Today we remember all those who lost their life on the first
day of the Battle of the Somme.
On that day in 1916 the British Army suffered its worst ever loss of life with
over 55,000 casualties.
Men from Ulster played a huge role in the battle and by the end of the first day the Ulster Division had suffered in excess of 5,500 casualties with some Battalions sustaining up to 80% killed or wounded.
In particular today we remember the heroic men from Carrickfergus Borough who lost their lives on that historic day:
Lieutenant Archibald Lemon - 12th Battalion Royal Irish Rifles
Sergeant John McIlwaine - 12th Battalion Royal Irish Rifles
Sergeant Thomas Clarke - 12th Battalion Royal Irish Rifles
Lance Corporal Robert Patterson - 12th Battalion Royal Irish Rifles
Lance Corporal James Atkinson - 10th Battalion Royal Irish
Rifleman James McCarthy - 12th Battalion Royal Irish Rifles
Rifleman William R McDonald - 12th Battalion Royal Irish Rifles
Rifleman George H Owens - 12th Battalion Royal Irish Rifles
Rifleman Thomas Partridge - 12th Battalion Royal Irish Rifles
Rifleman William Powers - 12th Battalion Royal Irish Rifles
Rifleman John Smith - 12th Battalion Royal Irish Rifles
Rifleman Francis Kirk - 12th Battalion Royal Irish Rifles
Rifleman Edward Carlisle - 12th Battalion Royal Irish Rifles
Rifleman Hugh Kerr - 12th Battalion Royal Irish Rifles
Rifleman Robert Rodgers - 14th Battalion Royal Irish Rifles
Private William Smith - 22nd Tyneside Scottish Battalion
Rifleman Samuel Gray - 9th Battalion Royal Irish Rifles
Men from Ulster played a huge role in the battle and by the end of the first day the Ulster Division had suffered in excess of 5,500 casualties with some Battalions sustaining up to 80% killed or wounded.
In particular today we remember the heroic men from Carrickfergus Borough who lost their lives on that historic day:
Lieutenant Archibald Lemon - 12th Battalion Royal Irish Rifles
Sergeant John McIlwaine - 12th Battalion Royal Irish Rifles
Sergeant Thomas Clarke - 12th Battalion Royal Irish Rifles
Lance Corporal Robert Patterson - 12th Battalion Royal Irish Rifles
Lance Corporal James Atkinson - 10th Battalion Royal Irish
Rifleman James McCarthy - 12th Battalion Royal Irish Rifles
Rifleman William R McDonald - 12th Battalion Royal Irish Rifles
Rifleman George H Owens - 12th Battalion Royal Irish Rifles
Rifleman Thomas Partridge - 12th Battalion Royal Irish Rifles
Rifleman William Powers - 12th Battalion Royal Irish Rifles
Rifleman John Smith - 12th Battalion Royal Irish Rifles
Rifleman Francis Kirk - 12th Battalion Royal Irish Rifles
Rifleman Edward Carlisle - 12th Battalion Royal Irish Rifles
Rifleman Hugh Kerr - 12th Battalion Royal Irish Rifles
Rifleman Robert Rodgers - 14th Battalion Royal Irish Rifles
Private William Smith - 22nd Tyneside Scottish Battalion
Rifleman Samuel Gray - 9th Battalion Royal Irish Rifles
Many of the men were never found and are remembered among the 50,000 names of the missing on Thiepval Memorial.
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NAME; Lemon, Archibald D
RANK; Lieutenant
SERV. NO;
UNIT/SERVICE; Royal Irish Rifles
REGIMENT; 12th Battalion
BORN; Castlereagh 2nd April 1875
LIVED; 38 Scotch Quarter, Carrickfergus
ENLISTED; Carrickfergus 1915
FATE; Killed in action at the Somme 1st July 1916 aged 41
CEMETERY; Body never recovered
CHURCH;
MEMORIAL; Thiepval Memorial, Pier and
Face 15A and 15B
REMARKS; Archie Lemon was the son of Archibald Dunlap Lemon and Ellen Workman of Edgcumbe House,
Strandtown,Belfast.
