Friends of the Somme - Mid Ulster Branch  
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5602   Rifleman Patrick Diamond
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Dated added: 12/03/2016   Last updated: 12/05/2020
Personal Details
Regiment/Service: 1st Battalion, Royal Irish Rifles (British Army)
Died: 30/06/1916 (Killed in Action)
Age: 30
Summary      
Patrick Diamond was born in Kilrea about 1886. The family lived in Claragh, just north of Kilrea. Patrick Diamond enlisted in Belfast around 1900 and was with 1st Battalion of the Royal Irish Rifles. The 1st Battalion was in Aden when war was declared and arrived at Liverpool on 22nd October 1914. Rifleman Diamond was given leave at this time and arrived home in Kilrea for a full week. Patrick had done about sixteen years in the army and served throughout the South African Campaign. On the 30th June 1916, five men were killed in action as the result of shellfire in the Somme region. Rifleman Patrick Diamond was one of them.
Further Information
According to other resources (see references) Patrick Diamond was the son of John & Alice Diamond. The CWGC record his mother as Mary.
Patrick was born in Kilrea about 1886.
The family lived in Claragh, just north of Kilrea.
Possible family: John Diamond, Alice Diamond, Henry Diamond (born 1872), Kate Diamond (born 1874), Maggie Diamond (born 1876), Rosella Diamond (born 1880), Patrick Diamond (born 1886).
Patrick Diamond enlisted in Belfast around 1900 and was with 1st Battalion of the Royal Irish Rifles.
The 1901 census does not list Patrick as living with the family at house 2 in Claragh, Kilrea, County Londonderry. His father was a farmer.
The 1911 census does not list Patrick as living with the family at house 1 in Claragh, Kilrea. His mother was a widow. They were farmers.
The 1st Battalion was in Aden when war was declared and embarked for the U.K. on 27th September arriving at Liverpool on 22nd October 1914.
Medal card
Rifleman Diamond was given leave at this time and arrived home in Kilrea for a full week.
Rifleman Patrick Diamond had done about sixteen years in the army and served throughout the South African Campaign.
Rifleman Diamond was wounded on the 25th September 1915.
From the Belfast Newsletter dated 30th October 1915:
Rifleman P Diamond, 2nd Battalion Royal Irish Rifles, who was wounded on the 25th September, has been on a short visit to his home in Kilrea.
He was then in hospital another time before being sent home to recuperate in Kilrea.
On the 30th June 1916, five men were killed in action as the result of shellfire in the Somme region. Rifleman Patrick Diamond was one of them.
His mother died on 7th January 1920.
Last Will and Testament of Private Patrick Diamond dated 30th December 1915
In the event of my death I give all my ?? to my father. Address unreadable.
Rifleman Patrick Diamond has no known grave and is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial to the Missing of the Somme. The Thiepval Memorial, the Memorial to the Missing of the Somme, bears the names of more than 72,000 officers and men of the United Kingdom and South African forces who died in the Somme sector before 20 March 1918 and have no known grave. Over 90% of those commemorated died between July and November 1916.
The CWGC record Rifleman Patrick Diamond as the son of Mrs Mary Diamond of Gortmacrane, Kilrea, County Londonderry.
Read more
Relevant Magherafelt Area Locations
No Location Region Location Notes Longtitude Latitude
1 Claragh, Kilrea Kilrea Census listing in Claragh, Kilrea 54.962889 -6.558101
References and Links
No Link Reference Map Doc
1 1901 Census lists Diamond family 1901 census does not list Patrick as living with the family at house 2 in Claragh, Kilrea, Londonderry
2 1911 Census lists Diamond family 1911 census does not list Patrick as living with the family at house 1 in Claragh, Kilrea, Londonderry
3 Forum discussion Details of Diamond family
4 National Archives of Ireland Last Will and Testament of Rifleman Patrick Diamond
5 National Archives UK Medal card of Rifleman Patrick Diamond can be purchased here
Magherafelt District's War Dead Acknowledgements 2014-2023