Private John McCartney

 

The background of this man is not certain, but he may have been the John McCartney born at Eden, Dirraw, County Antrim, on 4 April 1896, the fifth of twelve children of labourer (later groom) John McCartney and his wife Margaret Jane (née Boorman). At the time of the 1911 Census he was living at 82 Dunluce Avenue, Belfast, with his parents and his eight surviving siblings (another would be born in 1915), and was working as a message boy. Soon after, the family moved to nearby Melrose Street.

McCartney enlisted in the 6th (Inniskilling) Dragoons Service Squadron between 31 August and 15 September 1915 (No. UD/291). In early September 1916 he was transferred to the Royal Engineers, Railway Operating Division (No.194416 – later re-numbered as WR/259321).

At some point from January 1916 he embarked for France. The Presbyterian Church in Ireland's Roll of Honour: 1914-1919 which records him as a Royal Engineer, of 52 Melrose Street, notes that he had been wounded.

On 30 June 1920 McCartney married Susan Molyneaux in the Malone Presbyterian Church, Belfast. He recorded his address as 57 Melrose Street, and his occupation as a locomotive fireman.

 

My thanks to Robert Mitchell, who identified this man as a member of the Inniskilling squadron.

 

This page last updated 23 July 2026.