Friends of the Somme - Mid Ulster Branch  
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1134   Private Robert McReynolds
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Dated added: 30/12/2015   Last updated: 25/09/2021
Personal Details
Regiment/Service: 1st / 6th Battalion, Highland Light Infantry (British Army)
Date Of Birth: 31/03/1884
Died: 14/08/1915 (Died of Wounds)
Age: 31
Summary      
Robert McReynolds was the son of John and Margaret McReynolds. He was born on 31st March 1884 in Lisburn. By the time of the 1901 census the family was living in Linfield St, Dungannon. Robert was working as a Linen Band Tier. He was 16 years old. His father was a labourer. Robert enlisted in Glasgow in 1914. He joined the 1st/6th Battalion of the Highland Light Infantry. Private Robert McReynolds was killed in action on 14th August 1915 during the Gallipoli Campaign.
Further Information
Robert McReynolds was the son of John and Margaret McReynolds. John McReynolds married Margaret Carroll on 3rd December 1880 in the district of Dungannon.
Robert McReynolds was born on 31st March 1884 in Lisburn. He was one of at least four children.
Known family: John McReynolds, Margaret McReynolds, Eliza J McReynolds (born about 1882, Scotland), Robert McReynolds (born 31st March 1884, Lisburn), Annie McReynolds (born 30th November 1885, Dungannon).
By the time of the 1901 census the family was living in Linfield Street in Dungannon. Robert was working as a linen band tier. He was 16 years old. His father was a labourer.
Robert McReynolds was a member of Holdfast L.O.L. 1620.
Robert McReynolds went to live in Scotland.
About 1904 he signed up with the Scottish Territorials. He served with them for ten years.
The Ulster Covenant in 1912 lists Robert as signing at 100 Wellington Street, Glasgow.
Robert enlisted in Glasgow in 1914. He joined the Highland Light Infantry.
Medal card
Private McReynolds went abroad with the First Expeditionary Force and was wounded in the retreat from Mons.
Private McReynolds came back to Dungannon and went to Egypt in May last preparatory to going to the Dardanelles.
Private Robert McReynolds was serving with the 1st/6th Battalion of the Highland Light Infantry when he died of wounds received on 14th August 1915 during the Gallipoli Campaign. He was 29.
Robert left behind a widow and a small family.
From the Tyrone Courier dated 9th September 1915:
Mrs Clayton, The Park, Dungannon, has received intimation that her brother, Corporal Robert McReynolds, Black Watch, has died of wounds received at the Dardanelles on 14th ult. The deceased was a son of the late Mr John McReynolds and had served ten years in the Territorials.
From the Mid Ulster Mail dated 11th September 1915: Corporal McReynolds
Mrs Clayton, The Park, Dungannon, has received intimation that her brother, Corporal Robert McReynolds, of the Black Watch, has died from the effects of wounds received at the Gallipoli Peninsula on 14th August. Corporal McReynolds, who was a son of the late Mr John McReynolds, was a native of Dungannon. When employed in Glasgow, he served ten years in the Scottish Territorials, and on the outbreak of the present war joined the Black Watch. He went abroad with the First Expeditionary Force and was wounded in the retreat from Mons. He came back to Dungannon and went to Egypt in May last preparatory to going to the Dardanelles. He leaves a widow and a small family.
From the Belfast Newsletter dated 21th September 1915: Dungannon's Roll of Honour
Rev F S Morrow, B.A., preaching on Sunday in St Ann's Parish Church, Dungannon, said he had again to refer to the loss of two more members of the congregation who had gone forth and died in the service of their country. Corporal Robert McReynolds, Highland Light Infantry, had fallen in battle and Private Robert Jeffs, Royal Army Medical Corps, had succumbed to disease. Their bodies lay in soldier's graves far away from home beneath the grass of the Dardanelles. They had died fighting the battle of freedom, and no life blood was poured out in vain which was shed in defence of so noble a cause. The Death March in Saul was rendered at the close of the service, the congregation standing.
From the Mid Ulster Mail dated 25th September 1915: Dungannon’s Roll of Honour – Pulpit reference
At St Anne’s Parish Church on Sunday morning, Rev F S Morrow, B.A., in referring to recent casualties said:-
‘Before giving out the text we have once more to refer this morning to the loss of two more of those who went forth from us in the service of the country. One has fallen in battle – Corporal McReynolds, and one has succumbed to disease – Private Robert Jeffs. The bodies of both of them lie far away from home beneath the grass of the Dardanelles, where they met the enemy of their country. We are sorry for the grief their death must cause but if there is any consolation for their loss, it must lie in this - They had died a soldier’s death, they have died fighting the battles of freedom, and no life blood is poured vainlessly, which is shed in defence of so noble a cause. It was said by a French General, who had lost two sons in the war, and it was also said by an English lady that one must not grieve overmuch, though one cannot but be sorry for the deaths of such heroes. From their death life springs, and the great cause of liberty is maintained and ennobled. Such is the consolation at the present time, and every family which has lost one of its members in the great cause ought to be remembered amongst us with special honour. Their sons have given their lives and they could do no more. They have sacrificed themselves to free us from danger and the grief which the relatives feel, ought to be shared by them all. This is bearing one another’s burdens, and so fulfilling the law of Christ. We publicly tender our thanks and our sincere sympathy, and we leave the souls of those who have gone in the hands of the God who made them, and who grieves over a soldier’s death, no less than we do.’
The Death March in Saul was performed, the congregation reverently standing.
Private Robert McReynolds is buried in Lancashire Landing Cemetery in Turkey.
Private Robert McReynolds is commemorated locally on Dungannon War Memorial and on the WWI Roll of Honour in St Anne's Church Of Ireland in Dungannon. He is also commemorated on the Holdfast L.O.L. 1620 Dungannon Roll of Honour.
The CWGC record Private Robert McReynolds as the son of John and Margaret McReynolds of Dungannon, County Tyrone. He is also recorded as the husband of Mary Murray (formerly McReynolds), of 12 Parker Street, Whiteinch, Glasgow.
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Relevant Dungannon Area Locations
No Location Region Location Notes Longtitude Latitude
1 Linfield Street (No 18) Dungannon Central Census listing in Linfield St 54.502745 -6.775886
GRONI References
TYPE - B:Birth M:Marriage D:Death | GRONI | SIBLING: brother or sister | NOTES: spelling inconsistencies, etc.
Date Type Surname First name Relationship GRONI Ref Notes
03/12/1880 M Carroll Margaret Parent M/1880/T1/1417/5/42b
03/12/1880 M McReynolds John Parent M/1880/T1/1417/5/42a
31/03/1884 B McReynolds Robert Casualty U/1884/148/1018/19/355 McRenolds, Carrol
10/11/1885 B McReynolds Anne Sibling U/1885/112/1012/15/399 Cardwell
05/10/1888 B McReynolds Jane Sibling U/1888/106/1012/8/248 ?, Carmichael
References and Links
No Link Reference Map Doc
1 1901 Census lists McReynolds family Lists Robert as age 16 living with the family at house 18 in Linfield St, Dungannon, Tyrone
2 Lisburn in the Great War Details of Robert McReynolds
3 National Archives UK Medal Card can be purchased here
4 National Archives UK Medal Card can be purchased here
5 Scottish National War Memorial Brief details of Private Robert McReynolds
6 Ulster Star - 19/11/2015 Visit to Private Robert McReynolds grave
7 War Graves Photographic Project Photo of Robert McReynolds headstone can be purchased here.
Dungannon District's War Dead Acknowledgements 2015-2023