William McCool was the son of eldest son of Archibald and Isabella McCool. William McCool was born about 1890 in Glasgow. The family lived in Castledawson,
Like his father and brother, William was a labourer. William enlisted in Glasgow. Private William McCool was serving with the 2nd Battalion of the Highland Light Infantry when he was killed in action on 28th April 1917. He was 27 years old.
Further Information
William McCool was the son of eldest son of Archibald and Isabella McCool. William McCool was born about 1890 in Glasgow.
The 1901 census lists William as age 11 living with the family at house 8 in Castledawson, Londonderry. He was still at school. His father was a labourer. Both his mother and father were born in County Londonderry.
Family: Archibald McCool, Isabella McCool, William McCool (born about 1890, Glasgow), Archibald McCool (born about 1892, Glasgow), Mary McCool (born about 1895, Glasgow), Isabella McCool (born 20th December 1896, Magherafelt), Andrew McCool (born 1st September 1899, Magherafelt), Sarah McCool (born 13th July 1902, died 27th March 1904, Magherafelt), John McCool ((born 28th August 1904, Magherafelt), Robert McCool (born 12th February 1906, Magherafelt), Thomas McCool (born 21st April 1910, Magherafelt)
The 1911 census lists William as age 19 living with the family at house 15 in Tamnadeese, Magherafelt. Like his father and brother, William was a labourer.
In 1912, Willie McCool signed the Ulster Covenant in Castledawson Orange Hall.
William enlisted in Glasgow.
Private William McCool was severely wounded by shrapnel in his side, arm and chest at the Battle of Loos.
A newspaper reports that he was home in Castledawson for a short time in early 1916.
From the Belfast Newsletter dated 2nd February 1916:
Private William McCool, 10th Highland Light Infantry, son of Mr A McCool, Castledawson, who was severely wounded by shrapnel in his side, arm and chest at the Battle of Loos, spent a portion of last week at home in Castledawson.
Private William McCool was serving with the 2nd Battalion of the Highland Light Infantry when he was killed in action on 28th April 1917. He was 27 years old.
Private McCool has no known grave and is commemorated on the Arras Memorial. The Arras Memorial is in the Faubourg-d'Amiens Cemetery, in the western part of the town of Arras. It commemorates almost 35,000 servicemen from the United Kingdom, South Africa and New Zealand who died in the Arras sector between the spring of 1916 and 7 August 1918.
The CWGC record Private William McCool as the son of Archie and Isabella McCool of Castledawson, County Londonderry.
