	Antrim
WILLIAM	CLARKE	Able Seaman	Donegal
JOSEPH	LYNCH	Petty Officer 2nd Class	Down
CHARLES GEORGE	McCONACHY	Able Seaman	Belfast

Ballymena Observer 21st August 1914

The official press bureau on Wednesday afternoon issued the following:-

“3.30pm – at 9am on August 5th, HMS Amphion with the 3rd flotilla proceeded to carry out a certain pre-arranged plan of search and about an hour later a trawler informed them that she had seen a suspicious ship ‘throwing things overboard’ in an indicated position. Shortly afterwards the mine layer Konigen Luise was sighted steering east. Four destroyers gave chase and in about an hour’s time she was rounded up and sunk. After picking up survivors the search continued without incident till 3.30am when the Amphion was on the return course.

At 6.30 am Amphion struck a mine. A sheet of flame instantly enveloped the bridge which rendered the Captain insensible and he fell on the fore and aft bridge. As soon as he recovered consciouness he ran to the engine room to stop the engines, which were still going at revolutions for 20 knots. As all the forepart was on fire, it proved impossible to reach the bridge or to flood the fore magazine. The ship’s back appeared to be broken and she was already settling by the bows.

All efforts were therefore directed to placing the wounded in a place of safety in case of explosion and towards getting her a tow by the stern. By the time destroyers closed in it was clearly time to abandon ship. The men fell in with composure and 20 minutes after the mine struck, the men, officers and captain left their ship.

Three minutes later it exploded. Debris falling from a great height struck the rescue boats, destroyers and one of the Amphion’s shells burst on the deck of one of the latter killing two of the men and a German prisoner rescured from the cruiser. After 15 minutes the Amphion had disappeared.Captain Fox speaks in the highest terms of the behaviour of the men throughout.”

Newsletter 7 Aug 1914

The Road to War lecture series

August 2, 2014 by hhulster Posted in Events Tagged Dr Catriona Pennell, Dr Senia Peseta, Dr William Mulligan, First World War, Ireland, National Museums of Northern Ireland, NMNI, Professor David Fitzpatrick, PRONI, Public Records Office of Northern ireland, World War One

The Road to War, a National Museums of NI and PRONI joint lecture series featuring Dr William Mulligan, Dr Catriona Pennell, Professor David Fitzpatrick and Dr Senia Peseta. Free but must be booked in advance.

Dates:

6th Connaught Rangers Research Group Exhibition Launch

July 31, 2014 by hhulster Posted in Events Tagged Connaught Rangers, Falls Library, Feargal McGarry, Feile An Phobail, First World War, Jimmy McDermott, Lydia Walker, Margaret Ward, Philip Orr, Richard Grayson, World War One

The 6th Connaught Rangers Research Group Exhibition ‘Rediscovering the Belfast Nationalists who fought in WW1’ will take place as part of Féile An Phobail from Monday 4th August to Friday 8th August 2014 at the Falls Library (normal library opening hours).

The exhibition launches on Monday 4th August at 1pm.

Other events include:

Monday 4 August at 7pm: Remembering, Forgetting and Commemorating Ireland’s Great War: Issues for Belfast, with Professor Richard Grayson, Goldsmiths College.

Tuesday 5 August at 1pm: The Soul of the Nation: Irish republicans, war and rebellion, with Fearghal McGarry, QUB.

Wednesday 6 August at 1pm: The Great War and Unionist Memory, with Philip Orr.

Thursday 7 August at 1pm: Belfast Women and the Great War with Margaret Ward and Lynda Walker.

Friday 7 August at 1pm: The formation and history of the three Irish Divisions, with Jimmy McDermott.

PRONI Guide to First World War Sources

July 29, 2014 by hhulster Posted in Links Tagged Belfast, First World War, PRONI, Sources, World War One

PRONI has published its Guide to the Manuscript Sources for the Study of the First World War in the Public Record Office of Northern Ireland.

This comprehensive document will help guide users to the wealth of papers, volumes, letters, images, and scrapbooks relating to the First World War which are held within the collections at PRONI.

The guide can be accessed by clicking here

Irish Voices from the First World War a blog based on PRONI sources:

Post One August – Read here