| George Kirkland was the eldest son of James and Frances Kirkland. James Kirkland married Frances Napier on 25th October 1886 in the district of Newtownabbey.
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| George Kirkland was born on 7th June 1888 in Kilrea. He was one of six children.
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| By the time of the 1901 census, the family had moved to Belfast. The census lists George as age 12 living with the family at house 16 in Templemore Avenue, Pottinger, County Down. His father was a draper.
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| Family: James Kirkland, Fannie Kirkland, Elizabeth Kirkland (born 12th April 1887, Kilrea), George Kirkland (born 7th June 1888, Kilrea), James Kirkland (born 29th December 1889, Kilrea), Isabella Kirkland (born 24th November 1893, Belfast), John Napier Kirkland (born 10th March 1900, Belfast), Samuel Bolton Kirkland (born 9th July 1904, Belfast).
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| The 1911 census lists George as age 22 living with the family at house 8 in The Mount, Ormeau, Belfast. George was a clerk.
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| The CWGC record that George was the husband of May Kirkland of 248 Newtownards Road, Belfast. Military documents suggest they had at least one child, Frances Annette Kirkland.
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| George had served five years of an apprenticeship as a weaver in a linen factory in Belfast.
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| George Kirkland emigrated to Australia.
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| Prior to enlisting, George was working as a labourer.
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| George Kirkland enlisted at Rosehill Camp, New South Wales at the outbreak of war on 6th October 1914. He listed is father James Kirkwood of The Mount, Belfast as his next of kin.
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| Private Kirkland left Melbourne with the 13th Infantry Battalion on 22 December 1914 on board HMAT Ulysses A38.
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| Private Kirkland was received a gunshot wound to the shoulder on 10th May 1915 at Gallipoli. He returned to duty on 8th June.
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| George Kirkland was wounded again at Gallipoli on 9th August 1915, receiving a gunshot wound to the hand/finger. He also had dysentery around that time. He was in hospital in England before he returned to Gallipoli for duty on 8th October.
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| Private Kirkland was promoted to Temporary Corporal on 9th December 1915 at Gallipoli.
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| By 3rd January his unit were disembarking in Alexandria, Egypt.
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| Corporal Kirkland was transferred from the 13th Battalion to the 4th Machine Gun Company on 9th March 1916.
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| Corporal Kirkland was promoted to 2nd Lieutenant on 29 April 1916 at Serapeum, Egypt.
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| 2nd Lieutenant Kirkland and his unit disembarked in Marseille on 9th June 1916.
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| On 30th June 1916, at Bois Grenier, near Boulogne, 2nd Lieutenant Kirkland received wounds from a trench mortar bomb and received wounds to the face, left forearm and right hand. He was also affect by explosive gasses. He was removed to hospital in England.
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| 2nd Lieutenant Kirkland rejoined his unit and was promoted to Lieutenant on 8th October 1916 in France.
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| Lieutenant George Kirkland was serving with the 4th Machine Gun Battalion of the Australian Machine Gun Corps when he was reported wounded and missing on 11th April 1917.
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| Lieutenant George Kirkland was in fact captured by the Germans and died of his wounds two days later on 13th April 1917.
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| From the Northern Constitution dated 21st April 1917: Our Soldiers
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| Lieutenant George Kirkland, A.I.F., is reported wounded and a prisoner of war. He is the eldest son of James Kirkland.
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| From the Northern Constitution dated 28th April 1917:
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| News has been received of the death of Lieutenant George Kirkland, A.I.F., son of James Kirkland, Belfast and formerly of Kilrea. The deceased was a great favourite with everyone in Kilrea since childhood. To his young widow and father, we extend our deepest sympathy.
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| From the Northern Constitution dated 11th August 1917:
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| Intimation has been received that Lieutenant George Kirkland, A.I.F., son of James Kirkland, manager of Messrs J Arnott and Co, Belfast, formerly of Kilrea, who was reported missing on 11th April, has died of wounds on 13th April. The deceased was wounded on three previous occasions. His brothers are serving in His Majesty’s army while his cousin, Lieutenant Sam Bolton, has been invalided out.
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| Last Will and Testament of Lieutenant George Kirkland dated 6th November 1916:
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| In the event of my death, I give the whole of my property to my wife, Mrs May Kirkland of 248 Newtownards Road, Belfast, Ireland. Signed George Kirkland, Lieutenant, 4th Machine Gun Company, A.I.F.
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| Lieutenant George Kirkland is buried in Hem-Lenglet Communal Cemetery, France.
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| George Kirkland is commemorated on Kilrea War Memorial.
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| The CWGC record Lieutenant George Kirkland as the son of James and Frances Kirkland and also as the husband of May Kirkland, of 248 Newtownards Road, Belfast, Ireland.
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