John Reid was the son of Martha Reid. John was born in Tyrone on 22nd September 1885. John enlisted in Tidworth, British Columbia, Canada on 21 Jan 1915. He gives his occupation as Policeman. Private John Reid was serving with the Canadian Army Veterinary Corps when he died of cerebral haemorrhage while on duty in France on 25th July 1915. He was 30 years old. Private John Reid is buried in Ste Marie Cemetery, Le Harve, France.
Further Information
John Reid was the youngest son of Joseph and Martha Reid. Joseph Reid and Martha Callaghan on 27th November 1866 in Belfast.
John Reid was born on 22nd September 1885. He was the youngest of eight children, all born in the Aughnacloy area.
Known family: Joseph Reid, Martha Reid, Catherine Reid (born 9th February 1869), Anne Reid (born 15th November 1871), Thomas Reid (born 9th June 1874, died 9th September 1874), Joseph Reid (born 29th December 1875), Thomas Reid (born 2nd October 1878), Marjory Reid (born 14th March 1881), Mary Reid (born 4th January 1884, died 9th January 1884), John Reid (born 22nd September 1885)
It seems John’s father, Joseph Reid, died on 20th January 1888 in the Aughnacloy area, aged 40.
1915
John enlisted in Tidworth, British Columbia, Canada on 21st January 1915. He gives his occupation as Policeman.
John Reid names two next of kin. The first is Maggie (surname unreadable) who was living at 119 Cusgrave Street, Duncairn , Belfast. The second was his mother Martha Reid, who was living in Aughnacloy, County Tyrone. He was not married.
Private John Reid was serving with the Canadian Army Veterinary Corps when he died as the result of a cerebral haemorrhage in France on 25th July 1915.
There were queries on how Private John Reid died.
An inquiry was held and the opinion was inconclusive. He may have received the head injury from a fight with another soldier or may have received his injury as a result of being kicked in the head by a horse. There is substantial details of the inquiry in Private John Reid’s military documents.
The court are of the opinion that Trooper Reid died as the result of injuries received to his head. On the day he was taken ill, Joseph Reid engaged in a short fight with Trooper J W Byers, in which neither man appears to have suffered much injury. Trooper Reid stated that the injury was caused from a kick from a horse. He was in charge of three savage horses, but there is no evidence of a kick that day beyond his own statement. The 10th witness states that Trooper Reid had been kicked on the head by a mule a few days earlier, but there is no particular evidence of this. The court is therefor of the opinion that there is not sufficient evidence to show how and when the fatal injury was caused. Signed and named this 14th day of August 1915.
The court are of the opinion that Trooper Reid died as the result of injuries received to his head. On the day he was taken ill, Joseph Reid engaged in a short fight with Trooper J W Byers, in which neither man appears to have suffered much injury. Trooper Reid stated that the injury was caused from a kick from a horse. He was in charge of three savage horses, but there is no evidence of a kick that day beyond his own statement. The 10th witness states that Trooper Reid had been kicked on the head by a mule a few days earlier, but there is no particular evidence of this. The court is therefor of the opinion that there is not sufficient evidence to show how and when the fatal injury was caused. Signed and named this 14th day of August 1915.
The Canadian Circumstances of Death Register records that Private Reid died on 25th July 1915 of traumatic meningeal haemorrhage at No 2 General Hospital, Le Harve.
From the Tyrone Courier dated 18th August 1915:
The Canadian Contingent Office has notified Mrs Reid, Aughnacloy, that her son, Private John Reid, Aughnacloy, has died while on duty in France.
From the Belfast Newsletter dated 18th August 1915:
The Canadian Contingent Office has notified Mrs Reid, Aughnacloy, that her son, Private John Reid (No 23075), No. 1 Canadian Veterinary Hospital, has died of cerebral haemorrhage while on duty in France. Private Reid, who was a native of Aughnacloy, volunteered in Vancouver last year.
From the Belfast Newsletter dated 29th October 1915:
Trooper John Reid, 1st Canadian Veterinary Corps, who has been killed in France as a result of being kicked in the head by a horse, was a native of Aughnacloy, County Tyrone, where his mother still lives.
Memorials
Private John Reid is buried in Ste Marie Cemetery, Le Harve, France.
His mother Martha moved to live at 22 McRath Street Cadzow, Hamilton, Lanarkshire, Scotland
