2nd Battalion, Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers (British Army)
Date Of Birth:
04/07/1891
Died:
16/05/1915 (Killed in Action)
Age:
23
Summary
Joseph Henry was the son of John and Mary Henry. Joseph was born in Dungannon on 4th July 1891. The family lived in Ballysaggart, Dungannon, County Tyrone. The family later moved to Belfast. Joseph enlisted in Belfast. Private Joseph Henry was serving with the 2nd Battalion of the Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers when he was killed in action on the 16th May 1915 at the Battle of Festubert.
Further Information
Joseph Henry was the son of John and Mary Henry. John Henry and Mary McGronan were married on 7th September 1878 in the district of Dungannon.
Joseph Henry was born on 4th July 1891. He was one of nine children (seven surviving), all born in the Dungannon area.
Family: John Henry, Mary Henry, John Henry (born 27th October 1879), James Henry (born 6th February 1882), Mary Agnes Henry (born 29th March 1884), Margaret Henry (born 8th April 1886, died 1st September 1887, age 1), Daniel Henry (born 8th June 1887), Eliza Henry (born 2nd December 1889, died 12th December 1889), Joseph Henry (born 4th July 1891), Maggie Henry (born 24th September 1894), Hugh Patrick Henry (born 27th July 1897).
The 1901 census lists Joseph as age 9 living with the family at house 25 in Ballysaggart, Derrygortrevy, Dungannon, County Tyrone. Joseph was still at school. His father was a flax dresser, as was his two older brothers John and James.
The 1911 census records Joseph as age 17, living with the family at house 8 in Clare Terrace, Derrygortrevy, Dungannon, County Tyrone, Joseph was now working as a shop labourer.
The family moved to Belfast. The 1915 Belfast St directory lists his father John Henry as a flax dresser living at no 5 Spinner Street.
Joseph enlisted in Belfast where he was now living.
Private Joseph Henry was serving with the 2nd Battalion of the Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers when he was killed in action on the 16th May 1915. He was 23 years old.
This ties in perfectly with the second day of the Battle of Festubert (15th -17th May 1915) at Second Ypres. The first day had seen horrific losses but the second and third days added to the casualties without any substantial gain whatsoever. During the battle the 2nd Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers some 19 officers and 630 other ranks became casualties.
Private Joseph Henry has no known grave and is commemorated on the Le Touret Memorial in France.
The CWGC record Joseph as the son of John and Mary Henry, of 5, Spinner Street, Falls Road, Belfast. Born at Dungannon, Co. Tyrone.
Private Henry's medals include: 1914-1915 Star, War and Victory Medals. The medals came to light at a recent Memorabilia Roadshow in November 2013 in Dungannon Library.
Joseph's brother James also served and survived the War. More information on James Henry is available on request.
