bobdenn Posted 22 November , 2007 Share Posted 22 November , 2007 In the City Cemetery, Derry, Northern Ireland is a headstone (non military) with the words "R. Verschoyle WALKER MC beloved husband of Annette WALKER died 26th October 1936". I have done some research and I believe this is Robert Verschoyle WALKER, late of the 6th Connaught Rangers. He won his MC for action whilst an RAF observer in an ME over France. He was a 2nd Liuetenant at the time. But what is his connection with Northern Ireland and Londonderry in particular. Thanks Bobdenn Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Desmond7 Posted 22 November , 2007 Share Posted 22 November , 2007 6th Connaught Rangers had a large number of 'northern' recuits in its ranks. It was the battalion commanded by Rowland Feilding of War Letters to a Wife fame. Not unusual for Ulstermen to be ound in this CRs. And also, and you may find this strange, a fair few northern 'unionist' officers! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Desmond7 Posted 22 November , 2007 Share Posted 22 November , 2007 And I would nearly guarantee you that forum member Rob Elliott will be able to sort you out on this one. Forgot to say that in the first post. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rob elliott Posted 24 November , 2007 Share Posted 24 November , 2007 Hi Bob, Thanks for the endorsment Des, hope i can be of help. Although i'm not familiar with this particular serviceman, i am with the name of Verschoyle. This was a well known County Fermanagh family. I will make the assumption that they were either Dutch and came over with King William or Hugenots and came a bit later. However the former seems more likely as this is perhaps how they got their land. They were involved in the formation and training of the original UVF, i think around Ballinamallard. The member of this family i know of most is Terence, who was an officer in the UVF and when war broke out, served in the Inniskillings. I think it was the 5th Battalion and was at Gallipoli. There are taped interviews with him held by the Imperial War Museum. I have copies of some interviews he did, although i think they could well be the same ones donated to the museum later. I also have attestation papers for the Fermanagh UVF signed by Terence. As this is such an unusual name i am of the opinion that Robert Verschoyle Walker has been named after a connection to the family, through his mothers side perhaps. There are a few people named Robert Walker who signed the Ulster Covenant and came from Londonderry City or close enough to it to perhaps move there after partition to be your man. Regarding the 6th Connaughts. Not my field at all but as Des says this battalion recruited in the North of ireland and had a large contingent of Nationalist recruits both from West Belfast and Londonderry City. There is a guy in L/Derry who researches the Connaughts and he may know more. I think he will be at this do i was messaging you about Bob, but i don't acctually know him. Rob Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Lyons Posted 10 September , 2012 Share Posted 10 September , 2012 In the City Cemetery, Derry, Northern Ireland is a headstone (non military) with the words "R. Verschoyle WALKER MC beloved husband of Annette WALKERdied 26th October 1936". I have done some research and I believe this is Robert Verschoyle WALKER, late of the 6th Connaught Rangers. He won his MC for action whilst an RAF observer in an ME over France. He was a 2nd Liuetenant at the time. But what is his connection with Northern Ireland and Londonderry in particular. Thanks Bobdenn I have learned that Robert Verschoyle Walker is (was) my 1st cousin 3x removed. Robert, both his parents and his maternal grandparents were all born in Donegal. His paternal grandparents were born in Cavan. Robert Verschoyle Walker married Annette Margaret McClelland in the Ballyarnett Parish in Londonderry. Annette's mother (Robert's mother-in-law) was also born and married in Londonderry. I do not know when Annette passed or if she and Robert had a family of their own. I'd love to know but alas the trail has gone cold for me. To the original poster, Bobdenn, I would love to know if you could take a photo of the headstone for me? Stephen Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Becasse Posted 14 September , 2012 Share Posted 14 September , 2012 I am looking out my window at the Verschoyle Fishery - a plaque on the wall just above the Ridge Pool in Ballina, Co. Mayo. There is currently a relation of his in Naas, Co. Kildare who is a Publisher & has South African connections (Dutch?) There was a programme on RTE about the Verschoyle's a fewv years