16th (Irish) Division The Division was established by the Irish Command in September 1914, and was formed, under the second 100,000 man recruitment into Kitchener’s New Army. It was commanded initially by Lt. Gen Sir Lawrence W Parsons KCB,CB, but Maj. Gen William B Hickie CB took over in December 1915 as the Division embarked for France. The Division included: 47th Brigade: 6th Bn Royal Irish Regiment 6th Bn Connaught Rangers 7th Bn Leinster Regt 7th Bn Royal Irish Rifles 48th Brigade: 8th & 9th Bn Royal Dublin Fusiliers 8th & 9th Bn Royal Munster Fusiliers 49th Brigade: 7th & 8th Bn Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers 7th & 8th Bn Royal Irish Fusiliers The Division contained many members of the National Volunteers, which had been formed in 1913. The 6th Royal Irish Regiment had some 300 Volunteers from Co. Derry and the Bogside, while the 6th Connaught Rangers had around 500 men from West Belfast. Early days were somewhat chaotic, the new volunteers having very few trained officers and NCOs to command them, no organised billets or equipment. The Division moved to England and into barracks in Aldershot by the end of the month. The training and preparation of the Division was slowed by the loss of many of its units to the 37th and Guards Divisions when they were created in 1915. After training in Ireland, the Division moved to Aldershot in September 1915 and deployed to France over New Year and January 1916 and concentrated in the Bethune area. By February 1916, the Brigades found themselves attached to Divisions on the Loos Salient for Front Line training. On 1st March, they became operational in Sir Hubert Gough's I Corps. Between 27-29 April 1916, the 16th (Irish) Division suffered mass casualties when 48th and 49th Brigades came under gas attach at Hulluch. A total of 570 officers and men were killed, and a further 1410 wounded, by gas and shelling during the battle. At the end of August 1916, the Division moved from Loos down to the Somme sector. On 7th June 1917, the Division went into battle alongside the 36th (Ulster) Division in an attack of Messines Ridge. The Divisions were tasked with taking the village of Wytschaete and succeeded. In July, the Division took part in the 3rd Battle of Ypres, but the battles took their toll and, by August, the 16th (Irish) Division had lost over 4,200 casualties. It served on the Western Front with distinction throughout the war, taking part in the following enagements: 1916 The Battle of Guillemont in which the Division captured the village The Battle of Ginchy The battles marked are phases of the Battles of the Somme 1916 1917 The Battle of Messines The Battle of Langemark, a phase of the Third Battles of Ypres 1918 The Battle of St Quentin+ The Battle of Rosieres+ The battles marked + are phases of the First Battles of the Somme 1918. In the German Spring Offensive of March 1918, the Division was virtually wiped out. In June, the battalions were dispersed throughout the BEF, and the Division returned to England to be reconstituted. It returned to France in July with only one Irish battalion, 5th Royal Irish Fusiliers. The Division lost virtually all of its remaining Irish units at this point. The Division suffered the loss of more than 28,000 casualties during the war.
16th Battalion Royal Irish Rifles, the pioneer battalion of 36th (Ulster) Division, which was headquartered at Brownlow House.
7th/8th Battalion, Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers. 7th (Service) Battalion Formed at Omagh in October 1914 as part of K2 and came under the command of 49th Brigade in 16th (Irish) Division. Moved to Tipperary and in August 1915 Finner Camp. Landed in England in September 1915 and went to Woking. Landed in France in February 1916. 23 August 1917: amalgamated with 8th Bn to become 7/8th Bn. 22 April 1918 : reduced to cadre strength after taking heavy casualties. 17 June 1918 : transferred to 102nd Brigade in 34th Division. 26 June 1918 : transferred to GHQ Troops, and re-established with men from 8th Rifle Brigade. 3 July 1918 : transferred to 89th Brigade in 30th Division. 8th (Service) Battalion Formed at Omagh in October 1914 as part of K2 and came under command of 49th Brigade in 16th (Irish) Division. Record same as 7th Bn. 23 August 1917 : amalgamated with 7th Bn and ceased to exist. The 7/8th Battalion, The Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers was formed on the 23rd of August 1917 when the 7th Battalion amalgamated with 8th. They were in action in the Third Battles of Ypres. In 1918 they were in action on the Somme 1918 suffering very heavy casualties and on the 22nd April 1918 the battalion was reduced to cadre strength. On the 17th of June they transferred to 102nd Brigade, 34th Division then on the 26th to GHQ Troops. The battalion was re-established with men joining from 8th Battalion, Rifle Brigade and on the 3rd of July 1918 they joined 89th Brigade, 30th Division. They were in action during the Advance in Flanders and by the Armistice had crossed the River Scheldt with advanced units reaching the line between Ghoy and la Livarde, north west of Lessines. In January 1919 30th Division took up duty at the Base Ports of Dunkirk, Calais, Boulogne and Etaples and demobilisation began. 15th Apr 1918 One hundred men of the 7/8 Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers received a suspended court-martial on the same day. The battalion was being disbanded and they went on strike to prevent it. The high number of non Irish soldiers striking shows the camaraderie and respect these merged replacements had for a regiment they previously had no attachment to. The unusual event was remarkable in that the sentence normally punishable by death was suspended. They all went back to fight the following day. The photo shows the men of the Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers with their trophies after the capture of Wytschaete.
