BEATTY, James Harold

Trooper, Fort Garry Horse, Canadian Mounted Rifles
Service No: 115976
Died: 01/04/1918
Age: 21

Interred in Hangard Communal Cemetery Extension
Remembered on family memorial in Bangor Cemetery

Known as 'Hal', James Harold Beatty was born on 16 January 1896 in Killarty, a townland near Brookeborough in Co Fermanagh. He was the son of James Joseph Beatty, a farmer, and his wife Annie Beatty nee Bamford.

Shortly after the family moved to Neonery in the townland of Crossdoney, Co Cavan and it was there that James grew up with his older brother George.

In April 1914, now a Clerk, James emigrated to Canada on the Empress of Ireland. Going to to Halifax, Nova Scotia, James was taking up a position as Bank Clerk with the Canadian Bank of Commerce.

Hal is recorded in the Canadian First World War
Book of Remembrance

James was living in Nokomis, Saskatchewan, when, on 16 February 1916, he went to Portage la Prairie, Manitoba, to enlist and was posted to the 10th Overseas Canadian Mounted Rifle Regiment.

Within a month of enlisting James health had suffered coming down with a mild case of influenza and a severe case of measles.

When he had recovered he embarked on the 29 April 1916 onboard the SS Olympic going to Shorncliffe, a camp near Cheriton in Kent, which was a staging post for troops destined for the Western Front. It was here in May, that James was promoted acting Lance Corporal.

James health also took another setback here when, in June, he contracted a mild case of German measles.

Reverting to the ranks at own request on 10 December 1916 shortly before leaving Shorncliffe on 17 December 1916 James left to join the Fort Garry Horse in France where it was part of the Canadian Cavalry Brigade, arriving on the 19 December 1916.

James joined his unit on 5 January 1917 and served with them for just over a year when he was killed in action on 1 April 1918.

ORR, John Francis

Rifleman, 11th Batt., Royal Irish Rifles
Service No: 18/358
Died: 01/07/1916

Remembered on the Thiepval Memorial
Remembered on family memorial in Bangor Cemetery

John Francis Orr was born on 28th September 1889 in Main Street, Bangor. He was the son of John Orr, a labourer and brick moulder, and his wife Agnes Orr (nee Fowler), and was the 8th of their 11 children.

The family moved to Castle Street in Bangor where they are recorded in the 1901 census and later in 1911. However, John, now working as a labourer, was staying with his sister Sarah in Ballyree in the census of 1911.

John enlisted with the 18th Battalion, Royal Irish Rifles, which was formed in Holywood in April 1915 as a Reserve Battalion and which later moved to Clandeboye in July 1915.

It was while here he married Minnie McCamley on 8th October 1915 in Ballygilbert Presbyterian Church.

He was transferred to the 11th Battalion and entered France on the 8th December 1915.

John was reported missing after the first day the Battle of the Somme. His parents appealed for information in the local papers. It is reported that a soldier in a French hospital wrote and told them that he had seen John with shrapnel wounds to his legs but it was later confirmed that John must be presumed killed in action on the 1st July.