Friends of the Somme - Mid Ulster Branch  
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20139   Private David Sands
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Dated added: 30/12/2015   Last updated: 28/11/2021
Personal Details
Regiment/Service: 1st Battalion, Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers (British Army)
Date Of Birth: 07/09/1894
Died: 31/01/1917 (Died of Illness)
Age: 22
Summary      
David Sands was the youngest son of James and Catherine Sands. He was born on 7th September 1893. He was one of nine children, all born in Dungannon. The family lived at Mullaghanagh, on the outskirts of Dungannon. His father was a farm labourer. David worked on the Ranfurly Estate in Dungannon. Private David Sands contracted dysentery at Gallipoli. Private David Sands was serving with the 1st Battalion of the Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers when he died in France of bronchitis on 31st January 1917.
Private David Sands
Further Information
David Sands was the youngest surviving son of James and Catherine Kate Sands. James Sands and Catherine Mallon were married on 2nd October 1879 in the district of Dungannon.
The CWGC record the family name as ‘Sandes’. However, all local documentation and local war memorials spell of the surname Sands.
David Sands was born on 7th September 1893. He was one of nine children, all born in Dungannon.
Known family: James Sands. Catherine Kate Sands, Jane Sands (born 27th January 1880), James Sands (born 8th April 1882), Catherine Sands (born 26th April 1884), Ellen / Nellie Sands (born about 1885), Patrick Sands (born 3rd March 1887), John Sands (born 1st January 1890), David Sands (born 7th September 1893), William Sands (born 7th September 1893, died 9th November 1893), Sarah Sands (born 8th September 1897)
The 1901 census records David as 7 years old. His father worked on a farm and his mother was a linen weaver. He was living with the family at house 1 in Mullaghanagh, Derrygortrevy, Tyrone.
The 1911 census shows David as still living with the family in Mullaghanagh, Derrygortrevy, He was 17 years and working as a labourer.
David Sands worked on the Ranfurly Estate in Dungannon.
David enlisted in Dungannon.
He was with the Royal Dublin Fusiliers for a time (Service No. 9532).
1915
Medal card
Private David Sands arrived in the Balkans with the Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers on 11th July 1915.
From the Mid Ulster Mail dated 9th October 1915: Bombardier Sandes’ Escape (brother of David Sands)
Bombardier James Sandes, R.G.A., writing from the Dardanelles on 16th September to his mother, Mrs Sandes, Mullaghanagh, Dungannon, says:-
‘Just a few lines to let you know I am doing well. We have a very hot time of it at the Dardanelles and have had heavy losses. We have been under very sharp fire, and shells have dropped all around us. I had a very narrow escape lately, as a shell fell beside me but did not burst. I was coming from the observing station at the time when it dropped on a hill only twenty yards from me and about one mile from our own guns. The enemy were only ranging to find our position, but I had a very lucky escape.’
From the Belfast Newsletter dated 5th October 1915: James Sandes (brother of David Sands)
Bombardier James Sandes, R.F.A., writing from the Dardanelles to his parents at Mullaghanagh, Dungannon, says that he had a very narrow escape on the 15th September, when a shell struck the ground beside him but did not go off.
From the Tyrone Courier dated 18th November 1915:
Mrs Sands, Mullaghanagh, has received intimation that her son, Private David Sands, 6th Inniskillings, has contracted dysentery in the Eastern field of operations and is in hospital. He is one of four brothers serving on the front.
From the Tyrone Courier dated 2 December 1915: Mullaghanagh Man's Four Sons Serving
The four sons of Mr James Sandes, Mullaghanagh, Dungannon, are nobly serving their King and country in the army, all four being present at the front. The eldest son, Bombardier James Sandes, Royal Field Artillery, was a reservist and was called up at the outbreak of the war and is now serving with the Mediterranean Expeditionary Force in Salonika. The next son, Gummer Patrick Sandes, Royal Garrison Artillery, had been on the army for a number of years before the outbreak of hostilities and had served for a period in China. He is now in France with his regiment. The other two sons, Driver John Sandes and Private David Sandes, both of the 6th Inniskilling Fusiliers, volunteered early in the war and are now fighting against the Bulgarians like their brother James. Gunner Patrick Sandes has been twice wounded in France, while his brother David is in hospital suffering from dysentery.
