| Date |
Information |
|
| 21/05/2020 |
01478 |
| 30/12/2015 |
Charles Crilly was the eldest son of John and Annie Crilly. John Crilly married Annie Quigg on 28th May 1890 in the parish of Magherafelt. |
| 30/12/2015 |
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| 30/12/2015 |
Mr and Mrs Thomas Crilly, poulterers, near Draperstown, have received the following letter from their son:- |
| 30/12/2015 |
‘Dear father and mother, Just a line to let you know I am in the best of health, thank God, and I hope I this will find you also in good health. I am sending you this enclosed parchment certificate to get framed. I got it presented to me by the General commanding our Division. There were three of us and he said he was sorry he could not give us more, for it would take one making D.C.M.’s and V.C.’s for us Irish. He also said that at the beginning of the war we would have D.C.M.’s for the same deed. We had a very narrow shave. It was on a Sunday morning and our wires got broke, so of course we had to get them fixed, and as quickly as possible, for ‘Bill’ was giving us hell – he was sending over all classes of stuff. So two chums and myself started out and we finished our job and got back safe, thank God. The certificate will be something for you to look at, and it was both hard and easy got. Now goodbye and God bless you.’ |
| 30/12/2015 |
The following is a copy of the parchment certificate, which has a large green trefoil on the top right hand corner:- |
| 30/12/2015 |
‘THE IRISH BRIGADE – No 6/2586, Private C Crilly, 6th Battalion Royal Irish Regiment. I have read with much pleasure the reports of your Brigade Commander regarding your gallant conduct and devotion to duty in the field on 27th May 1916, and have ordered your name and deed to be entered in the record of the Irish Division. W B Hickie, Major General Commanding the Irish Division.’ |
| 30/12/2015 |
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| 30/12/2015 |
The above is an example of what became known as 'Hickie's Medals' |
| 30/12/2015 |
Last Will and Testament of Private Charles Crilly |
| 30/12/2015 |
From the Mid Ulster Mail dated Saturday 24th June 1916: Draperstown Soldier’s Heroism – Certificate on Parchment |
| 30/12/2015 |
In case of my death. I leave all my property and money to my father, Mr John Crilly, Poulterer, Tonagh, Draperstown, County Derry, Ireland. 2586 Private Charlie Crilly, 6th Royal Irish Regiment, 15th June 1917. |
| 30/12/2015 |
Charles Crilly was born on 23rd July 1891 in Draperstown. |
| 30/12/2015 |
The 1901 census lists Charles as age 7 living with the family at house 67 in Draperstown, Londonderry. John Crilly was an egg and fowl dealer. |
| 30/12/2015 |
The 1911 census lists Charles as age 20 living with the family at house 58 in Draperstown, Londonderry. Like his father, Charles was a fowl dealer. |
| 30/12/2015 |
Family: John Crilly, Annie Crilly, Charles Crilly (born 23rd July 1891), Bernard Crilly (born 13th April 1893), John Crilly (born 17th February 1895), Francis Crilly (born 27th August 1897), James Crilly (born 26th September 1899, died 10th November 1899), Bridget Crilly (born 23rd August 1900), James Crilly (born 5th July 1903, died 11th September 1903), Annie Crilly (born 29th December 1904). |
| 30/12/2015 |
Private Charles Crilly received one of 'Hickie's Medals' for his courageous work on 27th May 1916. It was on a Sunday morning and, under severe shellfire, three men including Charles went out to fix broken telegraph wires. They repaired the lines and all three returned unscathed. |
| 30/12/2015 |
Private Charles Crilly, initially with the 6th Battalion, was serving with the 2nd Battalion of the Royal Irish Regiment when he died of wounds on Saturday 8th September 1917. |
| 30/12/2015 |
Private Charles Crilly was buried in Bucquoy Road Cemetery, Ficheux. Bucquoy Road Cemetery is situated nine kilometres south of Arras. The 20th and 43rd Casualty Clearing Stations were based in the area. |
| 30/12/2015 |
The CWGC record Private Charles Crilly was the son of John Crilly, of Tonagh Cottage, Draperstown, Co. Londonderry. |
| 30/12/2015 |
Charles’s brother, Bernard Crilly, also died in the war. Private Bernard Crilly was serving with 47th Company of the Machine Gun Corps (Infantry) when he died on Friday 8th September 1916 - exactly one year before his brother. Remarkably, both died on 8th September. |
| 30/12/2015 |
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