Private Adamson, George. 6105. 1st Bn. Royal Irish Fusiliers. who died on 25 April 1915. Age 18. Additional Information: Son of Robert and Melissa Adamson, of 1, Century St., Portadown, Co. Armagh. Cemetery: YPRES (MENIN GATE) MEMORIAL West-Vlaanderen, Belgium. Grave or Reference Panel Number: Panel 42.
Private Alexander, Samuel. 92243. East Lancashire Regiment "A" Coy. 1st Bn. who died on 24 November 1914 . Age 25. Additional Information: Son of the late Alex. and Agnes Alexander. Native of Lurgan, Co. Armagh. Cemetery: LANCASHIRE COTTAGE CEMETERY. Grave or Reference Panel Number: I. A. 4.
Private Allen, William J. 20531. "B" Coy. 9th Bn., Royal Irish Fusiliers. who died on Saturday 1 July 1916 Aged 29. Additional Information: Son of James and Susan Allen, of 40, Bridge St., Portadown; husband of the late Sarah Allen. Came from U.S.A. to enlist. Cemetery: THIEPVAL MEMORIAL Somme, France. Grave or Reference Panel Number: Pier and Face 15 A
An Anderson Shelter in Thomas Street Portadown
Anderson, Charles Milling: Church Street, Rank: Trooper, Kimberley Central Commando, South African Forces. Charles died of illness 29th July 1917 aged 21, South Africa. Charles was the son of Robert and Margaret Anderson and the brother of Robert, Herbert, Daisy, Julia, Lucy, Samuel, Winfred and Evaline. Charles bother Robert also served during the war.
The men of Arthur Street who enlisted in 1914
Major Thomas Joyce Atkinson. B Coy. 9th Bn., Royal Irish Fusiliers. who died on Saturday 1 July 1916 Aged 38. Additional Information: Son of Wolsey Richard and Alice Atkinson. M.A., LL.B., T.C.D. A Solicitor of Eden Villas. Portadown. Cemetery: ANCRE BRITISH CEMETERY, BEAUMONT-HAMEL Somme, France Grave or Reference Panel Number: VIII. A. 5. Portadown News; August 1916: The Charge of the 9th RIF Grand but awful A Portadown man, a sergeant in the 9th Royal Irish Fusiliers., writing to his parents on 10th July 1916, regarding the first day on the Somme 1st July, says: I suppose by now through the medium of the Press you have read a description of the bombardment and the battle afterwards, also of how our Division faced the music; hence I need scarcely go into the details. Suffice it to say it was grand but awful while it lasted. As I mentioned before our casualties have been very heavy, but it is all in the game. I am sure you will be very sorry to hear that we lost some of our finest officers, viz, Major Atkinson, Captain Johnston and Lieutenant Montgomery, in fact we lost nearly all our officers, but I have just mentioned the names of these few Portadown men whom you will know. There is no doubt every battalion in the Division was hard hit, but we had the finest officers that ever went over the parapet, and I must say the boys all followed them until they were bowled over. The price was heavy, but it was worth it. How I managed to get out of it is more than I can tell, because a pal and I were almost buried five or six times by the earth thrown up by bursting shells. It ended up with the other chap having to leave me with a slight touch of shell shock. With me it was a case of sticking it to the bitter end, and I am very thankful to say that through the Almighty's goodness I am able to write this letter in my billet today. Our thanks to Richard Edgar for this photo and Additional Information
Henry Averley. Musician. RMB/108. Royal Marine Band H.M.S. Bulwark. who died on 26 November 1914. Additional Information: Husband of Georgina Averley, of Lakeview Lodge, Gilford Rd., Lurgan. Native of London. Cemetery: PORTSMOUTH NAVAL MEMORIAL. Grave or Reference Panel Number: Panel 6.
Rifleman William Babes. 5165. 2nd Bn., Royal Irish Rifles. who died on Wednesday 2 June 1915. Additional Information: Son of James and Charlotte Babes of 15 George Street, Lurgan. Cemetery: AUBERS RIDGE BRITISH CEMETERY, AUBERS Nord, France. Grave or Reference Panel Number: VI. C. 18.
