36th Ulster Division

[Audax]

Reverend Richard Frederick Martin CLIFFORD MA

Trinity College Dublin BA 1897

Commissioned 7.9.1915

Tempoary Chaplain to the Forces 1915-16.

Rector of Bective 1910 - 18.

Rector of Kells 1918 - 24.

[Audax]

Reverend James QUINN

Commissioned 21.7.1915

Temporary Chaplain to the Forces 1915 - 17.

Rector of St Michael's Belfast 1913-24.

[Audax]

Reverend James Gerald HARVEY

Trinity College Dublin BA 1905

Commissioned 9.10.1915

Temporary Chaplain to the Forces 1915 - 18

Curate of Drumragh 1905 - 18

[Wesley Wright]

DUNCAN, THE REVD. EDWARD FRANCIS Initials: E F Nationality: United Kingdom Rank: Chaplain 4th Class Regiment/Service: Army Chaplains' Department Secondary Unit Text: attd. 103rd Infantry Bde. Age: 32 Date of Death: 11/03/1917 Awards: M C Additional information: Son of John and Anna Duncan, of Fintona, Co. Tyrone; husband of Jane Caroline Duncan, of Carrick-on-Shannon, Co. Leitrim. Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead Grave/Memorial Reference: II. F. 8. Cemetery: FAUBOURG D'AMIENS CEMETERY, ARRAS

Not 36th Division-- but from Ulster

Wesley Wright

[Audax]

Canon Richard George Salmon KING M.A.

Trinity College Dublin BA

Commissioned 2.11.1914

Temporary Chaplain to the Forces 1914 - 16.

Rector of Drumachose with Aghanloo 1904 - 21

Canon of Derry Cathedral 1914 - 21

Link to King's signature on the ULSTER COVENANT

[Audax]

Reverend William Frederick MORRIS

Trinity College Dublin BA 1914

Commissioned 5.9.1915

Temporary Chaplain to the Forces 1915 - 19

Curate of Drumkeeran 1908 - 20

[Audax]

Reverend Alexander SPENCE MC

Trinity College Dublin BA 1913

Commissioned 5.6.1918

Temporary Chaplain to the Forces 1916 - 18

Awarded the Military Cross Rev. Alexander Spence, A. Chapl. Dept. (L.G. 18.10.1917)

For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty.

He worked for twenty hours attending

to the wounded in an aid post during,

an attack. On the following day, hearing

that some wounded were lying out in shell

holes, he went out in daylight undermachine-

gun fire and brought back several

wounded men to the aid post. He rendered

splendid service, and showed great gallantry

and contempt of danger.

Died as a POW of wounds 31.3.1918.

[Audax]

Reverend James Gilbert PATON (Presbyterian)

Temporary Chaplain to the Forces

Awarded the Military Cross and 2 Bars

Military Cross 1 June 1917 (without citation)

1st Bar

Rev. James Gilbert Paton, M.C., A. Chapln.

Dept.

For conspicuous gallantry and devotion

to duty. Under heavy shell and machine-gun

fire he helped to evacuate wounded, and in

one instance helped to carry a serious

wounded case four miles to an aid station.

He showed fine disregard for personal safety

and devotion to duty.

(M.C. gazetted 4th June, 1917.)

2nd Bar - 29th July 1919

Rev. James Gilbert Paton, M.C., R. Army

Chapl. Dept., attd. 2nd Bn. R. Innis. Fus.

For great courage and devotion to duty.

During the attack upon Moorseele and Gulleghem

on October 14th and 15th, 1918, he

never spared himself. He worked continuously

through the operations, carrying in and tending wounded,

frequently passing through heavy fire to forward positions

to reach the wounded. His gallant conduct and untiring efforts

were admirable.

[Wesley Wright]

KERR, DANIEL Initials: D Nationality: United Kingdom Rank: Lieutenant Regiment/Service: Cheshire Regiment Unit Text: 14th Bn. Secondary Regiment: South Wales Borderers Secondary Unit Text: attd. 2nd Bn. Age: 23 Date of Death: 06/07/1915 Additional information: Son of Mrs. Kerr, of Craignamaddy, Stranocum, Co. Antrim, and the late Mr. S. J. Kerr. Formerly a Presbyterian Minister in Canada. Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead Grave/Memorial Reference: Panel 75 to 77. Memorial: HELLES MEMORIAL

Not a padre but "qualified"

Wesley Wright

[Audax]

Not 36th Division but interesting none the less.

