9th Battalion, Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers (British Army)
Date Of Birth:
15/11/1894
Died:
07/08/1917 (Killed in Action)
Age:
22
Summary
Thomas Lamont McFall was the youngest son of John and Elizabeth McFall. Thomas was born 15th November 1894 in Bushmills, County Antrim. He was the youngest of six children. They were a farming family. Thomas joined the Belfast Banking Company and served in both the Portaferry and Magherafelt branches. Second Lieutenant Thomas McFall was serving with the 9th Battalion of the Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers killed in action in Belgium on Tuesday 7th August 1917 whilst leading his platoon into the first line.
Further Information
Thomas Lamont McFall was the youngest son of John and Elizabeth McFall. John McFall married Lizzie Nevin on 8th October 1880 in the district of Coleraine.
It seems they then moved to America, where their first child was born. They had returned to Ireland by the time their second child was born in September 1883.
Thomas was born 15th November 1894 in Bushmills, County Antrim. He was the youngest of six children.
Family: John McFall, Elizabeth McFall, John Jackson McFall (born about 1881, America), James Nevin McFall (born 6th September 1883, Bushmills), Agnes Carrie McFall (born 21st March 1886, Bushmills), Sarah Nevin McFall (born 22nd November 1888, Bushmills), Robert William McFall (born 8th June 1891, Bushmills), Thomas Lamont McFall (born 15th November 1894, Bushmills).
The 1901 census lists Thomas Lamont as age 6, living with the family at house 6 in Magherintendry, Bushmills, County Antrim. They were a farming family.
The 1911 census lists Thomas as age 16, living with the family at house 1 in Magherintendry, Bushmills. Thomas was still at school.
Thomas joined the Belfast Banking Company and served in both the Portaferry and Magherafelt branches.
At the outbreak of the war Thomas McFall volunteered and was gazetted to the Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers. His Service Number was 12/24513.
On 4th October 1915 he was promoted to temporary Second Lieutenant.
He went to France in July 1916, and saw a good deal of service.
From the Belfast Newsletter dated 14th December 1916:
Second Lieutenant Thomas L McFall, Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers, who is officially reported wounded, received his commission in October 1915 and served at various stations in the North of Ireland before being sent to the front last summer. He is one of three soldier sons of Mr John McFall, farmer, Magherintendry, Bushmills, and a nephew of Mr W J McFall, merchant, Bushmills. Before joining the Army he was in service of the Belfast Bank at Magherafelt.
Second Lieutenant Thomas Lamont McFall was serving with the 9th Battalion of the Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers killed in action in Belgium on Tuesday 7th August 1917 whilst leading his platoon into the first line.
From the Belfast Newsletter dated 20th August 1917:
Second Lieutenant Thomas L McFall, Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers, killed in action on 8th August, was one of three soldier sons of Mr John McFall, farmer, Bushmills. In civilian life he was in the employment of the Belfast Bank at Magherafelt. He was wounded in January last.
Second Lieutenant Thomas Lamont McFall is buried in Potijze Chateau Grounds Cemetery, Belgium.
Thomas is commemorated on Bushmills War Memorial and on a plaque in Dunluce Parish Church.
Thomas is also commemorated on the Belfast Banking Company memorial plaque in St Anne’s Cathedral, Belfast.
The CWGC record Second Lieutenant Thomas Lamont McFall as the son of John and Elizabeth McFall, of Magherintendry, Bushmills, Co. Antrim. He is also recorded as a Belfast Banking Company official.