He had two sisters, Ellen and Marie and one brother Edward. He was
educated at Methody College Belfast and was an active member of the
County Antrim Yacht Club. Before joining up with the 12th Royal Irish
Rifles he lived in 38 Scotch Quarter, Carrickfergus and worked as a flax
spinning manager at Barn Mills. The details of his death are well
documented in the 12th Battalion war diary and with eye witness
accounts. The following extract comes from eye witness accounts:
No.6 Platoon, 12th R.I.R
This Platoon was under Lieut. Lemon and was made responsible for the RAILWAY SAP. The Platoon left our own trenches before Zero at the same tine and on the right of the 9th Royal Ir. Fus. but before reaching the RAVINE the whole Platoon with the exception of Lieut. Lemon and twelve men were all casualties. On reaching the RAVINE Lt. Lemon looked for some supports, but as none were available he advanced with his twelve men to enter the Sap. When he reached. the Sap he had only nine men left, but he entered the Sap at the Railway bank. L.Sergt. Millar and three men moved to the right to bomb down the Sap, but, these were soon all casualties. Lieut. Lemon and the remainder of the men advanced up the main Sap. The thick wires running into the first large tunnel was cut by Rfmn. Gamble who was the first bayonet man. There was a Machine-gun firing across the sap from the small tunnel. Lieut. Lemon, however, climbed above the small tunnel with some bombs in order to catch any Germans who might come out and sent the men on. Lieut. Lemon was then shot by two German Officers who fired their rifles at him from the top of a dug out which apparently led into the tunnel. The two German officers were afterwards killed by a bomb which exploded right at their feet. The remaining men got cut off between the 1st and 2nd German line and only two of them escaped.
 |
| Lieutenant Archie Lemon |
NAME;
McCarthy, James
RANK;
Rifleman
SERV.
NO; 18203
UNIT/SERVICE;
12th Battalion
REGIMENT;
Royal Irish Rifles
BORN;
Carrickfergus 1894
LIVED;
3 Albert Road,
Carrickfergus
ENLISTED; Carrickfergus
FATE;
Killed in Action, France,
July 1st 1916 aged 22
CEMETERY;
Body never recovered
CHURCH;
St Nicholas, COI, Carrickfergus
MEMORIAL;
St Nicholas, COI - THIEPVAL MEMORIAL (France) – Pier and Face 15A AND 15B
REMARKS;
A popular member of the Carrickfergus Amateur Flute Band and Barn Swifts
Football Club, prior to enlisting Jim worked at Workman & Clarke’s
Shipyard. He was the son of Mrs Sarah
and Mr James McCarthy of Prospect
Street – brother to Samuel and Alex who also
served and was injured at the front. He
resided at 3 Albert Road
with his 3 brothers and Aunt Mrs McFarlane.
RANK; Rifleman
SERV. NO; 1617
UNIT/SERVICE; Royal Irish Rifles
REGIMENT; 12th Battalion
BORN; Ballinderry
LIVED; Eden, Carrickfergus
ENLISTED; Belfast
FATE; Killed in action – France and Flanders – Battle of the Somme – 1st July 1916 aged 32
CEMETERY; Body Never Recovered
CHURCH; Joymount Presbyterian
MEMORIAL; Thiepval Memorial (France) – Pier and Face 15A and 15B
REMARKS; Son of Mrs. Fanny Hughes (formerly McDonald), of Rose's Lane Ends, Belfast; husband of Susan McDonald of Eden, William has 2 children aged 7 and 4 in 1916. Prior to the war he worked at the International Salt Company Limited.
NAME; McIlwaine, John
RANK;
Sergeant
SERV.
NO; 18307
UNIT/SERVICE;
12th Battalion “B” Coy
REGIMENT;
Royal Irish Rifles
BORN;
1895 Carrickfergus
LIVED;
8 North Street,
Carrickfergus
ENLISTED; Carrickfergus
FATE; Killed in Action – 1st July 1916 aged
22
CEMETERY;
Body never recovered
CHURCH;
Joymount Presbyterian
MEMORIAL;
Thiepval Memorial Pier and Face 15A and 15B
REMARKS;
Son of James and Anne McIlwaine and Brother of
Gilbert and James of North Street Carrickfergus
NAME; Owens, George Harvey
RANK;
Rifleman
SERV. NO; 18587
UNIT/SERVICE; 12th Battalion “B”
Coy
REGIMENT; Royal Irish Rifles
BORN; Carrickfergus circa 1895
LIVED; 29 Albert Road, Carrickfergus
ENLISTED; Carrickfergus
FATE; Killed in Action, France, July
1st 1916 aged 21
CEMETERY; Body Never Recovered
CHURCH; Joymount Presbyterian
MEMORIAL; Thiepval Memorial
(France) – Pier and Face 15A and 15B
REMARKS; Son of George and
Martha Owens. Brother to Margret, James, Lizzie, William, Sarah, Mary,
Samuel, John and Cecil. According to the 1911 census he worked as an
apprentice fitter in the Barm Mills spinning mill where he
worked until he joined up with the 12th Battalion.
