Listed: 1914-1918 Fallen from Kells & Connor area

With a new war memorial to be unveiled in Kells in June, the Ballymena Times reveals the impact that the war had on this small rural community.

The memorial is to be dedicated on Sunday, June 19 in the presence of Her Majesty’s Lord Lieutenant for the County of Antrim, Joan Christie, and Mid & East Antrim councillors.

Permission was given back in September by Mid & East Antrim Council to the Kells Community Group to erect a war memorial on Council land in the village.

Those who fell from the district during the 1914-1918 conflict were as follows:

AGNEW, John, 42593, Private, 12 Highland Light Infantry (HLI) formerly 28614 Royal Scots Fusiliers, KIA, 11 April, 1917, Arras Memorial, France. Born Crumkill/Tannaghmore, enlisted and lived Glasgow.

ALLEN, William, 6530, Rfn., 12 R. Irish Rifles, DOW (leg wounds) May 13, 1916. Buried Forceville Communal cemetery, France. Born Ballyclug, enlisted Ballymena, 19 year old son of Sam and Ellen of Dunnyvadden Kells

BARCLAY, James, 9802, Private. 1 Gordon Highlanders, KIA, January 17, 1916. Buried La Clytte Mil. Cemetery, Belgium. Born Kells, enlisted Aberdeen. Comm. Connor Pres. Church.

BARR, Matthew, 18/1197, Rfn. 11 R.Irish Rifles, KIA December 8, 1916. Buried La Plus Douve Farm, Belgium. Born Connor, enlisted Ballymena. Son of Duffin and Eliza Barr, Crumkill. Comm. Wellington St. Pres. Church. Born Connor, enlisted Ballymena. Son of Duffin and Eliza Barr, Crumkill. Comm. Wellington St. Pres. Church.

BARR, John, 7859, Rfn. 2 R. Irish Rifles, KIA July 7, 1916. Thiepval memorial. Aged 38, son of Duffin, Crumkill. Wife Ellen and six children at 159 Queen Street. Enlisted Ballymena. Comm.Wellington St. Pres. Church.

CALDWELL (Calwell), Samuel Coleman, 17396, Sgt. 12 R. Irish Rifles. DOW July 3, 1916. Buried at Puchevillers Cemetery, Somme. Son of Robert Torrens Calwell and Mary Elizabeth Calwell, of Ross Lodge, Kells, Co. Antrim. Enlisted Ballyclare. Comm. Kells Pres. Church.

CAMPBELL, Robert Alexander, 18961, Private, 11 R. Innis. Fus. KIA July 1, 1916. Thiepval Memorial. Born Connor/Galdanagh. Enlisted Belfast. Lived

Maryhill, Glasgow.

CAMPBELL, William John, 17356, Rfn. 12 R. Irish Rifles. KIA July 1, 1916. Buried Ancre British Cemetery, Somme. Born Kells, husband of Margaret Jane, 36 Waterloo Road, Larne.

COOPER, Robert, 18917, Rfn. 12 R. Irish Rifles, KIA July 1, 1916 (having been MIA from that date, body found in 1917). Buried Ancre British cemetery,

Somme. Aged 22, Born Kellswater, enlisted Ballymena. Son of James Cooper, Tullynamullan, Kells. Comm. Kells Pres, Church.

CUPPLES, David Private. 31 Btn. Canadian Inf. (Alberta Regt.) KIA 11/10/1918. Service no. 2138287. Aged 25, so of David Cupples, Kells.Buried Queant Communal Cemetery, Pas de Calais. Comm. Kells Pres. Church.

DUNCAN, Andrew Warwick MC, Lt. 38 Btn. Canadian Inf. (East Ontario Regt.) KIA 9/4/1917. Aged 25 son of Archibald and Margaret, Carnearney, Kells. Buried Villers Station Cemetery, Viller Au Bois, Pas de Calais. Comm. Connor Pres. Church.

FISHER, David Rfn. 8th R I Rifles. KIA 5/8/1917. Service no. 12258. Born Ballymena, enlisted Belfast. Comm. Menin Gate.

FISHER Hugh Private 1 Royal Scots. Died of wounds 30.10.1916. service no. 13907. Aged 22, son of Sam and Margaret, Old Green, Kells. Enlisted Glasgow.

Buried Struma Military Cemetery, Greece. Comm. Kells Pres. Church

FRANCEY, George, Private, Canadian Infantry (Quebec Regt.) 14th Bn. KIA between 12/06/1916 and 13/06/1916.Service No: 404342; Aged 25, formerly of Kells, son of John Francey. Buried Bedford House Cemetery and comm. Connor Pre. Church.

