13th Base Park Coy, Royal Engineers (British Army)
Date Of Birth:
05/03/1887
Died:
20/07/1915 (Killed in Action)
Age:
28
Summary
William McIlroy was the son of John and Marion McIlroy. He was born on 5th March 1887 in or near Bellaghy, County Londonderry. He was one of nine children. They were a farming family who lived in Ballyscullion, Bellaghy. 2nd Corporal William McIlroy was serving with the 13th Base Park Company of the Royal Engineers when he was killed in action at Gallipoli on Tuesday 20th July 1915. He was 28 years old.
Further Information
William McIlroy was the third son of John and Marion McIlroy. John McIlroy married Marion Foster on 22nd February 1883 in the district of Magherafelt.
The CWGC spell the family name as McIlroy, but most other sources spell it as McElroy. McIlroy is used here.
William McIlroy was born on 5th March 1887 in or near Bellaghy, County Londonderry. He was one of nine children.
Family: John McIlroy, Marion McIlroy, Hugh McIlroy (born 1st January 1884), James McIlroy (born 29th March 1885), William McIlroy (born 5th March 1887), Margretta McIlroy (born 4th September 1889), Marion McIlroy (born 27th March 1891), Andrew McIlroy (born 3rd December 1892), John McIlroy (born 25th November 1894), Thomas McIlroy (born 13th October 1896), David McIlroy (born 25th April 1899).
The 1901 census lists William as age 14 living with the family at house 70 in Ballyscullion West, Bellaghy, County Londonderry. They were a farming family. William was still at school.
William joined the Ordinance Survey (Sappers Department) around 1907 and was subsequently trained at Chatham.
The 1911 census does not list William as living with the family at house 1 in Ballyscullion West, Bellaghy, County Londonderry.
William served for some years in Lagos, Nigeria where he was engaged a sapper and miner.
On his return to England, about 1914, he was employed for nine months in fortification work at Pembroke.
In the spring of 1915 William embarked with his company for Egypt in connection with the Base stores.
In June he was sent to the Gallipoli Peninsula with the Royal Engineers
2nd Corporal William McIlroy was serving with the 13th Base Park Company of the Royal Engineers when he was killed in action at Gallipoli on Tuesday 20th July 1915. He was 28 years old.
A letter was received from him, written on 19th July, the day before his death.
From the Belfast Newsletter dated 14th August 1915:
The War Office has notified Mr John McIlroy, Ballyscullion, County Derry, that his son William was killed at the Dardanelles on 20th July. The deceased was engaged was some years as a sapper and miner in Nigeria, and for the past two years was on coast defence work in England. He went to Gallipoli with the Royal Engineers in June last.
From the Belfast Newsletter dated 14th August 1915:
Information has been conveyed from the War Office to Mr and Mrs John McIlroy, Glenvale, Bellaghy, of the death of their son, corporal William McIlroy, Royal Engineers, who was killed in action at the Dardanelles on 20th July, aged 28 years. He joined the Ordinance Survey (Sappers Department) 8 years ago, and was subsequently trained at Chatham .He served for some time in Lagos, Liberia. On his return to England he was employed for nine months in fortification work at Pembroke. A few months ago he embarked with his company for Egypt in connection with the Base stores. In June he was sent to the Gallipoli Peninsula. News was received from him, written on 19th July, the day before his death. Much sympathy for his parents and their family is felt in the district, where he was universally esteemed.
From the Mid Ulster Mail dated 14th August 1915: Bellaghy
Mr John McIlroy, Ballyscullion, has been notified by the War Office that his son Willie was killed at the Dardanelles on 20th July. Private McIlroy was engaged as a sapper and miner for was several years in Nigeria, and for the past two years was engaged in coast defence work in England. In June last he went out to Gallipoli with the Royal Engineers. He is the second Bellaghy man to lay down his life for his country.
From the Mid Ulster Mail dated 21st August 1915: Corporal McIlroy
In Bellaghy Presbyterian Church on Sunday, at the close of the sermon, Rev T McCrea made appropriate and sympathetic reference to the death of Corporal William McIlroy, Royal Engineers, who was killed in actions at the Dardanelles on 20th July, aged 28 years, and who was the first on the congregation’s Roll of Honour to give his life for his country in the present war. He joined the Ordnance Survey Sapper’s Department eight years ago, and was subsequently trained at Chatham. He served for some time at Lagos on the West Coast of Africa, and on his return to England he was employed for nine months in fortification work at Pembroke. In the early spring he was sent with his company to Egypt in connection with the Base stores, and in June to the Gallipoli Peninsula. He was a young man of marked ability and attractive disposition, and was sure to make rapid progress in his profession. Much sympathy for his parents, Mr and Mrs John McIlroy, of Glenvale, Bellaghy, is felt in the district where he was universally esteemed.
Last Will and Testament of 2nd Corporal William McIlroy dated 25th May 1915:
In the event of my death, I give 40 pounds to Millicent Davies, 30 Twyn-y-bedw Road, Clydach-on-Tawe, Swansea, and I give 40 pounds each to my two brothers, Thomas and David McIlroy, Glenvale, Bellaghy, County Derry, Ireland and I give the remaining part of my property to my father, John McIlroy, Glenvale, Bellaghy, County Derry, Ireland. Signed. W McIlroy 2nd Corporal, Royal Engineers.
2nd Corporal McIlroy is buried in Lancashire Landing Cemetery at Cape Helles, Gallipoli, Turkey.
The CWGC record 2nd Corporal William McIlroy as the son of John and Marion McIlroy, of Glenvale, Bellaghy, Co. Londonderry.
