Carrickfergus Advertiser Friday 18th September 1914

99 years ago today the following entry appeared in the Carrickfergus Advertiser - it gave details of 102 men from Carrickfergus who were part of the 3rd Battalion Central Antrim Regiment of the Ulster Volunteers and had presented themselves to be attested in Lord Kitchener's British Army.

Following medical inspection and enlistment the men were assigned to companies and prepared to head to Clandeboye for training.  The paper notes "The departure of the men from Carrickfergus yesterday morning (17th September) was a noteworthy event in the history of the town.  ....Headed by the Carrickfergus Amateur Flute Band...along the route there was a lavish display of flags and bunting, and the towns people turned out in great numbers to bid farewell to the gallant lads who had responded to their country's call." 

This one article for me sums up the patriotic fervor that swept across Britain following the outbreak of the war and the desire among many young men in Carrickfergus and across Ireland to do their bit for 'King and Country'.  

Rifleman John Goldsworthy 12th Battalion Royal Irish Rifles

Carrickfergus is Remembering today: Rifleman John Goldsworthy - 17727 - A Coy 12th Battalion Royal Irish Rifles - Born Irish Gate 1897, Killed in Action in France 15th September 1917 aged 20.

John was the son of John and Margaret Goldsworthy of Irish Quarter South, Carrickfergus – he was brother to Thomas, Henry, Edith, Margaret, Ethel and Doris.  Prior to the war John worked with his father as a labourer to a bricklayer in the town.  The entire family where members of St Nicholas Church of Ireland.

John enlisted with “A Coy” 12th Battalion RIR in 1915, he was killed in action in France on 14th September 1917 aged 20 and buried at Hermies British Cemetery.

We are privileged to have 2 letters written to his parents in the weeks after his death from his commanding officer Captain Adamson and his Sergeant Herbert Hamilton, both letter speak volumes for the character of this young man. 

“Dear Mr and Mrs Goldsworthy – It is with feelings of deepest sympathy that I have to write to inform you of the death of your son in action yesterday, (14/9/17).  I have known him since the very early days when the Division was formed, he then being in my platoon, and I always looked on him as one of my smartest and best soldiers.  He was always most cheerful, bright and willing so I can readily understand how heavy this blow is to you both.  You can, however, look back with melancholy pleasure to the fact that he volunteered to defend the best ideals of our homeland against a cruel and tyrannous enemy.  I had just made him one of my ordlies.  I am asked by all the officers, N.C.O’s and men of the company to tender you their most sincere sympathy.”  - Signed Captain T.S. Adamson

Sergeant Herbert ‘Bertie’ Hamilton writing home furnishes some particulars of the way in which Rifleman Goldsworthy met his death.  He writes “I am very sorry to say John Goldsworthy has been killed.  He was asleep in a small dug-out with another chap when a trench mortar fell between his dug-out and one two of our officers were in.  The officers escaped but are shell shocked and were buried in muck.  The other chap with John was not buried so deep and he was got out in time but is badly bruised.  John was dead when he was got out.  I think it was suffocation and shock that killed him, it must have been instantaneous.  Everything was done to get him dug out at once, but alas he was dead with got out.  Poor chap, very sorry I was to look at him, not a mark on him.  It has upset us all for we all thought him the best of company.”  Sergeant Hamilton was also a Carrickfergus man, within 3 months he too would be killed at the front. 

Sergeant Jospeh Loughridge 87 Squadron Royal Air Force V.R

Sergeant Joseph Marshall Loughridge was the son of Thomas and Ellen Loughridge, of Scotch Quarter, Carrickfergus. 

Prior to the 2nd World War he worked with the Belfast Banking Company, serving in Head Office. 

Having been promoted to Sergeant (Pilot) with Service Number 1101874, he was serving with 87 Sqn Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve as a Hawker Hurricane Pilot when he was killed on 2^nd September 1941. 

Loughridge is buried in Carrickfergus (Victoria) Cemetery, Co. Antrim, Northern Ireland.  

Thanks to Northern Bank War Memorial for the picture below.  

Sapper James William McAuley - Canadian Engineers. Knockagh Carrickfergus

Remembering today: Sapper James William McAuley - 503035 - Canadian Engineers. Born Woodburn Carrickfergus 1880, died today 1917 aged 37.

James was the son of William and Mary Jane McAuley and brother of Thomas, Charles, William, Robert, George and Annie Jane. He grew up on his father's farm around the Knockagh area of Woodburn in Carrickfergus.

He left Carrickfergus in 1910 to travel to Canada in search of adventure and employment. When war broke out in 1914 he enlisted with the Canadian Army and joined the Engineers.

He was presumably injured on active service and returned to military hospital in Canada where he eventually died of his injuries. He is buried in Kingston (Cataraqui) Cemetery, Ontario Canada location Mil. range 3. Sec. G. 11. (Pictured)