2nd Battalion, Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers (British Army)
Died:
14/10/1918 (Killed in Action)
Age:
21
Summary
Thomas Gallagher was the son of Thomas and Jane Gallagher. He was a born about 1897 in Anderston, Lanark, Scotland. The 1901 census records Thomas as 3 years old. Thomas’ father was a general labourer, The family were living at Miltown (South side), Dungannon, Tyrone. Thomas Gallagher enlisted in Dungannon. Private Thomas Gallagher was serving with the 2nd Battalion of the Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers when he was killed in action on 14th October 1918, age 21.
Further Information
Thomas Gallagher was the son of Thomas and Jane Gallagher. He was born about 1897 in Anderston, Lanark, Scotland.
The 1901 census records Thomas as 3 years old. Thomas' father was a general labourer, The family were living at Miltown (South side), Dungannon, Tyrone.
Possible family: Thomas Gallagher, Jane Gallagher, Thomas Gallagher (born about 1898), Adelaide Gallagher (sister born about 1902), Sydney Gallagher (brother born about 1905)
The 1911 census records Thomas as age 13, living with uncle and aunt at house 9 in Derrycreevy (Knox), Killyman. He was still at school.
Thomas Gallagher was a member of Derrycreevy L.O.L. 856, and of Derrycreevy Company Dungannon Battalion U.V.F.
Thomas Gallagher enlisted in Dungannon at the very inception of the war.
Private Thomas Gallagher arrived in the Balkans with the Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers on 11th July 1915.
From the Belfast Newsletter dated 13th September 1915: The Capture of Inniskilling Hill – Dungannon Man's Interesting letter
(To be confirmed as THIS Private T Gallagher, Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers)
Private T Gallagher, 6th Battalion Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers, writing to his friends at Moygashel, Dungannon, says:-
'We sailed from Mytilene and on 6th August were put on a smaller boat and set off. At daybreak on the following morning we came to our landing place. The naval guns kept up a terrific bombardment and we launched at about 6 o'clock a.m. The Turks sent the shells thick and heavy about us as we advanced all day through an open plain. In the evening we got under rifle fire from a small hill where the Turks were entrenched. Our naval guns gave the hill 'socks' and so did our artillery. Anyhow, we got to the bottom of the hill after crossing a plain where shells and bullets fell around us like a shower of hail. We made a bayonet charge up the hill, but the Turks did not wait till we got to their trenches. They bolted off, so we hold the hill, which is now known as 'Inniskilling Hill'. The regulars are with us now, and our 1st battalion is here. Other larger hills were captured, and now we have a good footing, which we mean to retain, and get as much more as we can. The trenches are fine, just as good as a house. The enemy are very quiet now, except for a few snipers, and an odd shell going over our heads. The heat and flies are the only things that trouble us much here.'
Mytilene is the capital and port of the Greek island of Lesbos.
Private Thomas Gallagher saw much service at the Dardanelles and in France.
Private Thomas Gallagher was serving with the 2nd Battalion of the Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers when he was killed in action on 14th October 1918, age 21.
His mother, Mrs Jane Gallagher, was living at Henry Street, Dungannon at the time of his death.
From the Tyrone Courier and Dungannon News dated Thursday 24 October 1918:
Mrs Gallagher, Henry Street, Dungannon, has received the melancholy intimation that her son Private Thomas Gallagher, Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers, has died in hospital of wounds received during recent operations in France.
From the Belfast Newsletter dated 21st November 1918:
Private Thomas Gallagher, Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers, Henry Street, Dungannon, killed on 14th October.
From the Tyrone Courier and Dungannon News dated Thursday 5 December 1918
With reference to the death of Private Thomas Gallagher, 2nd Battalion Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers, who was killed in action on 14th October 1918, his mother Mrs Jane Gallagher, Henry Street, Dungannon, has received a letter from his company officer which states :-
'I always found your son a sterling man. His cheerfulness and willingness to do his duty as a soldier, under all conditions caused him to be held in high esteem by all his officers, commissioned or otherwise. He will be missed by us all'
This young soldier volunteered at the very inception of the war and joined the regular army. He had seen much service at the Dardanelles and in France. Prior to volunteering he was a useful member of Derrycreevy L.O.L. 856, and of Derrycreevy Company Dungannon Battalion U.V.F.
The village of Dadizeele (now Dadizele) was in German hands for much of the First World War until reached by the 36th (Ulster) Division, and taken by the 9th (Scottish) Division, on 29 September 1918. Severe fighting followed on 1 October, at Hill 41, a little south of the village.
Private Thomas Gallagher is buried in Dadizeele New British Cemetery, sixteen kilometres east of Ypres in West-Vlaanderen, Belgium.
Private Thomas Gallagher is commemorated locally on Dungannon War Memorial and on the WWI Roll of Honour in St Anne's Church Of Ireland in Dungannon.
The CWGC record Private Gallagher as the son of Thomas and Jane Gallagher, of 47, Alexandra Gardens, Portadown, Co. Armagh. The CWGC record that he was a native of Dungannon, Co. Tyrone.
