Ref ID: 5802
Name
John Mulgrew.
Description
Belfast Telegraph Newspaper Photograph of Rifleman John Mulgrew.
Life Story
Name: John Mulgrew.
Service Number: 9054.
Rank: Rifleman.
Battalion: 2nd Battalion.
Regiment: Royal Irish Rifles.
Born: 5th November 1888, Belfast.
Died: 27th October 1914.
Address: 68 Dundee Street, Belfast
.
John Mulgrew, son of James and Annie Mulgrew, lived with his wife and children at 39 Malt Street, Belfast.
.
The 1901 Ireland Census has John living at 29 Fox Row, Belfast with his mother, occupation, House Keeper, father, Butcher Unemployed, four brothers, Francis, 16 years, Barbers Apprentice, Samuel, 9 years, James, 5 years, Andrew, 2 years, and sister Jane, 18 years, Yarn Winder
.
The 1911 Ireland Census has John living at 92 Beverley Street, Belfast with his mother, three brothers, Samuel, 19 years, Foundry Labourer, James, 14 years, Andrew, 12 years, and sister Jane, Winder In Factory. Johns occupation at this time is given as General Labourer. (Annie by this stage is a widow, Johns father having died on the 26th October 1907
.
John had married Margaret Mulgrew, Nee Magee, on the 6th of March 1908 within Saint Anne's Church Belfast.
They went on to have two children, their names and dates of birth are as follows: John born 30th of May 1911, Annie born 24th of June 1913
.
John signed the Ulster Covenant on the 28th of September 1912, Ulster Day, within the Albert Hall, Shankill Road, Belfast
.
John joined the Royal Irish Rifles on the 17th August 1914.
He was posted as part of the British Expeditionary Force to France on the 11th of September 1914.
John was a Rifleman in B Company 2nd Battalion Royal Irish Rifles when he was Killed In Action in France on the 27th of October 1914 aged 25 years
.
A local newspaper states.
Rifleman (9054)John Mulgrew, B Company, 2nd Battalion Royal Irish Rifles, whose parents live at 68 Dundee Street, has been missing since the action of Neuve Chapelle, 27th October last, when the Rifles suffered heavily. He served for some years in the 3rd Battalion and enlisted at the outbreak of the war. His parents and wife are most anxious to hear anything of him. One brother is in the North Irish Horse and another is wounded prisoner of in Germany
.
Another states.
Rifleman John Mulgrew, 2nd Battalion R.I.R, who has been missing since the fight at Neuve Chapelle on October 27, was employed in the finishing house at the Pound Factory, Albert Street. His wife and two children live at 39 Malt Street, Belfast. Mrs Mulgrew has written to the International Red Cross Society at Geneva regarding her husband's fate, and has received replies to the effect that they have no information as to his whereabouts
.
A third states.
RANK AND FILE CASUALTIES.
Rifleman J Mulgrew (9054), 2nd Batt, Royal Irish Rifles, who was reported missing after the battle of Neuve Chapelle on the 27th October 1914, is now returned by the War Office as having been killed on that date or since. He served with the 3rd Batt Royal Irish Rifles, and re-joined the 2nd Battalion at the outbreak of war, prior to which he was employed by the Durham Street Finishing Company. Deceased leaves a wife and two children. His widow, mother, sister, and brothers reside at 68 Dundee Street, Belfast. Another brother, Rifleman Frank Mulgrew (7810), 2nd Royal Irish Rifles, was wounded, and has been a prisoner of war since September, 1914
.
.
Although Johns Service Records are hard to read, due to them being burnt, you can still make out and read some parts of the distressing letters both his mother and wife sent inquiring as to both John and brother Francis whereabouts.
They also show his wife had lived at 13 Boyne Square, Sandy Row, and 81 Malvern Street, Shankill Road
.
Johns Soldiers Effects were left to his widow.
Dependant Pension Application Forms show both Johns widow and children as claimants. They also show us that Johns wife Margaret had remarried a Richard Duncan on the 28th of August 1916
.
See brother also: Francis Mulgrew 7810 Rifleman 2nd Battalion Royal Irish Rifles
.
John received the British War Medal, Victory Medal and 1914 Star.
.
He is Remembered at Le Touret Memorial, France.
To Remember Is To Honour
.
Theme
Shankill Roll of Honour
Date
1916
Classification
Newspaper, , Photograph - Belfast Telegraph
