Name

Thomas John McAteer.

Description

Newspaper Photograph of Rifleman Thomas John McAteer.

Life Story

Name: Thomas John McAteer.

Service Number: 17/2303.

Rank: Rifleman.

Battalion: 22nd Entrenching Battalion, late 11th/13th Bn.

Regiment: Royal Irish Rifles.

Born: 28th December 1890, Shankill, Belfast.

Died: 28th March 1918.

Address: 56 Brownlow Street, Shankill, Belfast

.

Thomas John McAteer, son of Thomas and Sarah Jane McAteer, lived with his wife and children at 56 Brownlow Street, Shankill, Belfast.

.

The 1911 Ireland Census has Thomas living at 27 Dundee Street, Shankill, Belfast with his sister, Agnes, Head Of House, Mill Worker, and two brothers, Robert, 16 years, Fluter Unemployed, David, 18 years, Machine Boy. Thomas occupation at this time is given as Fluter.

.

Robert signed the Ulster Covenant on the 28th of September 1912, Ulster Day, within the Albert Hall, Shankill Road, Belfast.

.

Thomas married Mary McAteer, Nee McMullan on the 16th November 1913 within Saint Annes Church of Ireland Church, Belfast.

They went on to have two children, their names and dates of births are the following, Thomas John McAteer born 16th November 1914 and Rosina McAteer born 26th November 1918, meaning Rosina never had the chance to meet her father

.

Thomas joined the Royal Irish Rilfes.

He was posted as part of the British Expeditionary Force to France.

Thomas was a Rifleman in 22nd Entrenching Battalion Royal Irish Rilfes when he was Killed In Action on the 28th March 1918 aged 27 years

.

A local newspaper states

.

THREE SONS GONE.

Mrs Maggie McAteer, 56 Brownlow Street, Belfast has been notified that her husband 2303 Rifleman Thomas J McAteer, 11th-13th Royal Irish Rifles, who was reported missing on 28th March 1918, is now reported as having been killed on that date (or since). Deceased had about four years service to his credit, and prior to enlistment was employed by Messrs James Mackie and Sons Limited, Springfield Road, Belfast. He is one of three brothers to make the supreme sacrifice in the Great War - Lance Corporal Robert, 6th Royal Irish Rifles, killed in action in August 1915, and Private David McAteer, killed in action July 1916

.

S.A.S.H believe that a mistake has been made around Thomas wife's first name, Maggie instead of Mary, within this article. We also believe that a lack of connection to the address of the photograph of Thomas leaves it open to dispute, however we believe they should be added as part of his profile given we cannot find any other Rifleman Thomas John McAteer within the Royal Irish Rifles mentioned throughout research, including Newspapers, at this period of time. We also hope that this opens an opportunity for Others to help solve the issue.

.

Thomas Soldiers Effects were left to his widow.

Dependant Pension Application Forms show his widow as claimant for herself and children

.

See brother also: 10605 Lance Corporal Robert McAteer 6th Battalion Royal Irish Rifles.

See brother also: 4493 Private David McAteer 2nd Battalion Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers.

.

Thomas received the British War Medal and Victory Medals.

.

He is Remembered at Pozieres Memorial, France.

To Remember Is To Honour

.