Friends of the Somme - Mid Ulster Branch
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Kilrea War Memorial - WW1
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Casualties
No Mem Ref Service No Rank Name Regiment / Service Battalion Date Of Death
1 01-A S/14324 L/Corp Adams, Thomas Gordon Highlanders 1st / 7th Battalion 28/04/1917
2 01-B Lieut Hegarty, Andrew Royal Army Medical Corps 16/12/1915
3 01-C 18356 Pte. Meenan, Thomas Leinster Regiment 2nd Battalion 22/08/1918
4 01-D 23643 Pte. Laughlin, Archibald Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers 9th Battalion 07/06/1917
5 02-A 307680 Mr Alexander, Robert Royal Air Force 31/10/1918
6 02-B 945 Lieut Kirkland, George Australian Machine Gun Corps 4th Company 13/04/1917
7 02-C 15781 L/Corp Murphy, Albert Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers 10th Battalion 01/07/1916
8 02-D 40953 R/man Lennox, Edward Royal Irish Rifles 2nd Battalion 10/08/1917
9 03-A 2457 Pte. Armstrong, Robert Australian Infantry 24th Battalion 24/08/1916
10 03-B 10371 Pte. Loughrey, Samuel Royal Scots 1st Battalion 25/01/1915
11 03-C 15816 Pte. McCracken, Robert Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers 10th Battalion 01/01/1917
12 03-D Lieut McCahon, Robert Royal Engineers 69 Field Company 30/03/1918
13 04-A Lieut Bamford, Joseph Lamont Royal Flying Corps 15 Squadron 20/08/1917
14 04-BC 63 Pte. Stewart, John Jack Australian Infantry 4th Battalion 01/05/1915
15 04-D 1961 L/Corp McCotter, John Australian Light Trench Mortar Battery 11th Battalion 26/03/1917
16 05-A 24234 Pte. Blann, Daniel Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers 7th Battalion 16/03/1917
17 05-D 3586 Pte. McDonald, Alexander Royal Irish Regiment 6th Battalion 03/09/1916
18 06-A 11/20417 Pte. Bolton, Thomas Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers 9th Battalion 08/05/1918
19 06-D 19155 Pte. McDonald, Robert Alexander Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers 10th Battalion 01/07/1916
20 07-A 23217 Pte. Carleton, Robert Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers 9th Battalion 30/04/1917
21 07-D 21073 L/Corp McIlrath, Robert Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers 2nd Battalion 21/03/1918
22 08-A Mr Carpenter (WW1), Thomas Unknown
23 08-D 27747 Corp McMath, Thomas James Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers 10th Battalion 08/08/1917
24 09-A 5602 R/man Diamond, Patrick Royal Irish Rifles 1st Battalion 30/06/1916
25 09-D 6151 Pte. McMullan, Joseph Patrick Connaught Rangers 1st Battalion 11/07/1917
26 10-A 28679 Pte. Donnelly, John Royal Dublin Fusiliers 1st Battalion 06/04/1918
27 10-D 22400 Pte. McMullan, John Royal Dublin Fusiliers 1st Battalion 01/07/1916
28 11-A 8633 Pte. Gamble, John Scots Guards 1st Battalion 27/07/1915
29 11-D 832 Pte. Michael, Alexander Australian Infantry 34th Battalion 13/10/1917
30 12-A 19144 Pte. Gilmore, Robert Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers 10th Battalion 01/07/1916
31 12-D 49102 R/man Neely, Allston New Zealand Rifle Brigade 1st Battalion 01/09/1918
32 13-A G/1814 Pte. Gilmore, William Royal Irish Fusiliers 2nd Garrison Battalion 22/01/1917
33 13-D 28408 Pte. Patton, William Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers 9th Battalion 15/10/1918
34 14-A 26091 R/man Gordon, Robert James New Zealand Rifle Brigade 4th Battalion 07/06/1917
35 14-D 18698 R/man Patton, Archibald New Zealand Rifle Brigade 1st Battalion 12/10/1917
36 15-A 12649 L/Corp Graham, Robert Durham Light Infantry 10th Battalion 11/01/1916
