St Enoch Presbyterian Church, Duncairn, Belfast (1)

Thomas Rainey AGNEW. Stoker 1st Class SS/113435, Royal Navy on HMS Vangard. Died 9 July 1917. Born 1892 to Samuel and Dorothy Agnew, of 138, Spamount Street., Belfast. Commemorated on the Chatham Naval Memorial, Kent.
HMS Vanguard was one of three St Vincent-class dreadnought battleships built for the Royal Navy in the first decade of the 20th century. She spent her career assigned to the Home and Grand Fleets. Aside from participating in the Battle of Jutland in May 1916 and the inconclusive Action of 19 August several months later, her service during World War I mostly consisted of routine patrols and training in the North Sea. Shortly before midnight on 9 July 1917 at Scapa Flow, Vanguard suffered a series of magazine explosions. She sank almost instantly, killing 843 of the 845 men aboard. The wreck was heavily salvaged after the war, but was eventually protected as a war grave in 1984. It was designated as a controlled site under the Protection of Military Remains Act 1986, and diving on the wreck is generally forbidden.

Robert BOYD. Rifleman 582, 10th Royal Irish Rifles. Born 1879 to Mrs. Jeannie Boyd of 17 India Street, Belfast. Killed in action 1 July 1916 aged 37 years. Commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial, Somme, France.

William Hatchell BOYD. 2nd Lieutenant, 9th Royal Dublin Fusiliers. Born 1887 to the Rev. Samuel T. Boyd, B.A., and Mrs. Boyd, of Dublin. Killed in action 9 September 1916 aged 29 years. Commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial, Somme, France.

John BOYLAN. Private 12558, 15th Royal Irish Rifles. Born 1898 to John and Annie Boylan, of 166, Alexandra Park Avenue, Belfast later of 23 Annadale Street, Belfast. Killed in action 1 July 1916 aged 20 years. Commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial, Somme, France.

Hugh BROWN. 2nd Lieutenant, 6th attached 1st Royal Irish Rifles. Killed in action 31 July 1917. Commemorated on the Menin Gate Memorial, Ypres, Belgium.

John Brown. Royal Irish Rifles. Unable to find the correct record for this person recorded with the CWGC

James CAMERON (Military Medal). Sergeant 160496, 50th Canadian Infantry. Born 1892 to James and Sarah Cameron, of 52, Brookhill Avenue, Antrim Road, Belfast, Ireland. Formerly of Ballymena, Co. Antrim. Died 5 June 1917 aged 25 years. At rest in Barlin Communal Cemetery Extension, France.

William CARLISLE. Rifleman 11211, 1st Royal Irish Rifles. Husband of Elizabeth Carlisle, of 14, Court Street, Belfast, Ireland. Killed in action 23 October 1916, aged 24 years. Commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial, Somme, France

John CARSON Rifleman 24/991 2.3rd New Zealand Rifles. Killed in action 15 October 1917. At rest in Lijssenthoek Military Cemetery, Belgium.
Next of kin - Miss Lily Carson (sister), Frederick Street, Belfast, Ireland

Jack CRICHTON Lance Corporal, (Private) 642640, 4th Canadian Infantry. Died of wounds 5 July 1917 Downview Avenue, Belfast. At rest in La Targette Britisg Cemetery, Neuville-Sain- Vaast, France.
John Crichton was the youngest son of John and Martha Crichton. He was born on 1st June 1888 in Belfast. The family lived in Belfast but his father was a cloth finisher who worked at various times in Coalisland. John Jack Crichton emigrated to the United States in 1910. Prior to enlisting, Jack was living in Ontario, Canada. He enlisted in December 1915. Private Jack Crichton was serving with the 4th Battalion of the Canadian Infantry when he died of wounds at a Canadian Field Ambulance in France on 5th July 1917.
John Crichton was the youngest son of John and Martha Crichton. John Crichton married Martha Beattie about 1872, probably in Scotland where they both hailed from. John Crichton was born on 1st June 1888 in Belfast. He was one seven children, five surviving. His older sister Davina was born in Scotland about 1879 and Eliza was born in Belfast in November 1881, so the family moved to Ireland around 1880. The 1901 census lists John as age 12, living with the family at house 37 in Crumlin Road, Clifton Ward, Belfast. John was still at school. His father was a cloth finisher. Jack was a lieutenant in the Boys Brigade. Jack and the family were members of St Enoch’s Presbyterian Church, Belfast.

William CLARKE. Private 18818, 2nd Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers. Only son of Robert And Agnes Clarke of 40 Christopher Street, Belfast. Killed in action 3 July 1916 aged 22 years. Commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial, Somme, France.