 |
| George Owens |
NAME;
Partridge, Thomas
RANK;
Rifleman
SERV. NO;
18604
UNIT/SERVICE;
12th Battalion
REGIMENT;
Royal Irish Rifles
BORN; Belfast circa 1895
LIVED;
Fairymount, Carrickfergus
ENLISTED;
Carrickfergus
FATE; Killed
in Action, France and
Flanders – Battle of the Somme
– 1st July 1916 aged 21
CEMETERY;
Unknown Grave
CHURCH; Church of Ireland
MEMORIAL;
Thiepval Memorial Pier and Face 15A and 15B
REMARKS; Son
of Margaret Partridge (Scottish) (Widow), 9 Fairymount , Carrickfergus . 3 sisters Dorothy, Elizabeth and Sarah,
Dorothy and Elizabeth were both flax spinners.
According to the 1911 census lived 21 Taylors Row, head of the
family was Henry
McAllister aged 21 possibly Thomas’ uncle, Margaret’s brother. Thomas
was an employee at Barn Mills spinning mill with his three sisters.
NAME; Patterson, Robert
RANK; Lance – Corporal
SERV. NO; 6353
UNIT/SERVICE; 12th Battalion
REGIMENT; Royal Irish Rifles
BORN; Carrickfergus
LIVED; Carrickfergus
ENLISTED; Carrickfergus
FATE; Killed in Action, France, July 1st
1916
CEMETERY; Body Never Recovered
CHURCH; St Nicholas, COI, Carrickfergus
MEMORIAL; St Nicholas, COI,
Carrickfergus – Thiepval Memorial (France) – Pier and Face 15A AND 15B
REMARKS;
NAME; Powers, William
RANK; Rifleman
SERV. NO; 444
UNIT/SERVICE; 12th Battalion
REGIMENT; Royal Irish Rifles
BORN; Carrickfergus
LIVED; Taylors Avenue, Carrickfergus
ENLISTED; Belfast
FATE; Killed in Action, France, July 1st 1916
CEMETERY; HAMEL MILITARY CEMETERY, BEAUMONT-HAMEL (France) - I. D. 10
CHURCH; St Nicholas, COI, Carrickfergus
MEMORIAL; St Nicholas, COI, Carrickfergus
REMARKS; William died 1st July 1916. he was 31 when he died leaving a wife
Eliza Powers, and two sons James and William. He joined up with his 'pals' from
Barn Mill Flax Mill.
NAME;
Rodgers, Robert
RANK;
Rifleman
SERV.
NO; 15870
UNIT/SERVICE;
14th Battalion (Reported as “A” Coy 4th Batt)
REGIMENT;
Royal Irish Rifles
BORN;
Carrickfergus
LIVED;
Bloomfield, Belfast
ENLISTED;
Belfast
FATE;
Killed in Action, France,
July 1st 1916 aged 27
CEMETERY; CONNAUGHT CEMETERY,
THIEPVAL (France) - I. C. 22
CHURCH;
MEMORIAL; N/A
REMARKS;
Son of James and Agnes Rodgers, of 18, Evelyn Avenue, Bloomfield,
Belfast
 |
| Robert Rodgers Grave at Connaught Cemetery |
NAME;
Smith, William
RANK;
Private
SERV.
NO; 26/617 OR 22/1144
UNIT/SERVICE;
22nd (Tyneside Scottish) Bn.
REGIMENT;
Northumberland Fusiliers, Tyneside Irish
BORN;
Carrickfergus
LIVED;
ENLISTED;
FATE;
Killed in Action, France,
July 1st 1916
CEMETERY;
CERISY-GAILLY FRENCH
NATIONAL CEMETERY
(France)
– II. D 1
CHURCH;
MEMORIAL;
REMARKS;
NAME; Smyth, John (Smith)
RANK; Rifleman
SERV. NO; 18794
UNIT/SERVICE; 12th Battalion
REGIMENT; Royal Irish Rifles
BORN; Carrickfergus
LIVED; McKeen’s Row, Carrickfergus
ENLISTED; Carrickfergus
FATE; Killed in Action, France, July 1st
1916 aged 29
CEMETERY; Body Never Recovered
CHURCH; Joymount Presbyterian
MEMORIAL; Thiepval Memorial (France) –
Pier and Face 15A and 15B
REMARKS; Brother of Charlotte Smyth, of 13, McKeen's Row,
Garrickfergus, Co. Antrim
NAME;
Atkinson, James
RANK;
Lance Corporal
SERV.