37 15-D 754 Corp Ritchie, David William North Irish Horse 17/03/1915
38 16-A 201397 Pte. Graham, David Tomb Highland Light Infantry 1st / 5th Battalion 09/11/1917
39 16-D 165 Sgt. Richmond, William James Australian Infantry 34th Battalion 28/01/1917
40 17-A 86286 Driver Holmes, James Canadian Field Artillery 4th Battalion 16/08/1918
41 17-D 19170 Pte. Rowe, Samuel Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers 2nd Battalion 23/03/1918
42 18-A 358747 Pioneer Hogg, James Royal Engineers 36th Signal Company 27/03/1918
43 18-D 19572 Pte. Rowe, Robert John Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers 10th Battalion 01/07/1916
44 19-A 1698 Pte. Hogg, Archibald Australian Infantry 31st Battalion 24/03/1919
45 19-D 1488 R/man Stewart, James Royal Irish Rifles 8th Battalion 07/06/1917
46 20-A S/31352 Pte. Kennedy, Robert James Cameron Highlanders 7th Battalion 10/02/1918
47 20-D Mr Stewart (WW1), Robert Unknown
48 21-A 30699 Pte. Knox, James Huston Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers 9th Battalion 16/08/1917
49 21-D 39124 Pte. Torrens, John McCay New Zealand Rifle Brigade 1st Battalion 01/09/1918
Location
Town : Kilrea
Latitude : 54.951531
Lontitude : -6.555496
Date Unveiled : 01/07/1925
Kilrea War Memorial is located at the Diamond in the centre of the village. It occupies a position over the historic pump in the square. A portion of the old pump remains at the base of the obelisk.

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Memorial History
Pre-Memorial
Kilrea War Memorial is located at the Diamond in the centre of the village. It occupies a position over the historic pump in the square. A portion of the old pump remains at the base of the obelisk.
In former days was the scene of contention between rival political sections, who, particularly on festival occasions, endeavoured to place their party emblems on it. The memorial was placed there in an attempt to unify the population.
Memorial Design and Construction
The memorial is an obelisk made of Newry granite and is 24 feet (7.25m) in height.
The text on the memorial reads ‘To the glory of God and in undying and affectionate remembrance of the gallant men of this town and district who served and who made the supreme sacrifice during the Great War, I reverently unveil this War Memorial. May the memory of their noble deeds be a never dying inspiration in the long years to come.’
The memorial contains the names of 49 men who were killed.
The memorial also lists almost three hundred men and eight nurses who served during the war.
‘The memorial bears the following inscription, ‘This memorial is erected to the men of Kilrea and district who were killed and to those who served in the Great War, 1914–18’
It also contains the names of the following places where Kilrea men served: - Marne, St Quentin, Egypt, Mons, Somme, Gallipoli, Ypres, Messines, Palestine, Aisne, Guillemont and Macedonia.’
The memorial was designed by Samuel John McFadden. Samuel McFadden was an assistant county surveyor for Co. Derry from 1900 or earlier but had left the post by 1907 in order to set up in private practice. He was surveyor to Coleraine Rural District Council from 1909 or earlier and from 1910, to Ballymena Rural District Council.
Tenders were invited in May 1924. It was manufactured by John Robinson & Son, 46 York St, Belfast, for £722.
Other sources record that the Memorial was designed by Walter Gracey C.E.
Memorial Dedication
The Kilrea War Memorial was dedicated on 1st July 1925. A newspaper report details the ceremony.
