Sergeant Major James Campbell 7th Batt R.I.R

[CarrickRollofHonour]

People can anyone shed anymore light on S.M James Campbell pictured below.

I have a link to Carrickfergus through the photo from Belfast Telegraph in 1917 - according to some information I have he is listed as living in Portadown when enlisting. I am therefore struggling to see a connection to Carrickfergus - if anyone can shed any light on James I would greatly appreciate it.

NAME; Campbell, James

RANK; Sergeant-Major

SERV. NO; 4842

UNIT/SERVICE; 7^th Battalion

REGIMENT; Royal Irish Rifles

BORN; Blaris, Co Antrim

LIVED; Victoria Street, Carrickfergus / Portdown, Co. Armagh

ENLISTED; Belfast

FATE; Killed in Action 9^th August 1917

CEMETERY; Body Never Recovered

CHURCH;

MEMORIAL; Ypres, Menin Gate Memorial, Panel 40

REMARKS;

[aradgick]

Where were his next of kin living when he was killed? This is often the 'address' of the dead soldier.

Andrewr

[Guest drhekennedy]

I have been carrying out some informal investigation on behalf of "Killyleagh remembers the Great War" for several days.....there are a few soldiers recorded on the War Memorial in the village about which very little is known (I have been able to establish that either (a) they were not native to Kilyleagh but, rather, came to work in the Spinning Mills or ( they were born and lived in Killyleagh, but moved to Belfast after 1911)

One of these soldiers was a Patrick Rooney (lived from early childhood in Shrigley and married in Killyleagh). He was a Lance Corporal (# 6738) with the 7th Battalion RIR and enlisted in Ballykinlar. He was KIA on 8th Aug 1917 (or 7th Aug, depending on which record one consults). However, he married in Killyleagh RC Church on 26th Dec 1916: his occupation was recorded as "Soldier" and his place of residence at the time of his marriage as "Carrickfergus". So this would tie in somewhat with what you have already found, which has also been of help to me.

From what I can see, James Campbell was born Portadown, but enlisted in Belfast. He wrote his Will on 2nd April 1917 in which he named his wife Rose Campbell (Irish Quarters South, Carrickfergus) as his sole Legatee. If you Google "Soldier's Wills Ireland" it will bring you to the link on the National Archives of Ireland website and you can search for it from there. The two witnesses to the Will also give their addresses as Carrickfergus.

Hope this helps

[CarrickRollofHonour]

I have been carrying out some informal investigation on behalf of "Killyleagh remembers the Great War" for several days.....there are a few soldiers recorded on the War Memorial in the village about which very little is known (I have been able to establish that either (a) they were not native to Kilyleagh but, rather, came to work in the Spinning Mills or ( they were born and lived in Killyleagh, but moved to Belfast after 1911)

One of these soldiers was a Patrick Rooney (lived from early childhood in Shrigley and married in Killyleagh). He was a Lance Corporal (# 6738) with the 7th Battalion RIR and enlisted in Ballykinlar. He was KIA on 8th Aug 1917 (or 7th Aug, depending on which record one consults). However, he married in Killyleagh RC Church on 26th Dec 1916: his occupation was recorded as "Soldier" and his place of residence at the time of his marriage as "Carrickfergus". So this would tie in somewhat with what you have already found, which has also been of help to me.

From what I can see, James Campbell was born Portadown, but enlisted in Belfast. He wrote his Will on 2nd April 1917 in which he named his wife Rose Campbell (Irish Quarters South, Carrickfergus) as his sole Legatee. If you Google "Soldier's Wills Ireland" it will bring you to the link on the National Archives of Ireland website and you can search for it from there. The two witnesses to the Will also give their addresses as Carrickfergus.

Hope this helps

Many thanks for the info and best of luck with the project.