Marcus Maitland was the eldest son of William Henry and Emma / Emily Maitland. He was born about 1895 in Magherafelt. His mother died in Magherafelt on 7th March 1899, aged 33. The 1901 census lists ‘Marques’ as age 7 living with grandparents at house 6 in Queen Street, Newry, County Down. His father remarried in 1901. Prior to enlistment Marcus Maitland was employed in the wholesale department of the Bank Buildings, Belfast. Marcus volunteered on 28th May 1915 and was trained at Newcastle and Ballykinlar, where he was rapidly promoted to sergeant. Sergeant Marcus Maitland was killed in action on the first day of the Battle of the Somme on Saturday 1st July 1916.
Further Information
Marcus Maitland was the eldest son of William Henry and Emma / Emily Maitland. William married Emily Monteith on 28th April 1890 in Belfast.
Marcus Maitland was born about 1895 in Magherafelt.
Known family: William Henry Maitland, Emma/ Emily Maitland, Maria Frances Maitland (born about 1891), May Maitland (born about 1893), Marcus Maitland (born about 1895).
His mother, Emma Maitland, died in Magherafelt on 7th March 1899, aged 33.
1901 census lists ‘Marques’ as age 7 living with grandparents at house 6 in Queen Street, Newry, County Down.
The census lists the rest of the family living at house 11 in Garden Street, Magherafelt, Londonderry. His father was an Assistant Union Clerk.
William Maitland married Isabella Wright in Magherafelt on 3rd June 1901.
1911 census does not list Marcus as living with his father’s second family at house 11 in Garden Street, Magherafelt. His father is described as an assistant to Clerk of Linen.
Family 2: William Henry Maitland, Isabella Maitland, Harold Joseph Maitland (born about 1903), Norman John Maitland (born about 1904), Winifred Lilian Maitland (born about 1905), Dora Isabel Maitland (born about 1907), Gerald George Maitland (born about 1911).
Prior to enlistment Marcus Maitland was employed in the wholesale department of the Bank Buildings, Belfast.
Marcus volunteered on 28th May 1915 and was trained at Newcastle and Ballykinlar, where he was rapidly promoted to sergeant.
Sergeant Maitland went with a draft to France in December 1915, attached to the 15th Battalion Royal Irish Rifles.
Sergeant Marcus Maitland was killed in action on the first day of the Battle of the Somme on Saturday 1st July 1916. He was 21 years old.
From the Belfast Newsletter dated 1st August 1916:
Marcus, Sergeant, North Belfast Volunteers, missing, Garden Street, Magherafelt
From the Mid Ulster Mail dated Saturday 5th August 1916: Magherafelt
Sergeant Marcus Maitland, 15th R.I.R. (North Belfast Volunteers), has been officially notified as missing from 1st July. Prior to volunteering, he was in Bank Buildings in Belfast.
From the Mid Ulster Mail dated Saturday 23rd December 1916:
MAITLAND – Killed in action on 1st July 1916. Sergeant Marcus Maitland, 15th Royal Irish Rifles, eldest son of W H Maitland, Garden Street, Magherafelt.
‘Although unseen by human eyes,
Though mortals know it not,
Our Saviour knoweth where he lies,
And angels mark the spot.’
From the Mid Ulster Mail dated Saturday 23rd December 1916: Sergeant Marcus Maitland
17th Battalion, Royal Irish Rifles, son of Mr W H Maitland, Garden Street, Magherafelt, who was reported missing after the big push on 1st July. The War Office have now officially reported him as having been killed on that date. Prior to enlistment he was employed in the wholesale department of the Bank Buildings, Belfast. He volunteered on 28th May 1915 and was trained at Newcastle and Ballykinlar, where he was rapidly promoted to sergeant. He went with a draft to France in December 1915, attached to the 15th Battalion Royal Irish Rifles. A young man of many attainments, he was very popular, and the news of his death in action has caused sorrow to all who knew him, and much sympathy with his relatives.
'A young man of many attainments, he was very popular, and the news of his death in action has caused sorrow to all who knew him, and much sympathy with his relatives.'
Sergeant Marcus Maitland has non known grave and is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial.
The CWGC record Sergeant Marcus Maitland as the son of Mr W H Maitland of Church Street, Magherafelt, County Derry.
