6th Battalion, Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers (British Army)
Date Of Birth:
04/03/1892
Died:
03/10/1918 (Killed in Action)
Age:
26
Summary
Samuel McMullan was the youngest child of Robert and Isabella McMullan. He was born on 4th March 1892 in Magherafelt, County Londonderry. Robert McMullan died less than a year later on 25th February 1893 The family lived near Tobermore, County Londonderry. By the time of the 1911 census, the family had moved to Belfast. Samuel McMullan enlisted in Belfast. Private Samuel McMullan was serving with the 6th Battalion of the Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers when he was killed in action in France on Thursday 3rd October 1918. He was 26 years old. In his will Samuel left all to his mother, who was by then living at 54 Imperial Street, Belfast.
Further Information
Samuel McMullan was the youngest child of Robert and Isabella McMullan. Robert McMullan married Isabella McCrory on the 7th April 1877 in the district of Magherafelt.
Samuel McMullan was born on 4th March 1892 in Magherafelt, County Londonderry.
Family: Robert McMullan, Isabella McMullan, Elizabeth McMullan (born about 1878), Annie Nancy McMullan (born 12th February 1880), Charlotte McMullan (born 10th November 1882), Robert McMullan (born 11th June 1885), George Reid McMullan (born 21st December 1887), Alexander Green McMullan (born 12th October 1889), Samuel McMullan (born 4th March 1892).
Samuel’s father, Robert McMullan, died less than a year later on 25th February 1893 in the Maghera sub-district. He was 55 years old.
The 1901 census lists Samuel as age 9 living with the family at house 42 in Ballinahone More, Tobermore, County Londonderry. His mother and his three elder sisters were all working as seamstresses.
By the time of the 1911 census, the family had moved to Belfast. The 1911 census lists Samuel as age 19 living with the family at house 20 in Gotha Street, Ormeau, County Down. On a census return littered with inaccuracies, Samuel was listed as a labourer.
Samuel McMullan enlisted in Belfast.
Private Samuel McMullan was serving with the 6th Battalion of the Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers when he was killed in action in France on Thursday 3rd October 1918. He was 26 years old.
Sam McMullan was mentioned in a book called ‘The Story of the 6th (Service) Battalion Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers in the Great War.’ It was published in 1919 by the Impartial Reporter newspaper, based in Enniskillen. In a section entitled ‘Two Splendid Comrades’, it notes:-
‘It is invidious to single out any particular soldier for special mention, but this story of the part played by the 6th Battalion Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers in the Great War would not be complete without a word of praise for Private Samuel McMullan, whose deeds in action on October 3, at Prospect Hill, will ever live so long as there remains alive one man who saw them, and whose grave is there now; and Private Willie Graham, whose example in action during the last three days of the war, and especially at Doullens, had more than anything else to do with the success of his company. To him, too, came a higher reward than any we could give, for he died of wounds on the battlefield two hours before the last shot of the war was fired, and is buried with many other splendid lads at Doullens.’
In his will Samuel left all to his mother, who was by then living at 54 Imperial Street, Belfast.
Last Will and Testament of Private Samuel McMullan
12665 Private Samuel McMullan, B Company, 6th Battalion, Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers 31st Infantry Brigade, 10th Division. In the event of my death I give the whole of my property and effects to my mother, Mrs McMullen, 54 Imperial Street, Ravenhill Road Belfast, Ireland.
Private McMullan is buried at Prospect Hill Cemetery, Gouy, Le Catelet, France.
All images courtesy of Jeff Nelson and Sam Hudson, Desertmartin. Information provided here is courtesy of the excellent research undertaken by Mr Jeff Nelson and Mr Sam Hudson.
