10th Battalion, Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers (British Army)
Date Of Birth:
15/12/1878
Died:
20/01/1917 (Killed in Action)
Age:
38
Summary
William Caldwell was the eldest son of James and Eliza Caldwell. He was born in Garvagh on 15th December 1878. He was one of six surviving children. The family lived in the Garvagh area. William was a postman. William enlisted in Kilrea, possibly in 1914. Private William Caldwell was serving with 10th Battalion of the Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers when he was killed in action on Saturday 20th January 1917. He was killed by shellfire.
Further Information
William Caldwell was the eldest son of James and Eliza Caldwell. James Caldwell married Elizabeth Harrison on 1st July 1874 in the district of Coleraine.
William Caldwell was born in Garvagh on 15th December 1878. He was one of six surviving children.
Family: James Caldwell, Elizabeth Caldwell, Margaret Caldwell (born 8th September 1874), Eliza Caldwell (born 15th August 1876), William Caldwell (born 15th December 1878), Mary Jeannie Caldwell (born 30th April 1880), James Caldwell (born 21st November 1882), Alexander Caldwell (born 24th June 1885), Sarah Caldwell (born 21st August 1890).
The 1901 census lists William as age 22 living with the family at house 30 in Sarvagh, Garvagh, County Londonderry. William was a postman. His father was a farmer. His mother was a seamstress.
The 1911 census lists William as age 29 living with the family at house 72 in Main Street, Garvagh, County Londonderry. William was a rural postman and his father was a gardener.
William was a member of Britannia Flue Band and a local branch of the Orange Order.
William enlisted in Kilrea, possibly in 1914.
Private William Caldwell went to France in October of 1915 and was based near the two small French villages of Mesnil and Martinsart before the start of the Battle of the Somme.
Private William Caldwell was serving with 10th Battalion of the Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers when he was killed in action on Saturday 20th January 1917. He was killed by shellfire alongside Private John Ross Cochrane and Lance Corporal A Leacock.
Private W Caldwell is buried in Berks Cemetery, which is located twelve kilometres south of Ypres.
Private William Caldwell is commemorated on the Roll of Honour in St Paul’s Church in Garvagh and on Garvagh War Memorial.
Williams’s brother James also served. James was wounded in September 1916, but survived the war.
The book ‘Garvagh and Aghadowey Heroes 1914-18’ lists William on pages 41 and 42.
