John McNiece was the second son of John and Esther McNiece. John Alexander McNiece was born 3rd November 1887 in Ballymatoskerty, north of Toome in County Antrim. John McNiece emigrated to New Zealand about 1909. Prior to enlisting, John McNiece was a constable with the Nez Zealand Police Force in Invercargill. Private John McNiece was serving with the 3rd Battalion of the Otago Regiment when he received gunshot wounds to the leg in Belgium on 15th October 1917. He died later that day of his wounds.
Further Information
John McNiece was the second son of John and Esther McNiece. John McNiece married Ester Morrow on 23rd April 1885 in the district of Antrim.
John Alexander McNiece was born 3rd November 1887 in Ballymatoskerty, north of Toome in County Antrim.
Family: John McNiece, Esther McNiece, Samuel McNiece (born 17th March 1886), John Alexander McNiece (born 3rd November 1887), Elizabeth McNiece (born 31st October 1889), David McNiece (born 9th May 1892), Mary Jane McNiece (born 21st December 1893), Thomas McNiece (born 13th October 1895), Martha McNiece (born 21st September 1897), Margaret McNiece (born 9th March 1899).
The 1901 census lists John A as age 13 living with the family at house 12 in Ballymatoskerty, Toome Upper, County Antrim. They were a farming family.
John McNiece emigrated to New Zealand about 1909.
The 1911 census does not list John as living with the family at house 23 in Ballymatoskerty, Toome, County Antrim.
Prior to enlisting, John McNiece was a constable with the Nez Zealand Police Force in Invercargill.
John McNiece enlisted on 1st December 1916 at Invercargill. He listed his last address as the Police Station in Invercargill. He lists his brother Samuel McNiece, who was living at Pongakawa Bay of Plenty, as his next of kin. Interestingly, the form states that he had never taken a day off work through illness.
On the 8th February 1917 he was promoted to Lance Corporal. On the 8th March he was promoted to Corporal. On 22nd April he was promoted to Sergeant.
He reverted back to Lance Corporal in July and then back to being a Private in August.
Private John McNiece was serving with the 3rd Battalion of the Otago Regiment when he received gunshot wounds to the leg in Belgium on 15th October 1917.
He died later that day of his wounds. He was a month short of his 30th birthday.
From the Belfast Newsletter dated 19th November 1917:
Private John McNiece, New Zealand Forces, Ballymatoskerty, Toomebridge, killed in action.
Private J A McNiece has no known grave and is commemorated on the Tyne Cot Memorial.
The CWGC record Private John McNiece as the Son of John and Esther McNiece of Ballymatoskerty, Toome, Co. Antrim. Ireland