Private Beattie, James. 6461. 2nd Bn. Sherwood Foresters (Notts and Derby Regiment). who died on 24th November 1914, aged 50. Additional Information: Husband of Margret Beattie of Montague Street, Portadown. Cemetery: PLOEGSTEERT MEMORIAL Belgium. Grave or Reference Panel Number: Panel 7.
Lance Corporal Benson, William J. 14084. 10th Bn. Royal Irish Rifles. who died on 6th August 1917. Additional Information: Son of Samuel James and Mary Anne Benson, of Canagola, Portadown, Co. Armagh. Cemetery: NEW IRISH FARM CEMETERY West-Vlaanderen, Belgium. Grave or Reference Panel Number: XVIII. D. 1.
The gentleman on the right is Samuel Black and we think that the gentleman seated is his brother, Robert Black. Robert Black was wounded at the battle of Hooge, and died in 1916 from the effects of Gas Poisoning. His name is not commemorated by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission and he is not listed as War Dead, even though he was given a Military Funeral in Shankill graveyard. Lurgan Ancestry in conjunction with Robert's family are trying to rectify this, so that Robert can take his rightful place on their Roll of Honour. Our thanks to Adele Cosgrove for this photo. Rifleman Black, Robert. 3/10441. Royal Irish Rifles. who died on Thursday, 28th December 1916. Additional Information: Son of Robert and Ellen Black, of Old Portadown Road, Lurgan, Co. Armagh. Lurgan Mail: 6th January 1917: Military Funeral in Lurgan After a long and painful illness, due to gas poisoning at the front, the death took place on Thursday last of ex-Rifleman Robert Black, R.I.R., a son of Mr Robert Black, Old Portadown Road. Deceased who volunteered at the outbreak of war, was first wounded at Hooge, and was subsequently a victim of gas poisoning, afterwards being discharged as unfit. The obsequies, thanks to representations made by Mr David Pedlow, were accorded military honours, a firing party of R.I.F., in charge of Sergeant Quinn, travelling especially from Armagh for the purpose. At the conclusion of the burial service, which was read by the Dean of Dromore, three volleys were fired over the grave, and the ceremony ended with the sounding of the Last Post. Cemetery: LURGAN (SHANKILL) GRAVEYARD Grave or Reference Panel Number: 247
Edward Brown of Railway Street, Banbridge.
Rifleman Harold G. Browne. 1st Battalion. Royal Irish Rifles. Killed in France.
Private John Brownlee. 14019. 9th Bn., Royal Irish Fusiliers. who died on Saturday 1 July 1916. Age 33. Additional Information: Son of Robert and Susan Brownlee, of 2, Robert St., Lurgan; husband of Frances Brownlee, of 1 Flush Place, Lurgan. Cemetery: THIEPVAL MEMORIAL Somme, France. Grave or Reference Panel Number: Pier and Face 15 A
Brown, Randal. Derrycorr, No: 955, Canadian Army Medical Corps. Randal died of illness 25th February 1919 aged 27; he is buried in grave A.14. Basingstoke (Worthing Road) Cemetery, England. Randal was the son of James and Abigail Brown, the brother of Henrietta, John, Mary, Herbert, Hugh, James, William and Robert.
Robert Henry Brown. Private Brown, Robert H. 6133. 1st Bn. Royal Irish Fusiliers. who died on Tuesday, 4th April 1916. Aged 27. Additional Information: Son of William and Ellen Brown; husband of Mary Elizabeth Brown, of Red Row, Portadown. Portadown News, 5th August 1916: The late Pte R. H. Brown. Private W. Sinton, BEF, France, writing to Mr Wm Brown, James Street, says: I was greatly upset when I heard of Robert Henry’s death. He was my best chum on the battlefield, we were always together, and nothing but death could part us. He gave me two little reminders of our days together. He was wounded in the leg and took shelter in a house by the wayside; another shell came right through the roof of the building and killed him. He was well liked by all the men of the battalion and had numerous comrades no matter where he went. I hope that the end will soon be in sight and that the Germans will be thoroughly punished for the wicked deeds they had committed. You have my sincere sympathy in your trouble. Cemetery: BERLES-AU-BOIS CHURCHYARD EXTENSION, Pas de Calais, France. Grave or Reference Panel Number:
Sergeant Major Brown, William John. 15859. 108th Company, Machine Gun Corps. attached to 9th Btn Royal Irish Fusiliers. who died on 1st July 1916. Additional Information: Husband of Margaret Brown of 10 Jervis Street, Portadown, Co. Armagh. Cemetery: THIEPVAL MEMORIAL. Somme France. Grave or Reference Panel Number: Pier and face 15A and 15B
Sergeant, Bryans, John. 13987. 9th Bn. Royal Irish Fusiliers. who died on Saturday, 1st July 1916. Additional Information: 5 Garland Avenue, Lurgan, Co. Armagh. Cemetery: THIEPVAL MEMORIAL, Somme, France. Grave or Reference Panel Number: Pier and Face 15A,