James Wilson CORDNER. (Military Cross) Lieutenant 2nd Royal Irish Rifles. The Manse, Drumbo. Killed in action 16 April 1918. At rest in Minty Farm, Cemetery, Belgium. He was onetime assistant minister at St. Enoch’s Presbyterian Church, Belfast and became a minister in the United Free Church in Lisburn. London Gazette dated 3 August 1915. Royal Irish Rifles. The undermentioned to be temporary Second Lieutenants James Cordner. Dated 7th June 1915.
Edinburgh Gazette dated 22 July 1918. Military Cross Citation.
T./Lt. James Wilson Cordner. Royal Irish Rifles.
For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty while in charge of a wiring party. He wired 500 yards of newly captured trenches in daylight in full view of the enemy and under heavy fire. His coolness and determination were an inspiration to his men.
At rest in Minty Farm Cemetery, Belgium.

Hampton CRAWFORD. Corporal, (Private) 25239, 9th Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers. Son of Samuel and Mary Ann Crawford of 3 Trinity Street, Belfast. Commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial, Somme, France. CWGC list his rank as Private

David FERGUSON. 14599, 9th Royal Irish Rifles. Killed in action at the battle of the Somme, 1 July 1916. At rest in Serre Road Cemetery No 2, Somme, France.

Frederick George FRENCH. Private 874792, 27th Canadians. Son of Thomas and Anne Jane French of 26 Cumberland Street, Belfast. Killed in action 10 April 1917 aged 31 years. At rest in Nine Elms Military Cemetery, Thelus, France.

Stewart FULTON. U S National Guards? Residing with his parents at 11 Rosewood Street, Belfast. Killed in action. (No further information available).

Frederick William GIRVAN. Captain, 8th Devonshire Regiment. Son of Robert and Isabella Girvan of 115 Cavehill Road, Belfast. Later of 24 Easton Gardens. Killed in action 26 October 1917 aged 24 years. Commemorated on the Tyne Cot memorial, Belgium.

R GRIBBEN. The CWGC have only two R Cribbens (no variants) -
Robert GRIBBEN. Stoker 1879T, Royal Naval Reserve of HMS Queen Mary. Son of William and Eliza Gribben, of Larne; husband of Maggie Gribben, of Larne, Co. Antrim. Killed at sea 31 May 1916 aged 39 years. Commemorated on the Portsmouth Naval Memorial, Hampshire.

or
Robert GRIBBEN. Rifleman 23/1393, 1/3rd New Zealand Rifle Brigade. Son of James Gribben, of The Racecourse, Lower Broughshane, Ballymena, Co. Antrim. Died 17 June 1917 aged 28 years. At rest in Bailleul Communal Cemetery Extension, Nord France.

Archibald McMillan HANNA. 15th Royal Irish Rifles. Residing at 27 Court Street, Belfast. Killed in action 1 July 1916. Commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial, Somme, France.
Archibald McMillan Hanna was born on 1 February 1897 in Belfast and he was a son of Henry and Sarah Lyttle (sometimes Little) Hanna (nee McMillan, sometimes McMillen) who were married on 2 April 1896 in St Enoch’s Presbyterian Church Belfast. Henry Hanna from Belfast was a son of William George Hanna, a labourer. Sarah Lyttle McMillan from Belfast was a daughter of William John McMillen, a painter.
The Hanna family lived in Belfast at 43 Howe Street, at 38 Southport Street, at 45 Avonbeg Street, at 21 Strandview Street and at 27 Court Street.
Henry Hanna (born in Scotland) was a confectioner and he and Sarah had at least five children:
Archibald McMillan (born 1 February 1897 at 87 Bristol Street, Belfast; baptised in St Enoch’s Presbyterian Church Belfast)
Henry Raymond (Harry, born 16 September 1899 at 38 Southport Street, Belfast)
Eleanor Logan (born 25 October 1904 at 45 Avonbeg Street, Belfast)
Elizabeth Phoebe (born 15 April 1911 at 21 Strandview Street, Belfast)
William Shipcott (born 15 June 1915 at 27 Court Street, Belfast)
Archibald McMillan Hanna worked as a clerk and lived for a time in Nottingham before the outbreak of the Great War. He enlisted in Belfast and served with the 15th Battalion Royal Irish Rifles in 107th Brigade of the 36th (Ulster) Division.
Rifleman Archibald McMillan Hanna was 19 when he was killed in action on the first day of the Battle of the Somme and he has no known grave.
Rifleman Archibald McMillan Hanna (No. 12892) is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial in France, on the Memorial Plaque in Hamilton Road Presbyterian Church Bangor and in the Belfast Book of Honour (Page 249). He is also commemorated in St Andrew’s Presbyterian Church Nottingham.

Charles HANNA. Private 745394 2nd Canadian Infantry. Son of William and Catherine Hannah. Killed in action 6 November 1917. At rest in Oosttaverne Wood Cemetery, Belgium.

Arthur HEENAN. Private 8966, 1st Royal Irish Rifles. Son of John and Mary Jane of 8 Suir Street, Belfast. Killed in action 9 May 1915 aged 26 years. Commemorated on the Ploegsteert Memorial, Belgium.