From the Belfast Newsletter dated 2nd July 1925: Kilrea War Memorial – Large Attendance at Unveiling Ceremony – Service of Commemoration
It was a graceful and appropriate tribute to the memory of the fallen that the people of Kilrea should choose the First of July (historic in the annals of Ulster) for the unveiling of a memorial to the men from the town and district who made the supreme sacrifice in the Great War. The memorial, which takes the form of a granite obelisk, of great beauty and dignity, bears on its sides, at the base, a list of the men who fell in action and also the names of the men and women from Kilrea and neighbourhood who served their King and Country. The obelisk has been placed in a prominent position, and the unveiling ceremony was witnessed by a very large assemblage. Mrs Spencer Chichester, O.B.E., M.P., presided, and the unveiling was performed by Lady Anderson of Londonderry. The proceedings were opened with prayer by the Rev W J Hill, after which the hymn, ‘O God our Help in Ages Past’, was sung by the choirs of the First and Second Presbyterian Churches and the Parish Church, under the direction of Mr S Craig. Mrs Chichester, in the course of an eloquent address, said she did not know what lay in the minds of those who had selected two women to play the principal parts at that solemn and important ceremony. They came as women, glorying and sorrowing as other women did, and as citizens of a great Empire, prouder than ever of their citizenship on account of the deeds done by those men who went out from Kilrea. Time was a great healer, but it could never efface the gratitude which they owed to the men whose names were engraved on the memorial. She felt pride in the achievements of those who gave all and never returned, and sorrow for those who were broken in the war. On that occasion she would recall to their minds the Battle of the Somme, in which the Derry Volunteers played so great a part. On that day many of the flower of Ulster passed on to death, having proved themselves worthy of their great heritage, and left behind a name which added to the lustre of their native county.
Lady Anderson said she felt it a great honour to join most reverently in that service of commemoration to those who had made that supreme sacrifice on the altar of patriotism. The British Empire had no need to be ashamed of its Ulster sons. Their devotion, loyalty, courage, and deeds of daring were well known, and their services were unsurpassed by any part of the Empire. It was fitting that they should meet that day to pay homage to the men who had added to the glory of the Imperial Province. The generations to come would proudly point to the war memorial, and rejoice that they were the descendants of such men. Lady Anderson then unveiled the memorial ‘to the glory of God, and in undying and affectionate remembrance of those men who gave their lives for their country.’
A bugler sounded the ‘Last Post’. And the massed choirs then sang most impressively, ‘How Bright Their Glorious Spirits Shine’. This was followed by the sounding of Reveille. Commander Chichester Clark read out the names of the men from Kilrea who fell in the war, and the audience stood in silence while he saluted the memorial. Mr George Kidd, Secretary of the War Memorial Committee, read the names of those from the district who served during the war. Short addresses were delivered by Commander Chichester Clark, Dr H S Morrison, D.L., M.P., and Sir Robert Anderson, D.L., M.P.
The Memorial was dedicated by the Rev J R Boyde, late chaplain of the Forces, and the choir sang ‘For all the Saints’. Mr H A McIlwraith, on behalf on the War Memorial Committee and the people of Kilrea, proposed a vote of thanks to Lady Anderson, and this was seconded by Mr W J Hilton, J.P. On the motion of the Rev H Hadden, seconded by Mr Harry Clark, a similar compliment was paid to Mrs Chichester for presiding. The choirs were also thanked, on the motion of the Rev W J Jameson, seconded by Mr G Kidd, and the ceremony concluded with the Benediction, pronounced by the Rev R W McQuaide. Afterwards, a large number of beautiful wreaths were places at the base of the memorial.
Recent Times
Six names were added when the memorial was restored by Haslett Monumental Sculptors in latter years.
Many thanks to Nigel Henderson of History Hub Ulster for providing much of the information here.
Memorial References and Links
No Link Reference Doc
1 Dictionary of Irish Architects - Kilrea Details of War Memorial
2 Haslett Monumental Sculptors Memorial restoration, including six added names
3 History Hub Ulster Nigel Henderson of History Hub Ulster
4 Imperial War Museums Details of War Memorial
5 Ulster War Memorials - Kilrea Details of War Memorial