Friends of the Somme - Mid Ulster Branch  
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Date Information
06/09/2021 Known family: Francis McGrath, Elizabeth McGrath, Alice McGrath (born 26th February 1890), John McGrath (born 1st January 1892), Henry Harry McGrath (born 2nd February 1894).
06/09/2021 Henry McGrath was born on 2nd February 1894. He was the youngest of three children known to be born in the Coalisland area.
06/09/2021 Private Henry McGrath arrived in France with the 8th Battalion of the Royal Scots Fusiliers on 20th September 1915.
06/09/2021
06/09/2021 Henry ‘Harry’ McGrath was the son of Francis and Elizabeth McGrath. Francis McGrath and Elizabeth Kane were married on 26th July 1888 in the district of Armagh.
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30/12/2015 From the Port Glasgow Express dated 23 October 1917:
30/12/2015
30/12/2015 McGRATH – In loving memory of our dear son, Private Henry McGrath, aged 22 years, killed in action in Salonika on 23rd October 1916. R.I.P.
30/12/2015 “Worth of true respect was he
30/12/2015 From those he left behind;
30/12/2015 A better son could not be.
30/12/2015 Nor one more true or kind.
30/12/2015 'He was a good soldier, ever ready to do his duty. I was very fond of him, and he joked with me as he passed through the lines on his last task. All the officers were upset at the loss, and as were the men of the company. I trust that God in His mercy will give you comfort and strength sufficient to bear your heavy burden. It is a dreadful war we are engaged in. I pray earnestly that all this strife and suffering may soon be ended, and that mothers like yourself may be spared such sorrows being forced upon you.'
30/12/2015 His cheery ways, his smiling face,
30/12/2015 From the Port Glasgow Express dated 10 November 1916: A King Street Boy
30/12/2015
30/12/2015 Readers will remember that some weeks ago Mrs McGrath, 2 King Street, received official intimation that her youngest son, Private Harry McGrath of the Royal Scots Fusiliers, was killed in action at Salonika on 24th October. Some days ago she received a letter from Captain Percy Rea from the trenches in the Balkans. He says that Private McGrath was out with a party raiding a Bulgarian trench when he was shot through the head, and that death must have been instantaneous. He and a fallen comrade were brought back and buried together in a little cemetery, the Rev Atkins, R.C., clergyman, performing the last rites. Private McGrath, the officer writes, died the death of a hero.
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30/12/2015 From the Port Glasgow Express dated 18 December 1916: King Street Boy Dies a Hero - Letter of Sympathy from Officer.
30/12/2015 Are pleasant to recall;
30/12/2015
30/12/2015 Oh this earth would be a heaven,
30/12/2015 Private Henry McGrath is buried in Karasouli Military Cemetery in Greece.
30/12/2015 The 8th Battalion was Formed at Ayr on 1st October 1914 as part of K3 and came under orders of 77th Brigade, 26th Division. Moved to Codford St Mary and went into billets in Bristol in November 1914. Moved to Sutton Veny in April 1915. The battalion landed at Boulogne on 20th September 1915, but soon moved and by November 1915 was at Salonika.
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30/12/2015 The CWGC describes Private Henry McGrath as the son of Francis and Elizabeth McGrath of 2 King Street, Port Glasgow.
30/12/2015 Private Henry McGrath was serving with the 8th Battalion of the Royal Scots Fusiliers when he was killed in action in the Balkans on 24th October 1916. Private McGrath was out with a party raiding a Bulgarian trench when he was shot through the head, and that death must have been instantaneous. He was 22 years old.
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30/12/2015 Mrs Francis McGrath, residing at 2 King Street, has received official intimation that her youngest son, Private Harry McGrath, Royal Scots Fusiliers, was killed in action in Salonika on 24th October. The deceased was twenty-two years of age, and before the war was employed as an apprentice plumber with Mr John Livingstone. He was a member of St John's Church, and enlisted shortly after the outbreak of war.
30/12/2015 On a grave so far from here,
30/12/2015 Henry McGrath enlisted shortly after the outbreak of war.
30/12/2015 Before the war Henry was employed as an apprentice plumber with a Mr John Livingstone.
30/12/2015 The family moved to Scotland.
30/12/2015 Inserted by his brothers and sisters, 2 King Street
30/12/2015 In death we do the same.'
30/12/2015 In life we loved you very dear,
30/12/2015 'Tis sweet to breathe thy name;
30/12/2015 Peaceful be thy rest dear brother,
30/12/2015
30/12/2015 Oh we think of you dear son,
30/12/2015 Where sleeping without dreaming
30/12/2015 He had a kindly work for each,
30/12/2015 'The midnight stars are gleaming,
30/12/2015 McGRATH – In loving memory of our dear brother, Private Henry McGrath, aged 22 years, killed in action in Salonika on 23rd October 1916. R.I.P.
30/12/2015
30/12/2015 From the Port Glasgow Express dated 23 October 1917:
30/12/2015 Inserted by his father and mother, 2 King Street.
30/12/2015 Could we but hear his voice again.”
30/12/2015 And our hearts are filled with pain;
30/12/2015 Private Henry McGrath is commemorated on the Port Glasgow War Memorial. This is a freestone cenotaph which stands at the traffic lights on the junction of Fore Street in the Inverclyde District of Glasgow.
30/12/2015
30/12/2015 And he died beloved by all.
30/12/2015 Lies the one to us so dear.
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