NO; 12
UNIT/SERVICE;
10th Battalion
REGIMENT;
Royal Irish Rifles
BORN;
Carrickfergus
LIVED;
3 Convention Street, Belfast
ENLISTED;
Belfast 1915
FATE;
Killed in Action: 1st July 1916 aged 28
CEMETERY;
Body Never Recovered
CHURCH;
MEMORIAL;
Thiepval Memorial – Pier and Face 15A and 15B
REMARKS;
Husband of Wilhelmina Atkinson
NAME; Carlisle,
Edward
RANK; Rifleman
SERV. NO; 3898
UNIT/SERVICE; 12th Battalion
REGIMENT; Royal Irish Rifles
BORN; Carrickfergus
LIVED; Minorca Place, Carrickfergus
ENLISTED; Carrickfergus
FATE; Killed in Action, France July 1st
1916 aged 29
CEMETERY; Body Never Recovered
CHURCH;
MEMORIAL; THIEPVAL MEMORIAL: Pier and
Face 15 A and 15 B.
REMARKS; Son of Jane Carlisle (Stepmother), of Minorca Place,
Carickfergus, Co. Antrim, and of the late James Carlisle
NAME;
Clarke, Thomas
RANK;
Sergeant
SERV.
NO; 17445
UNIT/SERVICE;
Royal Irish Rifles
REGIMENT;
12th Battalion
BORN; Larne
LIVED;
Victoria Terrace, Carrickfergus
ENLISTED;
Carrickfergus
FATE;
Killed in Action – Battle of the Somme – France & Flanders – 01st
July 1917 aged 26
CEMETERY;
Body Never Recovered
CHURCH;
MEMORIAL;
Thiepval Memorial Pier and Face 15A and 15B
REMARKS;
Son of James and Jane Clarke 2 Victoria Terrace, Carrickfergus, Thomas was a
former member of Carrickfergus Rugby Football Club and according to a
testimonial he was one of the finest forwards in the loose.
NAME; Gray, Samuel
RANK; Rifleman
SERV. NO; 16528
UNIT/SERVICE; 9th Battalion
REGIMENT; Royal Irish Rifles
BORN; Carrickfergus
LIVED;
ENLISTED; Belfast
FATE; Killed in Action, France, July 1st
1916
CEMETERY; Body Never Recovered
CHURCH;
MEMORIAL; Thiepval Memorial (France) –
Pier and Face 15A and 15B
REMARKS;
RANK;
Rifleman
SERV. NO;
18018
UNIT/SERVICE;
12th Battalion
REGIMENT;
Royal Irish Rifles
BORN;
Carrickfergus, 27th November 1888
LIVED;
Carrickfergus
ENLISTED;
Carrickfergus
FATE; Killed
in Action, July 1st 1916 aged 27
CEMETERY; Body nevered recovered
CHURCH; St
Nicholas, COI, Carrickfergus
MEMORIAL; Thiepval Memorial – Pier and Face 15a and 15b
REMARKS;
Son of James and Eliza Kerr and brother to Margaret Ann, Ellen,
Harriet, William John and Samuel. Hugh took after his father and worked
in Barn Mills flax mill. He was killed in action on the 1st days of
the Somme along with 7 others of the 12th Battalion from
Carrickfergus.
RANK; Rifleman
SERV. NO; 271
UNIT/SERVICE; Royal Irish Rifles
REGIMENT; 12th Battalion
BORN; Whitehouse, CO. Antrim
LIVED; Davy’s Street, Carrickfergus
ENLISTED; Belfast
FATE; Killed in Action, Battle of the Somme – 1st July 1916
CEMETERY; Body Never Recovered
CHURCH; St Nicholas Church of Ireland
MEMORIAL; Thiepval Memorial (France) – Pier and Face 15A and 15B
REMARKS; Son of Mr Thomas Kirk of Minorca Carrickfergus, Francis was formerly employed at Albert Brickworks and also as a carter. He was also employed at Barn Mills Flax Mill. He was married with one child.
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