Private Thomas Burnett We reproduce this letter from Richard Edgar's excellent book: A Call to Arms – Portadown and the Great War. It was written by Thomas Burnett, from Church Street, Portadown who was wounded on 1st July 1916, the first day of the Battle of the Somme. He spent three days lying in No Mans Land before he was rescued and bought back to the trenches and his graphic account gives a fascinating insight into that bloody day on a foreign battlefield so many years ago. Portadown News: 25th November 1916: Portadown soldier's graphic letter; Spent three nights wounded in No man’s land. Lance Corporal T. Burnett, son of Mr A. J. Burnett, Portadown, who is serving with the 9th R.I.F., Ulster Division, and was wounded in the big push on 1st July, writes to a friend in Vancouver:- Dear Bill – Yours to hand this morning was very welcome. No, you're wrong Bill, about the time we went into the trenches. It was on October 3, 1915, and except for about 15 days at Christmas, we have been in the trenches all the time, six in and six in reserve, and although July 1, was our big battle, it was not our first time over the top as on three or four occasions we raided their lines and put the wind up them while we were there. Well about the famous first of July. We were in the trenches for the seven days preparatory bombardment; during which time the Germans let us know they had artillery also, and quite a lot of or boys went west. Then at 7:30 o'clock on the morning of the first we went over, expecting after the shelling, we were going to have a clinch of it. But not so; they brought up their machine guns out of their dugouts that our heaviest artillery shells could not reach, and then the fun commenced. They were on a hill and we had to take it. But before we got to their front line there was 300 yards of open ground to cover. That's when we got it. I got within 50 yards of their line when a machine gun got my range just when I was nicely worked up for the dirty work. It was fine to hear the boys shouting as they charged. No surrender and all the other Orange phases we used to hear. I couldn’t help cheering myself – it was better than lying groaning. So I shouted myself hoarse. The boys got as far as the second line when the Germans counter attacked, and were beaten back, so they tried again and got it in the neck. And the third time our fellows had to retire. You can imagine what my feelings were when none of them picked me up. So I just made up my mind that I was going to have a little fun before handing in my checks. So Sergeant Jackson (he died later in the day, shot through the chest) and I lay in a shell hole and potted at every moving thing we saw and we sure had some success. Then I did not seem to care about anything. Jackson died, so I just lay beside him and went to sleep. I woke up when it was dark and both sides had started a terrible bombardment. Some of our shells hit pretty close to me, so I decided to try and make myself scarce, but I had a job to get out of the shell hole on account of the way my leg was smashed up. The bone was badly shattered and protruding at the back of my leg, so you can guess there was some pain. However I got out at last, but could not raise myself on the good leg. So I took out my jack knife and a big German knife I had and stuck them into the ground as far ahead of me as I could reach and pulled myself forward. It was a good job my way was down hill else I would never have made the grade. During the night I travelled about 50 yards and had to lie quiet the next day because of snipers, who never fail to shoot the wounded. They came pretty close to me a few times, but I played possum all day. Then when dark fell I started my weary way again. This was my third night out, and believe me, Bill, I was in no form for a Marathon. However, I managed to reach a miniature railway cutting that lay half way between the lines, so at least I was safe from snipers. I lay there until about 4 p.m., when I saw three officers coming alone. At first I mistook them for Germans, but thank God they were British, and, believe me Bill, I gave a queer old hurrah! One of them carried me up the cutting a little way and left a water bottle with me until the night, when the stretcher bearers came out for me, when I was taken to the clearing station and then on to the advanced field hospital, where they took the leg off. The following day they took me to the base hospital, where I lay for weeks. The doctor in France told me when my leg was examined the wound was full of maggots and the doctor here told me I'd have kicked the bucket only for them. They sucked a lot of dirty matter, which would sure have killed me. I am now convalescent and am going to Southampton soon to get my wooden one so I won’t be able to travel as fast as I used to. You might make a trip over after the war. I would be tickled to death to see you. Goodbye Bill, for the present. Write soon. Your old Tillicum. Tom Burnett
Second Lieutenant J. H. Calvert. 6th Bn., Royal Irish Rifles. who died on 24 April 1916. Additional Information: Son of James and Annie Calvert of Avenue Road, Lurgan. James was killed in action during the Easter Rising in Dublin, Monday, 24th April 1916. Cemetery: SEAGOE CEMETERY. Grave or Reference Panel Number: Near West boundary