1916
Private David Sands was home for a time in early 1916, recovering from dysentery he contracted at Gallipoli.
From the Belfast Newsletter dated 17th February 1916:
Private David Sandes, 6th Battalion Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers, has arrived home at Mullaghanagh, Dungannon, to recover from an attack of dysentery contracted at the Dardanelles.
From the Tyrone Courier dated 17th February 1916:
The following local soldiers have also arrived home in Dungannon on short furlough:- Corporal John Bell, Irish Guards; Private David Sandes, 6th Inniskillings (invalided owing to an attack of dysentery contracted at the Dardanelles); and Private Thomas Orr, Moygashel, 9th Inniskillings.
From the Belfast Newsletter dated 9th October 1916: Brother of David Sands
Private John Sandes, Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers, is in hospital in Malta, suffering from malarial fever. His wife resides in Milltown, Dungannon, and he is one of three soldier sons of Mr James Sandes, Mullaghanagh, Dungannon.
From the Tyrone Courier dated 12 October 1916: Brother of David Sands
Private John Sands, Inniskillings, who is in hospital suffering from malarial fever, is one of three soldier sons of Mr James Sands, Mullaghanagh. His wife resides in Milltown. His brother James has been wounded.
1917
From the Belfast Newsletter dated 15th January 1917:
Private David Sandes, Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers, wounded, is the youngest son of Mr James Sands, Mullaghanagh, Dungannon.
Private David Sands was serving with the 1st Battalion of the Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers when he died in France of bronchitis on 31st January 1917. He was 23 years old.
From the Belfast Newsletter dated 8th February 1917:
Private David Sandes, Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers, Mullaghanagh, Dungannon, died of bronchitis in France on 31st January. Three of his brothers are in the service.
From the Tyrone Courier dated Thursday 15 February 1917
The War Office notified Mr James Sandes, Mullaghanagh, Dungannon, on Wednesday that the youngest of his four sons, Private David Sandes, Inniskilling Fusiliers, had died of bronchitis in France on 31st January 1917. He had been recently wounded.
David Sands was one of four brothers who served. David’s older brother, Patrick, also died in the war on 30th June 1917, five months after David’s death.
Memorials
Private David Sands is buried in Grove Town Cemetery in France.
Private David Sands 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 David Sands as the son of Kate Sandes of Park Road, Dungannon, County Tyrone
Read more
Relevant Dungannon Area Locations
No Location Region Location Notes Longtitude Latitude
1 Mullaghanagh, Derrygortrevy Dungannon Town South Census listing in Mullaghanagh 54.495019 -6.769731
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
02/10/1879 M Mallon Catherine Parent M/1879/T1/2569/5/37b Catharine
02/10/1879 M Sands James Parent M/1879/T1/2569/5/37a Jas
27/01/1880 B Sands Jane Sibling U/1880/112/1012/12/204
08/04/1882 B Sands James Sibling U/1882/112/1012/13/368
26/04/1884 B Sands Catherine Sibling U/1884/112/1012/14/424
23/01/1885 B Sands Ellen Sibling U/1885/109/1012/10/244 ? Early
03/03/1887 B Sands Patrick Sibling U/1887/112/1012/16/245
01/01/1890 B Sands John Sibling U/1890/112/1012/17/480
07/09/1893 B Sands William Sibling U/1893/112/1012/19/350 twin
07/09/1893 B Sands David Casualty U/1893/112/1012/19/349 twin
09/11/1893 D Sands William Sibling D/1893/112/1012/17/477 died age 0
08/09/1897 B Sands Sarah Sibling U/1897/112/1012/21/377
24/12/1909 D Sands Jennie Sibling D/1909/112/1012/25/175 ?, died age 28
References and Links
No Link Reference Map Doc
1 1901 Census lists Sands family Lists David as age 7 living with the family at house 1 in Mullaghanagh, Derrygortrevy, Tyrone
2 1911 Census lists Sands family Lists David as age 17 living with the family at house 2 in Mullaghanagh, Derrygortrevy, Tyrone
3 Brother - Patrick Sands Brother of David Sands
4 County Tyrone Militia Lists David Sandes as being in hosptial
5 National Archives UK Medal Card can be purchased here
6 War Graves Photographic Project Photo of Private David Sands' headstone can be purchased here
Dungannon District's War Dead Acknowledgements 2015-2023