1st Battalion, Royal Dublin Fusiliers (British Army)
Date Of Birth:
10/01/1891
Died:
01/07/1916 (Killed in Action)
Age:
25
Summary
John McMullan was the son of Hugh and Catherine McMullan. He was born on 10th January 1891 in Dunloy, County Antrim. His father was a road surfaceman and a labourer and they lived near Dunloy. John was a tailor. John McMullan went on to live in Swatragh. Private John McMullan was serving with the 1st Battalion of the Royal Dublin Fusiliers when he was killed on the first day of the Battle of the Somme on 1st July 1916. He was 25 years old.
Further Information
John McMullan was the son of Hugh and Catherine McMullan. Hugh McMullan married Catherine McFarland on 1st July 1884 in the district of Ballymoney.
John McMullan was born on 10th January 1891 in Dunloy, County Antrim. His two elder siblings were born in America, so it is assumed the family has just returned from America.
The 1901 census lists John as age 10, living with the family at house 31 in Knockans, Dirraw, County Antrim. His father was a road surfaceman.
Family: Hugh McMullan, Catherine McMullan, Mary McMullan (born 20th August 1884), Maggie McMullan (born about 1887, America), Thomas McMullan (born about 1889, America), John McMullan (born 10th January 1891), Elizabeth Lizzie McMullan (born 22nd March 1893), Patrick McMullan (born 21st March 1895), Ellen McMullan (born 24th January 1900), Joseph McMullan (born 1st March 1903)
The 1911 census lists John as age 20 living with the family at house 5 in Mullans, Dirraw, County Antrim. His father worked as a labourer. John was a tailor.
John McMullan went on to live in Swatragh.
John McMullan enlisted in Coatbridge, Scotland.
Private John McMullan served with the 29th Division in Gallipoli. His unit, the 1st Battalion of the Royal Dublin Fusiliers, took part in the landing at Cape Helles on 25th April 1915, suffering heavy casualties. It was here that the battalion was almost wiped out and on 30th April were amalgamated with the 1st Royal Munster Fusiliers.
On 1st January 1916 they left Gallipoli for Mudros and on 8th January sailed for Egypt. They left Alexandria on 13th March bound for Marseilles and arrived six days later.
They were brought back to France for the Battle of the Somme they were sent to the area north of the River Ancre to attack Beaumont Hamel. On the morning of the 1st July 1916 they were in the support trenches but when it came to their turn to attack they were delayed by returning wounded. They eventually left their trenches shortly before 8am but found the German wire mostly uncut and the few gaps choked with dead and wounded men. Machine-gun fire from the Beaucourt Ridge immediately cut them down as they tried to find a way through. It was here that John McMullen was killed as he tried to advance.
Private John McMullan was serving with the 1st Battalion of the Royal Dublin Fusiliers when he was killed on the first day of the Battle of the Somme on 1st July 1916. He was 25 years old.
Private McMullan has no known grave and is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial.
The CWGC record Private John McMullan as the son Hugh and Catherine McMullan, of Drumagamer, Kilrea, Co. Derry.
