Royal Irish Rifles

[DavyJohn]

I am trying to track any information on 18/556 Rifleman S Speers who trained with the 18th Bn. R.I.R. in Northern Ireland and unfortunatelt died at Victoria Barracks in Belfast before having the chance to be posted to the front. He died on 7th July 1916 aged 35 and is buried at Dunluce and features in the Commonwealth War Graves Commission records.

In a local newspaper a report states that he had promotion to Corporal, so another mystery is what happened to that.

Any info or guidance however small would be appreciated. I have checked the on line medals site, came up with some simialr names but the Regt Nos. dont match.

[markinbelfast]

More thank likely he didnt get medals...the 18th were a reserve batt and if he didnt go overseas then he wasnt within range of the guns to qualify for medals..

have you checked the newspaper from the time to see if he is mentioned..

have you checked the book Bushmills heroes?

[linge]

Soldiers Dies has the following:

Rifleman, 556, Samuel Speers

18th Battalion, Royal Irish Rifles

Died, Home, 7th July 1916

Born: Bushmills, Co. Antrim

Enlisted: Clandeboye, Co. Down

Residence: Bushmills, Co. Antrim

Regards

Pam

[swizz]

Hi Davy

He's in Robert Thompson's 'Bushmills Heroes' book with a few pictures and an account of the funeral. Might be worth getting hold of.

Swizz

[carninyj]

Here's his headstone in Bushmills.

Regards

Carninyj