CSM James Coudy McIlwaine 12th Battalion Royal Irish Rifles.

NAME; McIlwaine, James Coudy

RANK; Company Sergeant Major

SERV. NO;

UNIT/SERVICE; 12^th Battalion

REGIMENT; Royal Irish Rifles

BORN; Belfast 30^th July 1891

LIVED; North Street, Carrickfergus

ENLISTED; Coleraine, 16^th September 1914 aged 21

FATE; Taken prisoner of war at the Somme in July 1916, action through the war

CEMETERY; N/A

CHURCH; Joymount Presbyterian

MEMORIAL; N/A

REMARKS; James was the son of James Snr and Annie McIlwaine and brother to John and Gilbert who also served with the 12^th Battalion.  In 1901 the family are recorded as living in house 123, West Division, Carrickfergus, Co. Antrim.    On 5^th December 1907 McIlwaine joined Northern Bank at Head Office and from then until 1913 he worked in various bank locations in Belfast and Coleraine.  By 1911, the family have moved to 8 North Street in Carrickfergus where James is recorded as a Bank Official.  On ‘Ulster Day’, Saturday, 28^th September 1912, McIlwaine signed the Ulster Covenant at Carrickfergus Court House.   Whilst working in Coleraine James volunteered and enlisted on 16^th September 1914 with the 12^th Battalion Rifles.  He joined the British Expeditionary Force and was promoted first to Lance Corporal and then to Corporal.  Service was seen in the Somme 1916 (where he was taken prisoner), Messines 1917, Ypres 1917 (Langemarck), St. Quentin 1918, Mesines 1918 (Kemmel) and then the Allied Advance 1918.   Demobilisation came in February 1918.  He was awarded the 1914/15 Star, the British Victory Medal and the British War Medal.  After the war James went back to work with the Northern Bank for many years were he eventually reached the position of Assitant Chief Cashier in head office.  (Thanks go to the Northern Bank Roll of Honour for much of this detailed information) - http://northernbankwarmemorials.blogspot.co.uk/2013/01/mcilwaine-james-coudy.html