SIMMS, JOHN MORROW 1854-1934

John Simms was born in Newtownards, County Down, and was educated at Queen's College, Belfast, and in Edinburgh, where he studied theology, afterwards becoming a Presbyterian minister. In 1887 he was appointed an army chaplain and served in the Sudan and in South Africa. In the First World War he was principal chaplain to the British forces in France, with the rank of major-general. He was made a Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George and a Companion of the Order of the Bath. In 1919 he became Moderator of the General Assembly, and in 1922 member of the Westminster parliament for North Down, retaining his parliamentary seat until 1931. He was the King's Honorary Chaplain. He died in Newtownards. In his obituary The Times said of him: 'He was no mere arm-chair minister, but shared the risks and hardships of military life'.

[pat geary]

REV. (Captain) ROBERT KELSO.

The details below come from Second Boardmill Presbyterian Church website which also has a photograph of him

"The Rev. Alex. Dobbin's next assistant was the Rev. Robert Kelso, who was ordained on the 31st October, 1907.

A native of Co. Donegal, he was born at Tullygay, Letterkenny, on the 11th March, 1877, and brought up in First Letterkenny Church during the ministry of the Rev. John Kinnear, who was elected Liberal M.P. at Westminster. He studied at Magee University College, Derry, and Assembly's College, Belfast. After being licensed by the Presbytery of Letterkenny on the 14th of April, 1903, he became assistant in Donegall Road Presbyterian Church until he received his call to Boardmills. When the Great War broke out many young men in the district joined the Forces, and in August, 1916, the Rev. Kelso joined the Army as a Chaplain, and was immediately sent to France. He served with the Royal Irish Rifles until his demobilisation in November, 1919. As a token of thanksgiving for victory, the congregation installed an organ and decided to purchase individual communion cups. These gifts, together with a brass shield with the names of those who had fought in the Great War, were dedicated on the 6th June, 1920. The esteem and respect which Mr. Kelso was held in the countryside was shown in 1924, when it was learned he was about to be given a call from a Co. Derry church. A deputation from his own congregation and Killaney Secession Church asked him to remain as minister of the united congregations. He agreed, and in June, 1925, Mr. Moody, minister of Killaney Secession Church, and his congregation, were received into the General Assembly. Mr. Moody then resigned for reasons of health, and on the 30th July, 1925, Mr. Kelso was installed as his successor. For the remainder of his long ministry - he died on the 16th June, 1950 - Mr. Kelso worked to weld his two flocks into one, a task which he fulfilled. He was an outstanding figure both in the life of the Church and in public life, and his ready and jovial manner and keen sense of humour, made him a welcome visitor in the homes of his people”.

One of the soldiers he buried was Rifleman William Henry Thompson 11 RIR KIA in Belgium on on the 31.5.17. He wrote to Mrs. Thompson the day after her son's death saying, “It was my sad duty to-day to bury your son [at Lindenhoek Chalet Military Cemetery] … and I must write to say how much I feel for you in you sorrow. He was killed last night whilst on duty near the trenches, and was laid to rest to-day in a military cemetery behind the lines. It was not my privilege to know your lad, but his Company Commander (who attended the funeral) expressed himself in very high terms as to your boy’s worth as a soldier. He seems to have been a general favourite in the Battalion and both officers and men are much grieved at his death. … You have every reason to be proud of his record of courage and loyalty, and you can thank God that you ‘mothered a man’. Now that he has gone try to think of him as transferred on promotion to the Company of the Redeemed in Glory and still on active service in the presence of the King Himself”.

He also spoke at the unveiled of the War Memorial in Boardmills Second Presbyterian Church and was a guest at the Christmas dinner of the officers of C Company 13 RIR in 1916.

Pat

[swizz]

There's quite a bit about Alex. Spence on the Diamond Memorial website:

http://www.diamondwarmemorial.com/soldiers/view/1100

As a former student at Magee College (like myself!), Dan Kerr also appears on the Derry memorial:

http://www.diamondwarmemorial.com/soldiers/view/566

[Audax]

Swizz,

Great link - thanks hadn't found this info on Rev Spence before.

