Following a few meetings and different events I have been asked by some members of LOL 787 to put together some of more information for the members of their lodge who served during the Great War. The Carrickfergus District Memorial Scroll (pictured below), although not without mistakes, has been very beneficial in identifying the members and their background. Below is what I have found out so far, if you have anything to add please get in touch.
Js.
NAME; Baird, James
RANK; Rifleman
SERV. NO; 17224
UNIT/SERVICE; Royal Irish Rifles
REGIMENT; 12th
Battalion – C COY
BORN; Larne, Co. Antrim
LIVED; Ayr / Upper
Woodburn, Carrickfergus
ENLISTED; Carrickfergus
September 1914
FATE; Killed in Action – 16th
October 1916 – France and Flanders
CEMETERY; La Plus Douve Farm Cemetery
– IV A8
CHURCH; 1st
Carrickfergus Presbyterian
MEMORIAL;
REMARKS; Son of Mrs Baird, 27
Claines Street, Ayr – Member of LOL 787 - James Baird of Woodburn Carrickfergus
was killed in action during the Battle of the Somme specifically the Battle of
Le Transloy. Many often forget that the Battle
dragged on for so long with history tending to focus on the 1st July 1916, the
first day of the Battle
when the British suffered over 60,000 casualties. The Battle actually lasted until the middle of
November 1916 by which time there had been some 419,654 British casualties and
over 1 million on all sides making it one of the bloodiest military operations
ever recorded.
James Baird 17224 - 12th
Battalion Royal Irish Rifles (Central Antrim Volunteers) was originally from Ayr but lived and worked in Carrickfergus were he
enlisted in 1915. He was a member of 1st Carrickfergus Presbyterian
Church and is buried in La Plus
Douve Farm
Cemetery – IV. A8
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NAME; Bamford, William
RANK; Private
SERV. NO;
UNIT/SERVICE;
REGIMENT; North Irish Horse
BORN; Carrickfergus Circa 1882
LIVED; Woodburn, Carrickfergus
ENLISTED;
FATE; Survived the War
CEMETERY; N/A
CHURCH; Joymount Presbyterian
MEMORIAL;
REMARKS – William was the son of
Andrew and Eliza Bamford and the brother of Agnes and Janet. Prior to the war he worked as a farm hand on
his father’s farm in the Woodburn area of Carrickfergus. Member of LOL 787 –
History of North Irish Horse.
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NAME; Bell, Charles
RANK;
SERV. NO;
UNIT/SERVICE; 18th
Battalion
REGIMENT; Royal Irish Rifles
BORN; Carrickfergus
LIVED; Carrickfergus
ENLISTED;
FATE; Survived the War
CEMETERY; N/A
CHURCH;
MEMORIAL;
REMARKS; Taken prisoner of war –
member of Lol 787
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NAME; Brennan, William
RANK; Private
SERV. NO;
UNIT/SERVICE;
REGIMENT; Royal Garrison
Artillery
BORN; Carrickfergus 1899
LIVED; Irish Quarter South, Carrickfergus
ENLISTED; Carrickfergus 1915
FATE; Survived the war
CEMETERY; N/A
CHURCH; Joymount Presbyterian
MEMORIAL; N/A
REMARKS; Son of John and
Isabella Brennan and brother of Mary, David, Agnes, Maggie, Wilfred, and
Isabella – Member of LOL 878 OR IS IT ANOTHER WILLIAM BREENAN ?? Service with
12th Battalion Royal Irish Rifles also.
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NAME; Haggan, James
RANK;
SERV. NO;
UNIT/SERVICE; 12th
Battalion
REGIMENT; Royal Irish Rifles
BORN; Carrickfergus
LIVED;
ENLISTED;
FATE; Survived the War
CEMETERY; N/A
CHURCH;
MEMORIAL;
REMARKS; Member of LOL 787,
brother of Andrew Haggan?
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NAME; Haggan, Andrew
RANK; Rifleman
SERV. NO; 17814
UNIT/SERVICE; 12th
Batt
REGIMENT; Royal Irish Rifles
BORN; Carrickfergus – c. 1896
LIVED; Davy’s Street,
Carrickfergus
ENLISTED; Carrickfergus
FATE; Killed in Action, France,
August 15th 1917 aged 21
CEMETERY;
CHURCH; Church of Ireland
MEMORIAL; YPRES
(MENIN GATE) MEMORIAL – Panal 40
REMARKS; Rifleman Andrew Haggan
- 17814 - 12th Battalion Royal Irish Rifles (Central
Antrim Volunteers) - Born Davy's Street, Carrickfergus 1896.
Killed in action 15th August 1917 at the Battle
of Passchendaele aged 21.
His body was never found and he is remembered on Panel 40 of the Menin Gate
Memorial in Ypres.
A member of the UVF and LOL 787 & 947
Andrew was the son of Andrew and Sarah Haggan and brother of James, Agnes,
Jane, Mary Ann, Joseph, Robert and Willie. Prior to the war Andrew worked in
the local mill and was a member of St Nicholas Church of Ireland.
Andrew was one of the first to enlist from Carrickfergus heading off with C Coy
12th Battalion on September 18th 1914. He enlisted with his good friend and
cousin Edward Samuel Haggan (17812) - they enlisted together, trained together,
fought together and died one day apart on the same battlefield. Edward died
16th August 1917
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NAME; Harte, Robert
RANK; Rifleman
SERV. NO;
UNIT/SERVICE; 12th
Battalion
REGIMENT; Royal Irish Rifles
BORN;
LIVED; Carrickfergus
ENLISTED;
FATE; Discharged
CEMETERY;
CHURCH;
MEMORIAL;
REMARKS; Member of LOL 787
Woodburn
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
NAME; Hilditch, John
RANK;
SERV. NO;
UNIT/SERVICE;
REGIMENT; West
Yorks
BORN;
LIVED;
ENLISTED;
FATE; Killed in action?
CEMETERY;
CHURCH;
MEMORIAL;
REMARKS; Member of LOL 787 Woodburn
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