WW1 hero to be remembered in Downpatrick

WW1 hero to be remembered in Downpatrick

18 May 2016

A DOWNPATRICK soldier who was killed in the First World War 100 years ago will be honoured at a special event this weekend.

John Malone died in the Somme area on the western front on May 23, 1916, just a few weeks before the main Battle of the Somme got underway. He was just 22.

On Saturday around 30 of his relatives will mark the centenary of his death by meeting for afternoon tea in Down County Museum.

The coming together is the brainchild of his great-niece, Helen Long, who believes it is fitting to remember such a gallant man.

“I am doing this because this man’s life and sacrifice needs to be remembered, particularly his family,” she said. “He was a wonderful example of service and courage.”

John Malone was the third son of William Henry and Margaret Malone, of Church Street, Downpatrick. He was a carpenter by trade and a member of the Orange Order.

Described as a young man of high character and intelligence, he enlisted in the Royal Engineers and was a sapper in the 121st Field Company attached to the 36th Ulster Division. On the night of May 23 he was killed by a machine-gun bullet.

Sapper William Love, also from Downpatrick, who survived the war, wrote a letter from the trenches to Malone’s mother a few days later.

“All was well until 10.30pm on Tuesday, 23rd, when the Germans started as usual with their machine guns,” he wrote. “Poor John had the misfortune to get a bullet somewhere about the heart. I believe he never spoke. On the other hand, I am told he said, ‘Don’t touch me. I am wounded.’ He lived only a few minutes.

“It is a little consolation to know that he suffered no pain. If I have the luck to get home on leave, I shall call to see you, but it seems a long way off yet. John’s turn for leave was to come before mine. We laid him to rest on the 24th at 4 o’clock, just behind the firing line.

“While we are here his grave will be well looked after. We put a couple of little wreaths on it and later we will put up a cross. May He who knowest all comfort and sustain you in your great loss! I need hardly add that John died a soldier of Christ and of his country, well liked by his officer and comrades.”

Mrs Malone also received the following letter from an officer, Lieut Ferrice: “Sapper Malone has been in my section since the training at Antrim, and for that reason I think you will appreciate a few words of sympathy from me, his officer, and through me from his comrades.

“He died as …….should, in the performance of his duty, being one of those chosen for their skill and bearing for a ……party. He has always been one of the steadiest and most dependable soldiers of his company.

“His death was as instantaneous and as painless as is granted to man. He has left no dying message to his dear ones. The men are making a cross of oak with a brass plate for his name. So you may rest assured that your son has a Christian burial.”

A letter was also sent to Mrs Malone by an army padre, the Rev F J Halahan. “The Germans are constantly spraying the part of the line which this battalion was holding and in which he was working, with machine gun fire and unfortunately one bullet caught him and practically killed him instantaneously,” he wrote.

“We laid him to rest in the little British cemetery quite close to the trenches, the funeral being attended by his officer and all the men of his section who could get away.

“The grave will be marked with a simple cross bearing his name etc and it will be looked after. His officer spoke most highly of him as a very good soldier and as did all his comrades. Amongst his papers was his New Testament which looked 

well worn as if it had been constantly used.

“I can only deeply sympathise with you in the sad loss which has fallen upon your home and you can feel at all events that your gallant son tried to do his part for King and Country in this great struggle.”

Mrs Malone’s last words from her son came in a letter he sent her dated Wednesday, March 1, in which he thanked her for a parcel and letter she had sent him and said he looked forward to getting some leave, as well as informing her that he managed to keep up to date with affairs at home through the Down Recorder, which had found its way to the front.

“Of late we had very cold weather, snowing, but it’s near all away again, and today is nice and sunshine. We may have good weather for a few weeks now. It will help to dry up the trenches as they must be in an awful state.

“We are still in this village and I can’t say for sure when we will be leaving. Most of the carpenters have been employed making different things — tables and such like; have all the beds erected and are very comfortable. Our section got quite a decent billet and very often we had a fire at night, so we weren’t so badly off at all.

“The food that we get is very good—half loaf in the day, tea and bacon in the morning. Stew and sometimes roast for dinner, and butter and cheese for tea. Expect the infantry don’t get near as much food. Now when they are up in the trenches they have to do with biscuits.

“I got the Recorder this week; I didn’t notice anything of much importance in it; still, I like to see the local paper. I haven’t a lot more to tell you at present; the leave has been stopped for an indefinite period, I really don’t know for what reason. Anyhow, it surely can’t be long till it starts again. Just 2 have gone out of the section as yet: it will be a long time till number 26 which is mine—some time in the summer when I will get on leave. I hope everyone is keeping quite well at home. I am keeping in good health myself except for a slight cold, but it will be better in a day or so.”