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| 17/10/2020 |
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To the glory of God and in grateful remembrance of Lieutenant George Ferrier Weir, 10th Battalion Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers. Born 2nd February 1893. Enlisted September 1914. Died in India 3rd July 1942. He served his King and country for 29 years. Faithful until death. Erected by his comrades in the U.V.F.’ |
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From the Mid Ulster Mail dated Saturday 24th November 1945: Memorial Tablet Unveiled |
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There was a good audience present on Friday evening in the Protestant War Memorial Hall for the unveiling of a marble tablet in the memory of the late Lieutenant George F Weir, a son of the late Mr John Weir, of Toberhead. Mr S G Davison, J.P., C.Clr., of Farmhill, Castledawson, who was one of the Castledawson U.V.F. and was instrumental in getting the tablet erected, presided. He said they were met to pay tribute to whom tribute is due - the late Lieutenant George Ferrier Weir, of the 10th Battalion Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers, who was born in Toberhead in 1893, received his education at Toberhead National School until he was fourteen years of age, then worked on his father’s farm until 1914 when the World War broke out. |
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In 1912, when Ulster was threatened with coercion and Ulster people decided to defend themselves, Lieutenant Weir was among the first to join the Ulster Volunteer Force and was drill instructor. |
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In August 1914, when Great Britain declared war on Germany, Lieutenant Weir was among the first to volunteer to defend the homeland, and with thirteen others (some of whom were present), went to Finner Camp to form the 10th Battalion (Derrys) Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers. ion their arrival they were put on drill square to test their ability and to their credit they were told they were the best drilled squad in the battalion. When the Derrys were sent overseas, George Weir was soon promoted to the rank of sergeant. Having served throughout the campaign he was offered a commission, which he refused, but was later on promoted to warrant officer’s rank. |
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That night, they were to have unveiled by Mrs Johnston, a tablet to perpetuate the memory of one of Ulster’s sons, on who had never an enemy, but had endeared himself to every man with whom he came in contact. On behalf of Lieutenant Weir’s old comrades, the chairman asked Mrs Johnston to unveil that tablet. Mrs Johnston, with the audience standing, unveiled the tablet, after which the Rev W Gaston, B.A., offered up the dedication prayer. Mrs Johnston said:- |
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‘On behalf of my brothers and sister, now living abroad, I wish to thank each one of you for your kind thought in erecting this tablet in memory of our brother, George Ferrier Weir, and to you Mr chairman, for asking me to come and unveil the tablet. I consider it a very great honour, but at the same time, a sad duty to unveil this tablet erected by his friends in Castledawson and district in memory of Lieutenant George Ferrier Weir.’ |
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Before the tablet was unveiled, Rev Mr Gaston read a portion of scripture and gave a short address on memorials. Mr H McMaster, Rural District Council, of Magherfelt, proposing a vote of thanks to Mrs Johnston, endorsed what the chairman had said regarding the deceased officer. Mr George Sampson, of Leitrim, seconded the vote, which was passed and gracefully acknowledged. |
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The Presbyterian Church choir, under Mr A Heuston, choirmaster, led in the singing of ‘The Lord is My Shepherd’, ‘For all the Saints’, ‘There is a Land of Pure Delight’, and the Benediction and National Anthem, Miss Marie Heuston, A.T.C.L., at the organ. |
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Going to India, he served until 1942. Lieutenant Weir, on leave, visited the homeland, but on war breaking out he had to return to India, to the great disappointment of his pals in the U.V.F., who had contemplated entertaining him in that old hall where he began his military career almost thirty years ago. His mortal remains rest in India, having faithfully served his King and country. |
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The tablet is a well-executed piece of work, sculptured by Mr M Watterson, a local monumental sculptor. It occupies a prominent position alongside a tablet erected to the memory of Capt. Chichester-Clark, R.M., D.S.O., D.L., M.P., on the wall at the back of the platform, and bears the inscription:- |
| 17/04/2020 |
The 1901 census lists George as age 8, living with the family at house 43 in Toberhead, Desertmartin, County Londonderry. His father was a farmer. |
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He continued in the Inniskillings and in the late 1920’s accompanied the 1st Battalion to India and made such a name for himself at the Indian Small Arms School that he eventually went there as a Staff Instructor. Posted to the Indian Auxiliary Regiment with the rank of W.O. Class II, he remained with that Corps for close on ten years and finished this period of service attached to an Indian Army Cadet Unit as W.O. Class I. |
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George married Mollie Elizabeth, but his wife died in July 1937. There was one child, Violet, who married but had no children. |
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The medal lists show him as receiving the usual Victory Medal and the British Campaign Medal. There is a remark that they were ‘forfeited under Art. 1236 Warrant as amended by Army Order 298 of 1920’. This could have happened if he caused a civil disturbance by fighting in public. The medals were normally reinstated later. |
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George joined the 10th Battalion Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers on 29th September 1914. His regimental number was 3153. He served in France from November 1915 until the end of the war by which time he had been promoted to sergeant. His service record papers like so many WWI records were destroyed in the blitz in London during WWII. |
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The 1911 census lists George as age 18, living with the family at house 21 in Toberhead. George and his other brothers were working on the family farm. |
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George Weir was born on 2nd February 1893. He was the second of five surviving children, all born ithe Magherafelt district. |
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Family: David Weir, Rachel Weir, John Weir (born 14th September 1890), George Weir (born 2nd February 1893), David James Weir (born 18th October 1895), Anna Bella Weir (born 16th April 1898), Mary Weir (born 8th May 1901), Unknown male (born 3rd March 1904, died 6th March 1904). |
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After a few months at home, war broke out and he was recalled to India sailing from Greenock on 3rd March 1939, arriving in Bombay on the 18th September 1939. |
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Lieutenant George Ferrier Weir is listed on pages 121-124 of the Castledawson War Dead Book – ‘They Didn’t Come Home. |
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Rachel Weir, George’s mother, died on 5th March 1904 due to complications during childbirth. Her unnamed son died a day later. George was 11 years old. |
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He served as a Regimental Sergeant Major in the 4th Lahore Battalion UTC ITF Lahore from 18th September 1939 to 31st May 1941. |
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Lieutenant George Ferrier Weir died in india on 28th August 1942 of ‘apoplexy’. |
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Lieutenant Weir’s last posting was as O.C. of P.O.W. Camp Clement Town Dehra Dun U.P. India. (The Indian Service information comes from a 1946 claim by his daughter for his War Gratuity. On 9th January 1947 she received £22-10-0 for his service as Lieutenant. |
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Lieutenant George Weir is buried in Delhi War Cemetery. |
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Lieutenant George Ferrier Weir is commemorated locally on a memorial in Castledawson War Memorial Hall. |
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George Weir was the second son of David and Rachel Weir. David Weir and Rachel Ferrier were married on 25th October 1889 in the district of Magherafelt. |
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George Weir is also listed among those who served during World War One on the main Ulster Volunteer Memorial and on the World War One Memorial (served) in Curran Presbyterian Church. |
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The CWGC record Lieutenant George Ferrier Weir as the son of David and Rachel Weir. He is also recorded as the husband of Mollie Elizabeth Weir. |
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All images courtesy of Sam Hudson, Desertmartin. Information provided here is courtesy of the excellent research undertaken by Mr Sam Hudson. |
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Lieutenant G Weir is also commemorated on Castledawson War Memorial. |
