| George Gallagher was the son of William and Margaret Gallagher. William Gallagher married Margaret Anderson on the 28th May 1891 in Magherafelt.
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| George Gallagher was born on 1st February 1895 in Bellaghy, County Londonderry.
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| The 1901 census lists George as age 6 living with the family at house 12 in Leitrim, Castledawson, County Londonderry. His mother was a domestic servant. His father was not listed.
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| Family: William Gallagher, Margaret Gallagher, William Gallagher (born about 1891), Hugh Gallagher (born 30th April 1893), George Gallagher (born 1st February 1895), Mary Gallagher (born 18th April 1897), Margaret Gallagher (born 28th December 1899), Elizabeth Jane Gallagher 10 (born 26th February 1902), Bridget Gallagher 7 (born 1st May 1904).
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| The 1911 census lists George as age 16 living with the family at house 4 in Leitrim, Castledawson, County Londonderry. George had left school and was working as a weaver like his brother and mother. His father was a labourer.
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| George Gallagher enlisted in Glasgow, before the outbreak of war.
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| Private George Gallagher was serving with the 7th (Blythswood) Battalion of the Highland Light Infantry when he was killed in action on 25th August 1915 at Gallipoli. He was 20 years old.
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| According to reports he volunteered to go for water and was shot by a sniper.
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| From the Mid Ulster Mail dated 18th September 1915: Castledawson
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| News has been received by his parents at Hillhead, Castledawson, that Private George Gallagher, 7th Battalion Highland Light Infantry, has been killed in action at the Dardanelles. Private Gallagher was not eighteen years of age and enlisted since war began.
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| From the Belfast Newsletter dated 20th September 1915:
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| The parents of Private George Gallagher, who reside at Hillhead, Castledawson, have been notified by the War Office that he was killed in action at the Dardanelles on 25th August. Private Gallagher, who is not yet 19 years of age, was in the 7th Battalion Highland Light Infantry.
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| From the Mid Ulster Mail dated 25th September 1915:
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| GALLAGHER – Killed in action on 25th August, Private George Gallagher, 7th Battalion, Highland Light Infantry, son of William Gallagher, Hillhead, Castledawson.
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‘The voice of the bugle had called him;
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The song of the slumbering deep
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Has stilled the young heart in its bosom.
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And hushed my poor darling to sleep.
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He’s still in the list of the slaughtered,
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Yet they tell me I must not cry,
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For he fell where the battle was thickest,
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To prove how Irish can die.’
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| ‘God have mercy on his soul and rest in peace. Amen.’
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| 1916
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| From the Mid Ulster Mail dated Saturday 26th August 1916:
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| GALLAGHER – In loving memory of our dear son, Private George Gallagher, No. 2225, 7th Battalion Highland Light Infantry, who was killed in action, 23rd August 1915.
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'I oft times sit and think of him, I cannot think he’s dead.
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I little thought when he left home, it was his last farewell.
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Days of sadness still are over us, hidden tears do often flow,
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Memory keeps our loved one near us, though he died one year ago.’
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| Private George Gallagher has no known grave and is commemorated on the Helles Memorial at Gallipoli, Turkey.
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| The CWGC record Private George Gallagher as the son of William and Margaret Gallagher of Hillhead, Castledawson, County Londonderry.
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