| Robert McIlrath was the son of Sam and Martha McIlrath. Samuel McIlrath married Martha McLaughlin on the 17th September 1895 in the district of Coleraine.
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| In some records the family is spelt McIlwrath.
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| Robert McIlrath was born on 31st August 1896 near Kilrea.
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| The 1911 census lists Robert as age 14 living with the family at house 2 in Dullaghy, The Grove, County Londonderry. Robert had left school and was working as a farm servant. His father was a farmer.
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| Family: Samuel McIlrath, Martha McIlrath, Robert McIlrath (born 31st August 1896), William John McIlrath (born 23rd March 1899), Alexander M McIlrath (born 4th August 1902), Mary Minnie McIlrath (born 27th August 1905), Annie McIlrath (born 5th July 1908), Martha McIlrath (born 15th June 1913).
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| Robert was a member of Boveedy L.O.L and Boveedy R.B.P. His father was Worshipful Master of the former.
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| Robert McIlrath enlisted in Kilrea in September 1914.
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| Robert McIlrath served overseas from October 1915.
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| Lance Corporal Robert McIlrath was Mentioned In Dispatches in May 1917.
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| From the Belfast Newsletter dated 24th March 1917:
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| Lance Corporal McIlwrath is a son of Mr Samuel McIlwrath, Dullaghy, Kilrea, and has been serving overseas since October 1915. Prior to enlisting he belonged to Kilrea Company, U.V.F., and Boveedy L.O.L. and R.B.P. He volunteered in September 1914.
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| Lance Corporal Robert McIlrath was serving with the 2nd Battalion of the Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers when he was killed in action on 21st March 1918. He was 21 years old.
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| Lance Corporal McIlrath has no known grave and is commemorated on the Pozieres Memorial in Picardie, France.
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| Lance Corporal McIlrath is also commemorated on Kilrea War Memorial and in Boveedy Orange Hall.
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| The CWGC record Lance Corporal Robert McIlrath as the son of Samuel and Martha McIlrath, of Monomeith, Gippsland, Victoria, Australia.
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| Lance Corporal McIlrath is listed on the virtual Australian War Memorial, presumably because his parents had emigrated there.
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| The book ‘Garvagh and Aghadowey Heroes 1914-18’ lists Robert on pages 56 and 57.
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