2nd Battalion, New Zealand Rifle Brigade (New Zealand Army)
Date Of Birth:
22/03/1893
Died:
26/09/1917 (Killed in Action)
Age:
24
Summary
Michael Trolan was the eldest son of Henry and Annie Trolan. He was born in Draperstown on 22nd March 1893. They were a farming family who lived in Cahore, Draperstown. Michael Trolan emigrated to New Zealand where he worked as a farmer. Michael Trolan enlisted at Trentham Military Camp near Wellington on 29th June 1916. Rifleman Trolan was serving with the 2nd Battalion of the New Zealand Rifle Brigade when he was killed in action in Belgium on 26th September 1917.
Further Information
Michael Trolan was the eldest son of Henry and Annie Trolan. Henry Trolan and Anne Kelly were married on 5th January 1889 in the Magherafelt district.
Michael Trolan was born in Draperstown on 22nd March 1893.
Family: Henry Trolan, Annie Trolan, James Trolan (born 31st May 1891), Michael Trolan (born 22nd March 1893), Mary Trolan (born 10th February 1895), Patrick Trolan (born 29th November 1896), Maggie Trolan (born 5th April 1898), Bridget Trolan (born 20th April 1900), Henry Trolan (born 5th May 1902), Rose Trolan (born 29th April 1904).
The 1901 census lists Michael as age 7 living with the family at house 10 in Cahore, Draperstown, County Londonderry. They were a farming family.
The 1911 census lists Michael as age 18 living with the family at house 6 in Cahore, Draperstown. Michael was working as a farmer.
Michael Trolan emigrated to New Zealand. He was living at 50 Manchester Street, Christchurch for a time.
Prior to enlisting Michael was a farmer. His last employer had been a J H G Thacker of Okains Bay on Banks Peninsula. There was a Dr Henry Thomas Joynt Thacker, a politician, who lived in that area.
Michael Trolan enlisted at Trentham Military Camp near Wellington on 29th June 1916. He listed his next of kin as his mother Mrs H Trolan, of Cahore, Draperstown, County Derry, Ireland.
Rifleman Michael Trolan embarked with his unit from Wellington on 15th October 1916. They arrived in Plymouth on 29th December.
On 23rd March 1917, he left for the front in France.
Rifleman Trolan joined the 2nd Battalion and was posted to D Company on 21st May 1915.
Rifleman Michael Trolan was serving with the 2nd Battalion of the New Zealand Rifle Brigade when he was killed in action in Belgium on 26th September 1917.
Rifleman Trolan was initially reported was wounded and missing but was later confirmed as being killed in in action on that day.
New Zealand newspaper reports list a Mrs T Crawford, a friend, of Island Cliff, Oamaru.
Rifleman Michael Trolan has no known grave and is commemorated on the Buttes New British Cemetery (N.Z.) Memorial at Polygon Wood in Zonnebeke, West-Vlaanderen, Belgium.
The Buttes New British Cemetery (New Zealand) Memorial, which stands in Buttes New British Cemetery, commemorates 378 officers and men of the New Zealand Division who died in the Polygon Wood sector between September 1917 and May 1918, and who have no known grave.
The CWGC record Private Michael Trolan as the son of Henry and Annie Trolan of Cahore, Draperstown, Co. Londonderry, Ireland.