ago. Any help? Tony Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Becasse Posted 18 September , 2012 Share Posted 18 September , 2012 There is a Headstone in St. Michael's Church, Ballina. " Sacred to the beloved memory of the Rev. Joseph Verschoyle, Rector of Kilmoremoy. He died in perfect peace because he trusted in thee. Jan. 24th 1867. Aged 72 Years." Tony Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nicola GILL Posted 18 November , 2021 Share Posted 18 November , 2021 Hello, I believe Verscoyle was my Granny’s brother. I heard about him as a child but moved away from Northern Ireland 40 years ago, I thought the war story was a figment of my imagination until I saw your posts on Remembrance Sunday just gone. I am at the very beginning of researching my family tree, does anyone have any more information please? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JasonMc Posted 18 November , 2021 Share Posted 18 November , 2021 1 hour ago, Nicola GILL said: Hello, I believe Verscoyle was my Granny’s brother. I heard about him as a child but moved away from Northern Ireland 40 years ago, I thought the war story was a figment of my imagination until I saw your posts on Remembrance Sunday just gone. I am at the very beginning of researching my family tree, does anyone have any more information please? Hi Nicola, Welcome to the forum, hopefully someone who knows more will be able to give you more info. But on reading the old posts and noting that he was born in Donegal, and it's such a rare surname, I think there's a great chance that he was connected to the Goold-Verschoyle family. They were from Dunkineely and there's a great book written about them The Family on Paradise Pier by Dermot Bolger. You can learn about one of the family here https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brian_Goold-Verschoyle but all the siblings have very interesting lives. The Goold Verschoyle family home still remains on the main st in Dunkineely. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nicola GILL Posted 19 November , 2021 Share Posted 19 November , 2021 Apologies, I’ve probably caused confusion with my poorly written post but thank you, you’ve given me even more food for thought. I had always known Verscoyle to my great uncle's Christian name, he was Verscoyle Walker. That may have been his middle name as my dad’s eldest brother is also a Verscoyle albeit that is his second middle name. Thank you Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ivor Anderson Posted 19 November , 2021 Share Posted 19 November , 2021 Robert Verschoyle Walker was a 17 year old boarder at Sligo Grammar School on the 1911 census. He was living with his parents in Ballyconnell, Crossroads, Donegal in 1901: http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/reels/nai000654090/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ivor Anderson Posted 19 November , 2021 Share Posted 19 November , 2021 (edited) His parents Henry Walker & Lucy Lyons were married in Cavan on 8th May 1890. Verschoyle must be further back if it is a family surname. Robert Verschoyle Walker was born at Ballyconnell, Donegal on 18th December 1893 (irishgenealogy.ie): EDIT: I checked Verschoyle marriages from 1845-1864 and there are none who married Walker! Edited 19 November , 2021 by Ivor Anderson Additional information Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nicola GILL Posted 19 November , 2021 Share Posted 19 November , 2021 Thank you very much. My Granny was born in 1904 and not on there. Granny and Granda had three boys and now I know why one had Lyons as a middle name, my dad had Walker as one of his. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ivor Anderson Posted 19 November , 2021 Share Posted 19 November , 2021 (edited) His parents and siblings were still living at Ballyconnell, Co. Donegal in 1911. I wonder which estate his father was Land Agent on? http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/reels/nai002057465/ Edited 19 November , 2021 by Ivor Anderson Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
monkstown Posted 19 November , 2021 Share Posted 19 November , 2021 Fantastic book on the Verschoyle 'dynasty' by Virginia Mason Virginia Mason, Gens Van Der Scuylen, 600 Years of the Verschuijl and Verschoyle Family (Whitehill: Verschoyle Mason Publications, 2001) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nicola GILL Posted 19 November , 2021 Share Posted 19 November , 2021 Thank you, definitely the correct family, my Granny is Beatrice Edna, known as Edna. I’ll get the book too. Thank you Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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