Name

Thomas Quail.

Description

Belfast Telegraph Newspaper Photograph of Rifleman Thomas Quail.

Life Story

Name: Thomas Quail.

Service Number: 9016.

Rank: Rifleman.

Battalion: 2nd Battalion.

Regiment: Royal Irish Rifles.

Born: 15th April 1876, Banbridge, County Down.

Died: 27th October 1914.

Address: 24 Sancroft Street, Belfast

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Thomas Quail, son of Thomas and Jane Quail, lived with his wife at 24 Sancroft Street, Shankill Road, Belfast

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The 1911 Ireland Census has Thomas living at 25 Matlock Street, Shankill Road, Belfast with his wife, occupation, Warp Winding, and three daughters, Mary Ellen, 4 years, Eliza, 3 years, Thomasena, 1 year. Thomas occupation at this time is given as Ship Yard Labourer

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Thomas had married Sarah Quail, Nee Richmond, on the 23rd December 1905 within Trinity Church, Belfast. They went on to have five children, their names and dates of birth are as follows: Mary Ellen Rogan born 5th May 1906, Elizabeth Richmond born 5th of September 1907, Thomasena born 26th of October 1909, John Richmond born 18th May 1912, Margaret Jane born 8th of March 1915. Sadly John Richmond went on to die of T.B, Tuberculosis, on the 8th of April 1817 aged 5 years

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Service records also show that his brother Moses and sister Ellen lived at 16 Tenth Street, Shankill Road, Belfast

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Thomas signed the Ulster Covenant on the 28th of September 1912, Ulster Day, within Clifton Street Orange Hall, Belfast

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Thomas joined the Royal Irish Rifles on the 24th of September 1894, aged 18 years and four months, and served as Rifleman 4378.

He was posted to India on the 8th of October 1896.

On the 14th of February 1902 Thomas was then posted to South Africa.

Thomas was Transferred to Army Reserves on the 10th of October 1902.

He was the Discharged, The Duration Of His Period Of Engagement, on the 23rd of September 1906.

Thomas then rejoined the Royal Irish Rifles, serving as Rifleman 9016, at the outbreak of war.

He was posted as part of the British Expeditionary Force to France on the 11th of September 1914.

Thomas was a Rifleman in 2nd Battalion Royal Irish Rifles when he was Killed In Action on the 27th of October 1914 in France aged 38 years

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A local newspaper states.

Mrs Quail, 24 Sancroft Street, Belfast, would be glad of any information concerning the fate of her husband (9016), Private Thomas Quail, 2nd Battalion Royal Irish Rifles, who is missing since October last. Prior to being called up on the reserves Quail was employed at the Queens Island

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Another newspaper then states.

THE RANK AND FILE.

Rifleman Thomas Quail, 2nd Battalion Royal Irish Rifles, who was reported missing after the first battle of Neuve Chapelle on October, 1914, is now returned by the War Office as having been killed on that date or since. He served through the South African campaign, and rejoined at the outbreak of war, prior to which he was employed in the boilermakers shop at the Queens Island. Deceased leaves a wife and five children, who reside at 22 Hemsworth Street

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Thomas Soldiers Effects were left to his widow Sarah.

A Pension Application Form shows his daughters Mary Ellen, Elizabeth, Thomasena, Margaret and son John as claimants.

His Dependant Pension Application Form shows all the children as claimants, though John is marked out due to his dying at this stage.

Thomas wife Sarah would sadly die on the 17th of July 1916 of T.B also, leaving the children without a father and mother.

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Thomas received the British War Medal, Victory Medal and 1914 Star.

He had also received the Queens South African Medal

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He is Remembered at Le Touret Memorial, France.

To Remember Is To Honour

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