Friends of the Somme - Mid Ulster Branch  
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23895   Private Thomas McQuillan
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Dated added: 01/01/2016   Last updated: 19/05/2020
Personal Details
Regiment/Service: 11th Battalion, Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers (British Army)
Date Of Birth: 29/05/1893
Died: 01/07/1916 (Killed in Action)
Age: 23
Summary      
Thomas Henry McQuillan was a son of William James and Isabella McQuillan. He was born on 29th May 1893 in the Mullaghboy, Bellaghy. His father was a bread driver who died who died when Thomas was 13 years old. Thomas was a farm labourer before enlisting in Glasgow. Private Thomas McQuillan was serving with the 11th Battalion of the Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers when he was killed in action on the first day of the Battle of the Somme on Saturday 1st July 1916.
Further Information
Thomas Henry McQuillan was a son of William James and Isabella McQuillan.
Thomas was born on 29th May 1893 in the Mullaghboy, Bellaghy.
Family: William John McQuillin, Isabella McQuillin, Samuel McQuillin (born about 1883), William George McQuillin (born 20th February 1886), Robert J McQuillin (born 2nd June 1888), John Faith McQuillin (born 21st February 1891), Thomas Henry McQuillin (born 29th May 1893), David McQuillin (born 30th October 1895), Margaret Elizabeth McQuillin (born about 1901), Edith Catherwood McQuillin (born 11th February 1902).
The 1901 census lists Thomas as age 7 living with the family at house 4 in Mullaghboy, Bellaghy, County Londonderry. His father was a bread driver.
Main Street, Bellaghy
It seems that William McQuillan died in the Bellaghy area on 13th May 1906. He was 45 years old. Thomas was 13 years old.
The 1911 census lists Thomas Henry as age 18 living with the family at house 44 in Mullaghboy, Bellaghy. Thomas was a farm labourer. His mother was a widow.
Thomas McQuillan enlisted in Glasgow.
Medal card
Private Thomas McQuillan was serving with the 11th Battalion of the Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers when he was killed in action on the first day of the Battle of the Somme on Saturday 1st July 1916. He was 23 years old.
From the Mid Ulster Mail dated Saturday 19th August 1916: Bellaghy
Privates Tom McQuillan, John McBride and William Ellis (Killyberry), all of the Ulster Division, have been reported missing, believed killed. Private McBride leaves a wife and family.
Private McQuillan has no known grave and is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial. The Thiepval Memorial, the Memorial to the Missing of the Somme, bears the names of more than 72,000 officers and men of the United Kingdom and South African forces who died in the Somme sector before 20 March 1918 and have no known grave. Over 90% of those commemorated died between July and November 1916.
The CWGC record Private Thomas McQuillan as the son of William J and Bella McQuillan of Mullaghboy, Bellaghy.
Read more
Relevant Magherafelt Area Locations
No Location Region Location Notes Longtitude Latitude
1 Mullaghboy, Bellaghy Bellaghy Census listing in Mullaghboy, Bellaghy 54.819622 -6.531680
References and Links
No Link Reference Map Doc
1 1901 Census lists McQuillan family 1901 census lists Thomas as age 7 living with the family at house 4 in Mullaghboy, Bellaghy, Londonderry
2 1911 Census lists McQuillin family 1911 census lists Thomas Henry as age 18 living with the family at house 44 in Mullaghboy, Bellaghy, Londonderry
3 Castledawson War Dead Details of Private Thomas McQuillan
4 National Archives UK Medal card of Private Thomas McQuillan can be purchased here
Magherafelt District's War Dead Acknowledgements 2014-2023