A

[Audax]

Major General Reverend Simms died 29th April 1934 in his 80th year. He was unmarried.

His brother Mr W H Simms JP was Chairman of the Newtonards Urban Council.

Rev Simms was President of the Newtownards Methodist Church Boys' Brigade Company and the Newtonwards British Legion.

His death was announced in the Belfast Telegraph of Monday 30th April 1934.

[Audax]

The Revd. Charles Campbell Manning, M.C., M.A.

(1918 - 1920)

Revd. C.C. Manning's ministry of sixteen months is the shortest in Drumbeg Church's recorded history. Having served in Holywood as a Curate from 1900 until 1903, it is probable that when the Parish became vacant he looked forward to returning as Rector, where indeed he was incumbent for the remainder of his ministry.

Charles Campbell Manning was born in Dublin, the son of Michael James Manning. He obtained his B.A. degree in Trinity College, Dublin in 1896 and his M.A. in 1901. He was ordained to the priesthood in 1897 in Down.

Curate in Carrickfergus from 1896 - 1900, curate in Holywood from 1900 - 1903, he became Rector of Muckamore from 1903 - 1911, then Rector of Comber from 1911 - 1918. During the Great War years 1914 - 1918, he served as temporary chaplain to the forces. In 1917 he was mentioned in despatches and was awarded the Military Cross in 1918. Just as the Armistice was about to be signed he became Rector of Drumbeg. Nominated on 9th August 1918, he was instituted on 8th November 1918. His first big occasion was the Confirmation on 4th May 1919 when 21 boys and 28 girls were confirmed by the Right Revd. Charles F. D'Arcy, Bishop of Down. He was assisted by the Curate, the Revd. H. E. Gick, in presenting these 49 young people to the Bishop.

An interesting minute of the Select Vestry meeting held on 27 January 1919 refers to the Dunmurry Committee investigating the possibility of purchasing the tower and spire of the Mariner's Church in Belfast for erecting at St Colman's, Dunmurry. Presumably these were for sale at this time. No further reference is made to the transaction and St Colman's Church tower was erected as a War Memorial.

The curacies of Charles Manning at Carrickfergus and at Holywood were both of significance in that at Carrickfergus he met Dilliana Mary Violet, the daughter of George Chamberlain, Rector of Carrickfergus, and she became his wife on 3rd July 1901, and of course, after he left Drumbeg he became Rector of Holywood. Although he moved from Drumbeg early in 1920 he was not quite finished with the Parish. At the Harvest Thanksgiving in Drumbeg on 26th September 1920, the preacher was the Revd. C.C. Manning, and at the dedication of the War Memorial in St Colman's Church, Dunmurry he was invited to perform the ceremony. The press report of the occasion contains this information:

There was an overflow congregation, the pulpit was covered with a large Union Jack, the War Memorial was decorated by Mr & Mrs George MacRory, Dunmurry House and guarded by Sergeants Wright and Presse of the C.L.B. company. Following the unveiling by the Revd. Manning, the buglers of the C.L.B. company sounded the `Last Post' and half of the Reveille, and a verse of the National Anthem was sung. The Revd. Manning's text was from the book of Esther, chapter 1 verse 12. Stainer's anthem was rendered with much feeling and tenderness and the entire service reflected credit on the choir and on Mr R. Marlowe, B.A. who presided at the organ.

Mr Manning preached his farewell sermon at Morning Prayer on Sunday 21st March 1920. Due to heavy snowfall, only 126 were present that Sunday morning. Later he became Prebendary of Dunsford (19221927), Precentor of Down (1927-1930) and Archdeacon of Down in 1930. He died on 22nd October 1954 and is buried in Drumbo Parish churchyard.

