Friends of the Somme - Mid Ulster Branch  
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23/2247   Rifleman Thomas McKee
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Dated added: 01/01/2016   Last updated: 30/01/2016
Personal Details
Regiment/Service: 1st Battalion, New Zealand Rifle Brigade (New Zealand Army)
Date Of Birth: 03/03/1883
Died: 07/06/1917 (Killed in Action)
Age: 34
Summary      
Thomas McKee was the son of Hughie and Mary McKee. Thomas was born on 3rd March 1883 in Drumlamph, just west of Bellaghy. They were a farming family. Thomas emigrated to New Zealand. Prior to enlisting Thomas McKee was working as a labourer. He was living in Tokomaru Bay, East Coast. Thomas McKee enlisted at Trentham Military Camp. He gave his next of kin as his brother Hugh, who was also living in New Zealand. Rifleman Thomas McKee was serving with the 1st Battalion (3rd) of the New Zealand Rifle Brigade when he was killed in action on the first day of the Battle of Messines on 7th June 1917 in Belgium.
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Cemetery Details
Grave
Cemetery: Messines Ridge NZ Memorial
  Mesen, West-Vlaanderen, 
Grave Ref: No Ref
CWGC Casualty 1738067
Summary      
The Messines Ridge (New Zealand) Memorial to the Missing is situated within Messines Ridge British Cemetery, which is located 9.5 Kms south of Ieper town centre on the Nieuwkerkestraat, a road leading from the Rijselseweg, N365, which connects Ieper to Wijtschate, Mesen and on to Armentieres. From Ieper town centre the Rijselsestraat runs from the market square, through the Lille Gate (Rijselpoort) and directly over the crossroads with the Ieper ring road. The road name then changes to the Rijselseweg.
Local Memorial Details

No Memorial Name Townland
1 Castledawson WW1 Memorial - Panel 1 Castledawson
2 Bellaghy Presbyterian Church - WW1 Roll of Honour Bellaghy
Local Insitute / Local Book Details

No Name Page
1 They Didn't Come Home - Castledawson - WWI 76
References and Links
No Link Reference Map Doc
1 1901 Census lists McKee family 1901 census lists Thomas as age 17 living with the family at house 65 in Drumlamph, Rocktown, Londonderry
2 Archives New Zealand Military documents of Rifleman Thomas McKee
3 Castledawson War Dead Details of Rifleman Thomas McKee
4 Dolores Cross Project No picture of inscription
5 New Zealand Cenotaph Details of Rifleman Rifleman Thomas McKee including photo
6 Nominal Roll page Details of Rifleman Rifleman Thomas McKee including photo
7 NZ War Graves Project Details of Rifleman Thomas McKee including grave photo
Magherafelt District's War Dead Acknowledgements 2014-2023