2nd Battalion, Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers (British Army)
Date Of Birth:
26/03/1898
Died:
23/03/1918 (Died of Wounds)
Age:
19
Summary
William George Herdman was the eldest child of John and Mary Herdman. William Herdman was born in Killyboggin, Magherafelt, on 26th March 1898. Killyboggin lies south east of Desertmartin. John Herdman was a National School teacher in Killyboggin. William enlisted at Finner Camp, County Donegal. Private William Herdman was serving with the 2nd Battalion of the Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers when he died of wounds in France on 23rd March 1918. He was just three days away from his 20th birthday.
Further Information
William George Herdman was the eldest child of John and Mary Herdman. John Edward Herman married Mary Ann Shiels in Coleraine on 26th October 1897.
William Herdman was born in Killyboggin, Magherafelt, on 26th March 1898. Killyboggin lies south east of Desertmartin.
John Herdman was a National School teacher in Killyboggin.
The 1901 census list William George as age 3 living with the family at house 2 in Killyboggin, Ballymoghan, County Londonderry.
The 1911 census lists William George as age 13 living with the family at house 11 in Killyboggin, Ballymoghan, Londonderry.
Family: John Edward Herdman, Mary Ann Herdman, William George Herdman (born 26th March 1898), John Edward Herdman (born 5th July 1900), Charlton Herdman (born 23rd August 1904), Dorothy Ethel Herdman (born 17th February 1907), Emily / Emma Victoria Herdman (born 15th September 1909), Isabella Herdman (born 10th February 1912).
William enlisted at Finner Camp, County Donegal.
William was home on furlough at Christmas 1916, after having served fifteen months in the trenches. He was through the big offensive of 1st July, and stated that he not experienced a day’s illness since his arrival in France.
From the Mid Ulster Mail dated Saturday 23rd December 1916:
Private William George Herdman, 10th Battalion Royal Inniskilling fusiliers, son of Mr J E Herdman, National Teacher, Killybeggin, Magherafelt, is home on furlough, after having served fifteen months in the trenches. He was through the big offensive of 1st July, and states that he has never experienced a day’s illness since his arrival in France.
Private William Herdman was serving with the 2nd Battalion of the Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers when he died of wounds in France on 23rd March 1918. He was just three days away from his 20th birthday.
From the Mid Ulster Mail dated 28th December 1918: Magherafelt
Private W S Herdman, (son of Mr J E Herdman and Mrs Herdman) has died in a German Field Hospital while a prisoner of war, from being gassed and wounded on 23rd March last. This young soldier was an assistant in Mr Smyth’s drapery establishment when the war broke out and was one of the first to volunteer, joining the 10th Inniskillings. He went with the first draft of the Ulster Division to France and served throughout the whole campaign without a wound until the fight for St Quentin, when he was gassed and wounded in the German advance of last spring, and was taken a prisoner. Much sympathy is felt with the parents in their bereavement.
Private William Herdman is buried in St. Souplet Military Cemetery, Nord, France. St. Souplet is a village about 6 kilometres south of Le Cateau, which is a small town approximately 20 kilometres south-east of Cambrai.
The photos above were taken by the Friends of the Somme Mid Ulster Branch on their visit in 2012.
The CWGC record Private William George Herdman as the son of John E and Mary A Herdman of Killyboggin, Magherafelt, County Derry.
