Private William Killips - Leicestershire Regiment

NAME; Killips, William

RANK; Private

SERV. NO; 25892

UNIT/SERVICE; 9^th Battalion

REGIMENT; Leicestershire Regiment

BORN; Carrickfergus, 1891

LIVED; Stamford, Lincolnshire

ENLISTED; Oakham, Rutland, 11 November 1915

FATE; Killed in Action, France, 25 September 1916

CEMETERY; Body Never Recovered

CHURCH; Unknown

MEMORIAL; Thiepval Memorial (France) – Pier and Face 2C & 3A

REMARKS; William was born in Carrickfergus in on 31 August 1891 the son of Robert and Hannah Killips (nee McIlhagga) and brother of Cecil.  William left Carrickfergus when he was a young teenager and moved to Stamford in Lincolnshire with his family. Prior to the joining up he worked as a railway booking clerk.  Hen enlisted into the 9^th Battalion Leicestershire Regiment on 11 November 1915 and following training was posted to Western Front 25 August 1915. He was killed in action at the Somme on 25 September 1916 aged 25. His body was never recovered and he is remembered on the Thiepval Memorial pier and face 2C and 3A. William’s brother Cecil was also killed in action.  

The War Diary entry for the 25th September 1916 records. 

The morning was spent in making final preparations for attack. Enemy shelling not heavy and a few casualties were sustained. At 12.35pm waves were formed up in front of trenches. At 12.37pm the advance commenced, “C” and “D” Companies in extended order, “A” and “B” Companies in artillery formation, enemy immediately commenced an extremely intense and deep barrage. At 12.45pm the first two platoons of “D” Company reached GIRD TRENCH, but sustained heavy casualties. All the Company officers becoming casualties, 2nd Lt A. E. PETER, 2nd Lt. W. S. GILBERT, CSM POTTERTON were all killed, 2nd Lt. CLARK was wounded. The remnants of the first 2 waves of “C” Company reached GIRD TRENCH, but owing to machine gun fire from the right, and the Brigade on the right, having failed to take GIRD TRENCH, the party were all killed or wounded. 2nd Lt. RENNIE was killed in GIRD TRENCH, Lt. HENWOOD was wounded. Captain WEBB wheeled the 3rd and 4th waves of “C” Company and formed a defensive flank down SUNKEN ROAD facing right. At 1.00pm Captain WEBB was wounded and CSM RHODES was killed. “C” Company suffered extremely heavy casualties from machine gun fire. “A” and “B” Companies advanced and established themselves in NEW TRENCH, BULL TRENCH and PATROL TRENCH and shell holes in the rear. Battalion HQ advanced from LEWIS TRENCH to PATROL TRENCH. At 1.37pm Captain ALLBERRY led “A” Company forward but was immediately killed by machine gun fire from the right flank. Lt. HARDY, 2nd Lt. LEWIS, CSM RICE and many of Company becoming casualties through the same cause. Lt. Col. HAIG was wounded in the arm in PATROL TRENCH. At 1.37pm Battalion HQ advanced to BULL TRENCH. At 2.00pm the remainder of Battalion HQ viz: Lt. Col. HAIG, Captain POPHAM (8th LEICESTERSHIRE REGT), Lt. TOOTH and 3 orderlies advanced to NEW TRENCH. Captain POPHAM and the 3 orderlies were wounded. At 2.35pm the advance hung up on account of machine gun fire and rifle fire. Enemy still occupying GIRD TRENCH on right of SUNKEN ROAD. Lt. Col. HAIG and Lt. TOOTH advanced to NEW TRENCH and finding it empty, crossed over to GOAT TRENCH. Only dead and wounded men were found in GOAT TRENCH, accordingly Lt. Col. HAIG and Lt. TOOTH in anticipation that the front two Companies had reached GIRD TRENCH, again advanced to PILGRIMS WAY where 40 other ranks of the 8th LEICESTERSHIRE REGT were found without any officer. Lt. Col. HAIG decided to remain and hold on with the 40 other ranks until reinforcements arrived to clear GIRD TRENCH on right. At 3.00pm connection with 55th Division in GIRD TRENCH on the left of PILGRIMS WAY was established. A bombing group of 8th and 9th LEICESTERSHIRE REGT was organised and bombed down GIRD TRENCH on the right of PILGRIMS WAY for 50 or 60 yards. Many of the enemy were killed and 12 were taken prisoner. Owing to the lack of bombs, a block was established, and a Lewis gun posted near the block. Lt. Col. HAIG sent numerous reports on the situation to Brigade HQ, only two of which reached Brigade, the orderlies being either killed or wounded. Heavy shelling all the time. At 8.00pm connection with Brigade was established through 2nd Lt. KELLY. During the night the ROYAL ENGINEERS constructed a strong point at N.32.a.1.9. The night was spent digging in and consolidating position. The enemy seemed to be working round behind PILGRIMS WAY, but did not attack. From zero (12.35pm) to 5.30pm, the enemy kept up a heavy and very deep barrage becoming intense at times.

Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.  

http://www.leicestershirewarmemorials.co.uk/war/casualty/view/21132 

Alexander Erksine Holmes

NAME; Holmes, Alexander Erskine (Sandy) – D.C.M

RANK; Sergeant

SERV. NO; 12/17889

UNIT/SERVICE; 12^th Battalion

REGIMENT; Royal Irish Rifles

BORN; Belfast

LIVED; Elmwood, Carrickfergus

ENLISTED; Carrickfergus, 15 September 1914 aged 22 years and 8 months 

FATE; Survived the war

CEMETERY; N/A

CHURCH; Congregational

MEMORIAL; N/A

REMARKS; Alexander Erskine Holmes (Sandy) was born in the Shankill area of Belfast in 1892, the son of James and Matilda and brother to Joseph, Margaret and John.  In 1911 he was living with his family in the west division of Carrickfergus serving his time as an apprentice joiner.  He was a member of the Central Antrim UVF and when war broke out enlisted into the 12^th Battalion Royal Irish Rifles at Barn Mills School on 15 September 1914.  Following training he was posted to France in October 1915 and quickly promoted to the rank of Sergeant.   He served across the Western Front in 1916 and 1917 involved in all major offensives with the 12^th Battalion.  He was taken Prisoner of War on 21 March 1918 along with many other men from the Battalion during the German Spring Offensive.  He served out the rest of the war in captivity in German and was repatriated in December 1918.   On his return to Britain he is informed that he had been awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal; the official commendation in the London Gazette recorded “he did excellent work in keeping up communication under heavy fire during two engagements.  He has consistently shown great courage and energy in his work”. 

Sandy was demobilised from the army in April 1919, by which time he family home is recorded as Elmwood, Belfast Road, Carrickfergus.  After the war he had a long service with the Royal British Legion. 

Ordinary Seaman Samuel Hilditch S.S "Bray Head"

NAME; Hilditch, Samuel

RANK; Ordinary Seaman

SERV. NO; N/A

UNIT/SERVICE; Mercantile Marine

REGIMENT; S.S. “Bray Head”

BORN; Carrickfergus, 1896

LIVED; North Street, Carrickfergus

ENLISTED; Unknown

FATE; Died 14 March 1917 aged 21

CEMETERY; Body Never Recovered

CHURCH; Presbyterian

MEMORIAL; Tower Hill Memorial – London

REMARKS: Samuel was born in Carrickfergus in 1896 the son of Robert and Sarah Hilditch (nee Ross) of North Street Carrickfergus and brother of Sara, Maggie, John, Robert, William, Edgar, Lenord and Wisnom.  During the war Samuel served as an Ordinary Seaman with the Mercantile Marine on-board S.S “Bray Head”.  The S.S “Bray Head” was a steamer ship built in 1874 by C.S Swan and Hunter, Newcastle and operated by the Ulster Steam Ship Company Ltd.  On 14 March 1917 while en route from St Johns, New Brunswick to Belfast with a general cargo she was attacked and sunk by gunfire from U-Boat U-44 commanded by Kapitanleutnant Paul Wagenfuhr.  She was sunk 375 miles NW by W of Fastnet, 21 souls were lost including Samuel Hilditch, Captain John Currie Hoy from Whitehead and six other men from Carrickfergus.  20 of the crew survived and were finally picked up by H.M.S Adventure having been adrift in their lifeboat for five days.  Samuel’s body was never recovered from the sea and he is forever remembered on the Tower Hill Memorial London. 

That day Carrickfergus lost; James Atkinson, James Cameron, William Carroll, Thomas Dalton, Samuel Hilditch, John C Hoy (Captain), Joseph Stewart and Thomas McQuitty Todd.  This was one of the greatest loses off life in one day for Carrickfergus and further evidence of the often forgotten sacrifice of the Merchant Mariners during the Great War.

Private Thomas Hogsett. South African Infantry

NAME; Hogsett, Thomas

RANK; Private

SERV. NO; 8854

UNIT/SERVICE; South African Infantry

REGIMENT; 7^th Regiment

BORN; Carrickfergus, 19 April 1880

LIVED; Carrickfergus

ENLISTED; South Africa, 1814

FATE; Killed in Action 12 February 1916 aged 35

CEMETERY; Taveta Military Cemtery – Kenya V. A . 8

CHURCH; Presbyterian

MEMORIAL; N/A

REMARKS: Thomas was born in Carrickfergus 19 April 1880 the son of William and Margaret Hogsett (nee Crow) and brother of Annie, James, Lizzie, Jane and Samuel.  By the age of 21 in 1901 he was living on the family farm in Kilroot and working as a drapers assistant.  Thomas married Elizabeth Donald and together they had one son and moved into Red Brae Cottage around 1908. In October 1913 it appears Thomas travelled to Cape Town, South Africa from Southampton.  His reason for doing so is unclear but his wife and son do not appear on the emigration passenger list.  While there he joined the 7^th Regiment South African Infantry and as a private and was posted on active service.  Thomas was killed in action on 12 February aged 35 in the advance on Salaita Hill.  He is buried in Taveta Military Cemetery – Kenya V. A . 8. 

