Rifleman Thomas McDowell

NAME; McDowell, Thomas

RANK; Rifleman

SERV. NO; 12/18276

UNIT/SERVICE; 12^th Battalion

REGIMENT; Royal Irish Rifles

BORN; Carrickfergus

LIVED; 7 McKeen’s Row, Carrickfergus

ENLISTED; Carrickfergus 15^th September 1914

FATE; Died of influenza, France, October 22^nd 1918 aged 24

CEMETERY; COLOGNE SOUTHERN CEMETERY (Germany) - V. A. 7

CHURCH; Congregational

MEMORIAL;

REMARKS:  Thomas was born in Carrickfergus in 1894, son of James and Ellen McDowell and brother to Robert, John, Charles and George.  The entire family lived in 7 McKeen's Row and were all members of the Congregational Church on Albert Road.  Prior to enlisting Thomas worked as a black smiths helper at the works of the International Salt Company in Carrick.  He member of the Central Antrim UVF, he enlisted with 12^th Battalion at Barn Mills School on 15th September 1914.

Following training at Clandeboye and England he was sent on active service to France in October 1915 and served across the Western Front with the 12th Battalion.  He was taken prisoner of war on 1st July 1916 on the first day of the Battle of the Somme and spent the next 2 and a half year in Minden POW Camp in Germany.  He died of Spanish Flu in captivity on 22nd October 1918 just week before the end of the war.  He is buried in Cologne Southern Cemetery in Germany, location V. A. 7.