9th Battalion, Royal Dublin Fusiliers (British Army)
Died:
08/02/1916 (Died of Wounds)
Age:
30
Summary
John Devlin was the son of Mary Devlin. John was born in Barrow-on-Furness in England. John’s father died and his mother remarried to John Downey, who lived in of Leitrim, Castledawson. The family were farm labourers. John Devlin enlisted in Glasgow. He had been a reservist and rejoined shortly after the outbreak of the war. Sergeant John Devlin was serving with the 9th Battalion of the Royal Dublin Fusiliers when he was injured at the front. He died of wounds received in action on 8th February 1916. He had lay on the field for some time before being picked up, and death resulted from loss of blood. Had he reached the hospital sooner, his life would have been saved.
Further Information
John Devlin was the son of Mary Devlin. John was born in Barrow-on-Furness England sometime between 1876 and 1886.
John’s father died and his mother remarried to John Downey, who lived in of Leitrim, Castledawson.
The 1901 census tells us John Downey lived in of Leitrim, Castledawson and was married to Mary Downey.
The 1911 census lists John as age 34 living with the Downey family at house 39 in Leitrim, Castledawson, Londonderry. He is listed as John Downey’s step son. The family were farm labourers.
John Devlin enlisted in Glasgow. He had been a reservist and rejoined shortly after the outbreak of the war.
Sergeant John Devlin was serving with the 9th Battalion of the Royal Dublin Fusiliers when he was injured at the front. He died of wounds received in action on 8th February 1916.
From the Belfast Newsletter dated 2nd March 1916:
Mrs Downey, Leitrim, Toomebridge, has received intimation from a base hospital in France of the death of her son, Sergeant John Devlin, 9th Battalion Royal Dublin Fusiliers.
His mother received a letter from one of the nursing staff at one of field hospitals in France that informed that her son had lay on the field for some time before being picked up, and death resulted from loss of blood. Had he reached the hospital sooner, his life would have been saved.
From the Mid Ulster Mail dated Saturday 4th March 1916:
Mrs Downey of Leitrim, in a letter from one of the nursing staff at one of field hospitals in France, is informed that her son Sergeant John Devlin, 9th Dublin Fusiliers (Irish Division), has died of wounds received in action. Sergeant Devlin lay on the field some time before being picked up, and death resulted from loss of blood. Had he reached the hospital sooner, his life would have been saved. Sergeant Devlin was a reservist and rejoined shortly after the outbreak of the war.
Sergeant John Devlin is buried in Lapugnoy Military Cemetery, a village 6 kilometres west of Bethune in France.
The CWGC record Sergeant J Devlin as the son of Mary Downey of Leitrim, Castledawson, Co. Derry.
