Chance find.
My better half was doing some family history research on line in the County Down region and came across the following death in an entry for 1918. -
Robert Orr from Newtownards, discharged soldier died of Lobar Pneumonia aged 17 in Newtownards Workhouse after four days of illness on the 28th June 1918. The death was registered by William McCulloch, Workshouse Newtownards.
Further research revealed the following. -
He was Rifleman 1688, 18th Reserve Battalion, Royal Irish Rifles. He joined up on the 16th February 1917 aged 18 years and 176 days. He lived at (1901 and 1911) 34 Mill Street, Newtownard, with his parents, William John and Flora Orr and his siblings. At the time of his enlistment his mother was his next of kin. His father may have been deceased. His occupation at the time of enlistment was a labourer. He was sent to Clandeboye Camp, Clandeboye Estate, Newtownards. He was discharged from the army aged 16 and 176 days on the 14th September 1917 for being under 17 years at the time of application under Para 392 (VI)(A) King's Regulation.
Whilst at the camp his conduct left a lot to be desired. Failed to turn up for tattoo (muster), breaking out camp while under detention, breaking into a locked up shop in High Street, Newtownards, the list offences went on.
He is at rest in Row 11 Grave 26. Movilla Cemetery, Newtownards, Northern Ireland.
The following extract is taken from "Remembering their Sacrifice in the Great War. The war dead of North Down and Ards." Compiled by Barry Niblock.
Orr Robert
Rifleman
No.18/1688, 18th Battalion, Royal Irish Rifles
Died of pneumonia on Friday 28 June 1918 (aged17)
Newtownards (Movilla) Cemetery (Grave 11.26)
Robert Orr was born in March 1901 in Newtownards and he was a son of William John and Flora Orr (nee Boyd) who lived at 34 Mill Street. They were married on 5 May 1884 in Newtownards Parish Church of Ireland. William John Orr worked as a dealer and he and Flora had at least ten children including Maggie, Mary, James, William, Hugh, Rubina, Samuel, Isabella and Robert.
Robert Orr was a young child when his father died and it is on record that he joined the army twice. On the first occasion he was so young that he was 'claimed off'. Not to be denied he enlisted again on 26 February 1917 and joined the 18th Battalion Royal Irish Rifles. He declared he was 18 years old, he was a labourer and he was unmarried. It was noted in his attestation papers that he was 5 feet 6¼ inches tall and he cited as his next-of-kin his mother Flora. On a couple of occasions Robert Orr went absent without leave from training camp at Clandeboye to visit friends and 3 July 1917 he was transferred to the 20th Battalion Royal Irish Rifles.
On 14 September 1917 at Newtownards Robert Orr was discharged from the Army on the grounds of being underage; at the time he was aged 16 years 169 days. He obtained employment as an auxiliary postman in Newtownards and he died of pneumonia on 28 June 1918.
In the 6 July 1918 edition of the Newtownards Chronicle his funeral was reported un the headline 'Buried with Military Honours'. A contingent of military personnel under the charge of Company Quarter Master Sergeant Stevens attended the funeral and Lord Londonderry's Own Flute Band, of which Robert had been a member, played with the drums draped.
In the house of mourning and at the graveside the Rev Canon WLT Whatham, Rector of Newtownards Parish Church (St Mark) conducted the services.
Extract from Newtownards Chronicle -
`
Buried with Military Honours. The funeral of ex-Rifleman, Robert Orr, late of the Royal Irish Rifles and son of Mrs Flora Orr, Mill Street, took place on Sunday afternoon, the place of interment being the family burying ground, Movilla. Deceased, who had the true martial spirit, joined the army twice. On the first occasion he was so young that he was claimed off, but he was not to be denied and again joined up only, however, to be discharged on medical grounds. He then secured a Government post as auxiliary postman on the Newtownards route. It was after a short illness that deceased succumbed to pneumonia, following the new influenza which is so prevalent locally. A contingent of military from the I.C.L.C. at the local camp was present under the charge of Company Q.-M.-Sergeant Stevans. The deceased was an enthusiastic member of "Lord Londonderry's Own" Flute Band and the band in full force attended the funeral, the drums being draped. There was a very large concourse of the general public, indeed it was one of the largest funerals seen in Newtownards for some time. On the way to the cemetery the band played most effectively the Dead March in "Saul" and other appropriate solemn music. In the house of mourning and at the graveside, Rev. Canon W L T Whatham, rector, conducted the services.Robert