GAMBLE Frank Rfmn 12th Btn. R.I.Rifles. KIA 1/7/1916 Service No. 18993. Aged 21, born Connor, enlisted Ballymena, son of Mr. And Mrs. John Gamble, The Moat, Kells. Comm. Thiepval Memorial and Connor Pres. Church.

GLENHOLMES John Rfn. 8th R.I.Rifles. Died of wounds 7/6/1917. Service no. 1418. From Connor, enlisted Ballymena. Buried Bailleul Communal Cemetery Extension. Comm. Connor Pres. Church.

HAMILL Samuel George, Rfn. 13th R I Rifles. KIA 6th July 1916. Service no. 584. Aged 21, born Connor, enlisted Ballymena. Son of Margaret and late William John of Legland Street, Belfast. Buried Doullens Comm. Cem. Ext. no 1. Somme

KENNEDY Samuel Pte. 10th Cameronians, KIA 19th July 1917. Service no. 11168. Born Connor, enlisted Glasgow. Buried Brandhoek Mil. Cemetery Ypres.

KIRKWOOD Robert L/cpl. ‘C’ Coy. 12th Btn. RIRifles. Died of wounds at Southwark Mil. Hosp. 21st March 1916. Service No19049. Aged 24, Born Kells, son of Nat and Maggie Jane Kirkwood, Kells. Buried at Nunhead, All Saints Cemetery.Comm Connor Pres. Church.

MAIRS, Alexander, Stoker 1st Class, Royal Navy, H.M.S. Hawke. Died 15th October 1914. Service No: SS/101872. Aged 29. Son of John and Maggie Mairs, of Gracehill, Co. Antrim. Comm.. Chatham Naval memorial and Kells Pres. Church.

MAWHINNEY Samuel L/cpl. 11th Btn. RIRifles Died of wounds while a POW (rec. July 1) on 19th July 1916.Service No. 547. Aged 22, born Ahoghill. Son of Mrs. R. Mawhinney, Bridge View Kells.Buried Le Cateau Mil. Cem. Comm. Kells Pres. Church.

McCAUGHERN William John Rfn. 4th Btn. NZ Rifle Brigade. KIA 21st August 1917. Service no 41344. Aged 37, born Crushybracken, Rasharkin. Son of Andrew and Hannah McCaughern, ‘The Cottage’, Kells. Buried La Plus Douve Cem. Belgium.

McCLEAN William Rfn. 12th R I Rifles. KIA 15th April 1918. Service no, 19654. Aged 26, born and lived Ballymena area. Son of Samuel and Matilda McClean, Kells. Comm. Tyne Cot memorial, Belgium and Kells Pres. Church.

McCULLOUGH, James Alexander Sgt. Australian Infantry, A.I.F 42nd Bn. KIA 4th October 1917. Service No: 162 Aged 20 Son of R. and Isabell McCullough, of Punch’s Creek, Millmerran, Queensland.Formerly of Kilgad Cottages, Kells. Comm. Menin Gate.

McKEE William Pte. 2nd KOSB’s MIA declared dead 23rd July 1916. Service no. 22246. Born Connor/Tannybrake, Kells. Comm. ??????? and Kells Presbyterian Church

McMURRAY George Lcpl. 12th R I Rifles. KIA 1st July 1916. Service no. 19120. Born and lived Tannybrake, Kells, enlisted Ballymena. Comm. Thiepval Memorial and Connor Pres. Church.

McNEILLY Duncan Pte. 8th Seaforth Highlanders. Died of wounds rec. July 1917 on 6th May 1918. Service no. S/43179. Aged 20, born Glasgow, enlisted Ballymena. Son of Sam and Mary McNeilly of Liminary, Ballymena. Died in London,buried Kells and Connor New Cemetery. Comm. Wellington Street Pres. Church.

MENELLY (Meneely) Thomas Lcpl. 3rd Royal Fusiliers Died of wounds 25th may, 1915. Service no. 8733. Aged 35 son of William John of Burnside Cottage, Kells. Lived London. Buried Bailleul Cem. Nord, France.

SWANN Samuel Pte. 152 MG Coy. (f. 19785 R I Rifles). Died 13/5/1917. Service no. 17697. Son of Jos. And Agnes of Lisnevenagh. Buried Niederzwehren Cem. Germany. Comm. Kells Pres. Church.

THOMPSON John Rfmn. 2nd Btn. RIR (27). Died 16/6/1915 Service No. 4601. Son of Isbaella Thompson, Cromkill, Ballymena. Comm. On Menin Gate Ypres. Comm. Kells Presbyterian Church.