Pte. William Henry Wallace, 5088 2nd Royal Irish Rifles, KIA 9th May 1915

[Ivor Anderson]

Pte. William Henry Wallace, 5088 2nd Royal Irish Rifles, KIA 9th May 1915 

William H Wallace arrived in France on 8 Nov 1914 with 2nd Royal Irish Rifles. No surviving service record - pre WW1 enlistment?

His Soldier's effect shows he died in action on 9th May 1915 'nr Hill 60'. I cannot find the 2nd R I Rifles diary for 1914-15? MIC (Ancestry):

CWGC: https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/casualty-details/488158/william-henry-wallace/

Edited 5 April by Ivor Anderson

[clk]

Hi Ivor,

9 minutes ago, Ivor Anderson said:

I cannot find the 2nd R I Rifles diary for 1914-15

At the National Archives it's here

Regards
Chris

[Ivor Anderson]

Thanks Chris. All but that one appeared in my search.    SDGW says he enlisted at Ballykinlar, Co. Down.   Born Dromore 10 Oct 1887. Widow Florence Elizabeth.

Pension card image - Fold3:

Edited 6 April by Ivor Anderson

[Ivor Anderson]

War diary for 9th May 1915 confirms they were near Hill 60:

[Ivor Anderson]

William Murray 5/5075 with RIRif got a silver war badge due to shell shock - enlisted 1 May 1912: https://www.ancestry.co.uk/discoveryui-content/view/159319:2456?tid=&pid=&queryId=3d6e95a0-877b-4788-95b4-dc81860b7e74&_phsrc=qzF16598&_phstart=successSource

Thomas English 5/5087 enlisted 10 June 1912 (SWB): https://www.ancestry.co.uk/discoveryui-content/view/160405:2456?tid=&pid=&queryId=ed9cd7a1-e589-48f8-8974-c708491efc21&_phsrc=qzF16615&_phstart=successSource

Edited 6 April by Ivor Anderson

[Ivor Anderson]

Buried grave I.R.24, Spoilbank Cemetery, Zillebeke, Arrondissement Ieper, West Flanders, Belgium:  https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/12113937/william-henry-wallace

[Ivor Anderson]

Thomas English 5087 prev enlisted in March 1905? https://www.ancestry.co.uk/discoveryui-content/view/633919:1219?tid=&pid=&queryId=850d8fc6-f5de-4b38-baa5-346e06b691e8&_phsrc=qzF16619&_phstart=successSource

William Wallace may have done the same.

Edited 6 April by Ivor Anderson

[corisande]

[corisande]

Which gives you his marriage. All 3 children were born in Stevenston

 

[Ivor Anderson]

Thanks Corisande. So, he got married after completing his 6 years service in 1911 and joined up again in June 1912 after the birth of his first child (Elizabeth b.  1 May 1912)?

Edited 6 April by Ivor Anderson

[corisande]

I cannot be certain of his life from 1901 to 1914, but can add

1887 birth

 

1901 census in Ireland

 

So if he served for 6 years it had to be between 1901 (he was only 14 then ) and 1911 census which has him as a civilian in Scotland. So he could have enlisted initially in 1904.05 for 6 years

 

1911 census in Stevenston, Scotland

Resident at 66 New St., Stevenston as a Boarder with the Fairley Family. Occupation in 1911 as a `Dynamite Worker`at ICI in Ardeer, Scotland

 

[Ivor Anderson]

That's great. Thank you. He is was the grandfather of an uncle of mine by marriage. He sends his thanks.

William Wallace & Thomas English seem to have trained with the 5th battalion before being sent to France with a later draft (medal roll - Ancestry):

Edited 6 April by Ivor Anderson
Additional Info

[Ivor Anderson]

Robert Dennison 5086 entered France with 2nd Bn. on 8 Nov 1914 - the same day as William Wallace.  Robert enlisted Ballykinlar.

            He was missing, presumed dead on 9 July 1916: https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/casualty-details/756640/robert-dennison/

James Hall 5090 enlisted Ballykinlar.  entered France with 2nd Bn. on 11 Nov 1914 -

           Died of wounds 28 Jan 1916: https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/casualty-details/199713/j-hall/

Edited 6 April by Ivor Anderson