The Battle of Salaita Hill was the first large scale engagement of the East African Campaign of World War One to involve British, Indian, Rhodesian and South African troops.  The Battle took place on 12^th February 1916 as part of the three-pronged offensive into German East Africa launched by General Jan Smuts who had been in overall command in the region.  This was a part of the Great War often forgotten about as it rarely affected those from our local area.  Yet here was a young man from Carrickfergus who ended up playing his part so far from home and ultimately made the ultimate sacrifice.  

Brothers in Arms. Alexander and William Clawson - 12th Battalion Royal Irish Rifles

NAME; Clawson, Alexander

RANK; Corporal

SERV. NO; 12/17364

UNIT/SERVICE; 12^th Battalion

REGIMENT; Royal Irish Rifles

BORN; Carrickfergus 1892

LIVED; Irish Quarter West, Carrickfergus

ENLISTED; 15 September 1914, Carrickfergus aged 24

FATE; Survived the War

CEMETERY; N/A

CHURCH; St Nicholas Church of Ireland

MEMORIAL; N/A

REMARKS; Alexander was born in Carrickfergus in 1892 the son of John and Henrietta Clawson and brother of Lizzie, Maggie, William (also served with 12^th Battalion) and John.  By 1901 Alexander was 12 years old, living with the family in Irish Quarter South and working at the local mill.  He married Lettice Ethel Burgess at St Nicholas Church 6 February 1910 and shortly after moved in with his mother and father in law to their house in Irish Quarter West.  Alexander and Lettice had 3 children, Alexander Jnr born 29 October 1910, Elizabeth 16 March 1916 and ? born 1 April 1919.  Prior to the war Alexander was working as a general labourer and was a member of the Central Antrim UVF.  On 15^th September 1914 at Barn Mills School he enlisted into the 12^th Battalion Royal Irish Rifles.  Following training he was posted to France for active service in October 1915.  He served across the Western Front from the end of 1915 until 12 August 1918 when he was returned to the home service and finally demobilised on 1 August 1919 by which time he was with the 3^rd Battalion.  He was promoted to lance corporal on 7 February 1917 and then to corporal on 4 November 1917.  Twice wounded, firstly 11 August 1917 with a gunshot wound to the back and then on 18 April 1918 with a gunshot wound to the right arm.  On both occasions he was patched up and returned to active service following a period of recovery.  After the war he returned to his home on Irish Quarter West and went back to work as a labourer raising his young family.  

 

NAME; Clawson, William James

RANK; Rifleman

SERV. NO; 18911

UNIT/SERVICE; 12^th Battalion

REGIMENT; Royal Irish Rifles

BORN; Carrickfergus abt. 1893

LIVED; Irish Quarter South

ENLISTED; Belfast Town Hall, September 26 1914 aged 21

FATE; Survived the war

CEMETERY; N/A

CHURCH; Church of Ireland

MEMORIAL; N/A

REMARKS; Born in Carrickfergus 1893 the son of John and Henrietta Clawson and brother of Lizzie, Maggie, Alexander (also served with 12^th Battalion) and John.  In 1901 he is listed as a school boy living with his family in Irish Quarter South.  The entire family were members of St Nicholas Church of Ireland.  By 1914 William was living with the family in Wilson’s Place, working as a labourer in the salt works and was an active member of LOL 947.  When war broke out he enlisted into the 12^th Battalion Royal Irish Rifles in September 1914 at Belfast Town Hall.  His medical records report him to be 5 foot 6 inches tall with brown hair, brown eyes and a tattoo of rose and flags on left forearm. 

Following training he was posted to France on active service in October 1915 and had three tours to the Western Front until 1918 (3/10/15 – 8/7/16. 18/12/16 – 13/6/17 and 23/3/18 – 21/4/18). 

His service record has a number of infractions throughout his time of service including being AWOL, resisting arrest following creating a disturbance while drunk.  He suffered a gun shot wound to the shoulder on 7 June 1917 during fighting at Messines Ridge and was sent to hospital in Belfast and Whitehead between 27 July 1917 and 13 August 1917.  On his return to duty he was transferred to the 18^th Reserve Battalion.  He spent three months in Portobello Military Hospital Dublin between December 1917 and March 1918 with gonorrhoea.  Following this he was charged with desertion in June 1918, the war having clearly taken its toll on him.  In March 1933 while living in Davy’s Street he received a letter from the war pensions department informing him that his war gratuity had been forfeited as a result of his desertion and this would not change.  His trial for desertion was dispensed of and eventually he was recognised as being fully discharged from the army.