7th Battalion, Royal Irish Fusiliers (British Army)
Date Of Birth:
03/12/1894
Died:
09/09/1916 (Killed in Action)
Age:
21
Summary
Francis McParland was the son of Michael and Ellen McParland. He was born on 3rd December 1894 in Blackwatertown, County Armagh. He was one of twelve children. The family lived in Milltown Village, County Armagh. Francis was a linen weaver. Francis McParland enlisted in Armagh. He was recorded as living in Benburb, County Tyrone at the time. Corporal Francis McParland was serving with the 7th Battalion of the Royal Irish Fusiliers when he was killed in action on death in France and Flanders on Saturday 9th September 1916..
Further Information
Francis McParland was the son of Michael and Ellen McParland. Michael McParland and Ellen McKinney were married on 17th October 1880 in the district of Armagh.
Francis McParland was born on 3rd December 1894 in Blackwatertown, County Armagh. He was one of twelve children.
Family: Michael McParland, Ellen McParland, John McParland (born 2nd June 1882, Benburb), James McParland (born 6th December 1883, Armagh; died 17th August 1886, age 2), Joseph McParland (born 25th December 1885, Armagh), Ellen McParland (born 8th November 1888, Armagh), Michael McParland (born 14th January 1891, Blackwatertown), James McParland (born 12th April 1893, Blackwatertown), Francis McParland (born 3rd December 1894, Blackwatertown), Margaret McParland (born 1st April 1897, Blackwatertown), Owen McParland (born 4th January 1899, Blackwatertown), Malachy McParland (born 27th April 1905, Blackwatertown).
The 1901 census lists Francis as age 6 living with the family at house 17 in Tullymore Etra, Glenaul, County Armagh. His father, Michael McParland, was a labourer.
The 1911 census lists Francis as age 16 living with the family at house 23 in Milltown Village, Glenaul, Armagh. Francis was working as a linen weaver. The family all worked in the same linen factory, presumably.
Francis McParland enlisted in Armagh. He was recorded as living in Benburb, County Tyrone at the time.
Lance Corporal Francis McParland arrived in France with the Royal Irish Fusiliers on 27th December 1914.
Corporal Francis McParland was serving with the 7th Battalion of the Princess Victoria's (Royal Irish Fusiliers) when he was killed in action on death in France and Flanders on Saturday 9th September 1916. He was 21 years old.
In his will, written on 20th July 1916, he bequeathed all to his mother, Mrs E McParland, who was living at Milltown, Benburb, County Armagh.
Last Will and Testament of Francis McParland:
In the event of my death I give the whole of my property and effects to my mother Mrs E McParland, Milltown, Benburb, Co Armagh, Ireland. F McPartland, Corporal. Royal Irish Fusiliers. 20th July 1916.
Corporal Francis McParland has no known grave and is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial to the Missing of the Somme. The Thiepval Memorial, the Memorial to the Missing of the Somme, bears the names of more than 72,000 officers and men of the United Kingdom and South African forces who died in the Somme sector before 20 March 1918 and have no known grave. Over 90% of those commemorated died between July and November 1916.
Corporal Francis McParland is listed on page 126 of the book ‘Armagh Dead in the Great War’.