[Nickmetcalfe]

Audax,

The Chaplains that served with the 9th Irish Fusiliers (in chronological order of their service with the Battalion) were:

(number in brackets - Army number, followed by National Archives reference)

HALAHAN MC* Major The Reverend Francis Johnston - (WO 374/30060) Born 18 November 1870. Rector of Drumcree, Portadown. Trinity College Dublin. Captain University Rowing Club 1892-93. Curate Assistant of Drumcree 1894-95. Rector of Mullaglass 1895-1905. Rector of Drumcree 1905-48. Having volunteered for service with the Army Chaplains Department, he joined the 9th (Service) Battalion, Princess Victoria’s (Royal Irish Fusiliers) (County Armagh) in England on 23 September 1915. Served in France from October 1915. 1914-15 Star. Appointed Senior Divisional Chaplain on 28 November 1916. Left the Battalion on 22 March 1917 for Chaplains’ School and then Divisional Headquarters. Mention in Despatches and awarded an MC for his gallantry during his service with the Battalion. Praised for his courage while with 110th Field Ambulance in June 1917. Awarded a Bar to his MC for his actions at the Battle of Langemarck on 16 August 1917 when the Divisional Chaplain. Gassed at Neuve Eglise on 6 September 1918 and evacuated. Mention in Despatches. Released from service 23 January 1921 and made Honorary Chaplain to the Forces 4th Class. Returned to Drumcree Rectory where he served until 1948. Married 11 August 1948, aged 77. Died 6 October 1951, aged 80. Buried at Drumcree.

MAYES Captain The Reverend Samuel - (262731) (WO 339/134484) Born in 1877. Rector at Kilmore Rectory, Richhill, County Armagh. A senior member of the UVF. Volunteered for service with the Army Chaplains Department and was commissioned in December 1916. Joined 110th Field Ambulance on 18 January 1917. Joined the 9th (Service) Battalion, Princess Victoria’s (Royal Irish Fusiliers) (County Armagh) on 22 March 1917. Chaplain during the Battle of Langemarck. Returned to England and was released from service on 9 January 1918.

BALLY MC Captain The Reverend Harold Spencer - (WO 374/3610) Born in 1877. A Church of England priest, he volunteered for service with the Army Chaplains Department in early 1918 and was commissioned on 7 January 1918. Served with the 9th (North Irish Horse) Battalion, Princess Victoria’s (Royal Irish Fusiliers) as chaplain from 26 January 1918 to the end of June 1918. Awarded an MC for his actions at Wulverghem on 13 April 1918. Continued to serve in the Division as Chaplain with 110th Field Ambulance from the end of June 1918. He was released from service on 22 November 1919.

ALLMAN Captain The Reverend William Brown - (WO 374/1273) Born in 1887. Studied at Trinity College, Dublin. Curate Armagh City 1902-05, Rector of Killeavy 1905-06, Rector of Milltown 1906-14, Rector of Clonfeacle 1914-18. Volunteered for service with the Army Chaplains Department after a request from Major The Reverend F J Halahan MC, an old friend. Chaplain in 36th (Ulster) Division to the Machine Gun Corps from 4 to 25 June 1918. Chaplain to the 9th (North Irish Horse) Battalion, Princess Victoria’s (Royal Irish Fusiliers) from 26 June 1918 for the remainder of the war. Released from service on 3 March 1919 and returned to his parish at Clonfeacle.

I have a photo of Mayes, PM me if you would lie a copy.

I hope this is of use,

Nick

[Audax]

Nick,

Well done. Very informative!

A

[Desmond7]

Rev. Gibson - already mentioned in thread - sympathy letter home to family of Rfn. Alexander McClean, Royal Irish Rifles. Note the spelling!! Thought this may be of interest.

[Nigel Marshall]

The Somme Centre in Newtownabbey have the diary of a Rev. Wm Redmond, C of I, who attended to Major Willie Redmond (no relation) at the 108 Field Hospital on June 7 1917. I'm sure they'll give you loads of help if you give them a call.

I apologise for my descent into pedantry but the Somme Heritage Centre is in Conlig, between Newtownards and Bangor, not Newtownabbey.

Cheers,

Nigel

[tommy mcclimonds]

Audax

When looking for something else I came across a couple of references to Chaplains in the 16th Rifles in Stuart Whites book "The Terrors". Chaplain Gibson (from Lurgan) was apparently the first Chaplain to 16th Rifles followed later at some stage by a Padre Paton. I hope this is useful to you.

Regards, Tommy.

[Audax]

Tommy,

Indeed it is! I've not heard of the book 'The Terrors' before - I must look it up.

Thanks

Audax

[tommy mcclimonds]

Audax

Here is the full details, "The Terrors - 16th (Pioneer) Battalion Royal Irish Rifles, by Lt Col Stuart N White CD MA, late RE, published by the Somme Association, 1996, ISBN - 0 9527529 0 5.

Regards, Tommy.