Friends of the Somme - Mid Ulster Branch  
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5369   Rifleman George Hoey
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Dated added: 30/12/2015   Last updated: 10/08/2021
Personal Details
Regiment/Service: 1st Battalion, Royal Irish Rifles (British Army)
Died: 23/10/1916 (Killed in Action)
Age: 40
Summary      
George Hoey was the son of James and Rachel Hoey. George was born in Moy, County Tyrone about 1876. He lived in the Banbridge area. George was married with six children. Rifleman George Hoey was killed in action in France & Flanders on 23rd October 1916 whilst serving with the 1st Battalion of the Royal Irish Rifles. He was killed when apparently attempting to rescue a wounded officer somewhere in the area of Le Bouefs and Morval.
Rifleman George Hoey
Further Information
George Hoey was the son of James and Rachel Hoey. James Hoey and Rachael Hayes were married on 21st April 1866 in the district of Armagh.
George was born in Moy, County Tyrone about 1876.
Known family: James Hoey, Rachel Hoey, Samuel Hoey (born 18th June 1868, Loughgall), Margaret Hoey (born 1st May 1872, Loughgall), George Hoey (born about 1876).
George Hoey and Anne Elizabeth McBride were married on 22nd December 1899 in the district of Banbridge.
The 1901 census lists George as age 20, boarding with his wife and child at house 75 in Seapatrick, Banbridge, County Down. They with boarding with the McBride family, which is presumed to have been wife’s relations. George was described in the census as an ‘army rite’. This may have been army rifleman. Anne was a spinner.
George and Ann had seven children, six surviving.
Family: George Hoey, Annie Elizabeth Hoey, James Hoey (born 1st August 1900), George Hoey (born 22nd August 1901, died 17th January 1904, age 3), Samuel Hoey (born 26th April 1903), Rachel Hoey (born 11th November 1904), George William Hoey (born 15th January 1907), Thomas Hoey (born 16th November 1908), Robert Hoey (born 14th January 1912).
The 1911 census lists George as age 30, living with his family at house 59 in Kilpike, Banbridge, County Down. This is the Seapatrick area. George was a farm labourer.
George Hoey enlisted in Downpatrick, County Down. He was residing in Banbridge at the time.
Medal card
Rifleman George Hoey arrived in France with the Royal Irish Rifles on 12th November 1914.
Rifleman George Hoey was killed in action in France & Flanders on 23rd October 1916 whilst serving with the 1st Battalion of the Royal Irish Rifles. He was killed when apparently attempting to rescue a wounded officer somewhere in the area of Le Bouefs and Morval.
From the Household Almanac 1917:
George Hoey was the son of James and Rachel (Hayes) Hoey of Gilford and the husband of Anne Eliza Hoey, Seapatrick. George Hoey was born in Moy, county Tyrone, and enlisted in the Royal Irish Rifles in Downpatrick. He was killed on 23rd October 1916 when apparently attempting to rescue a wounded officer somewhere in the area of Le Bouefs and Morval. He has no known grave and is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial, Somme, France. Pier and Face 15A and 15B.
Rifleman George Hoey has no known grave and is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial.
George Hoey is also commemorated on Banbridge War Memorial.
George Hoey - Banbridge War Memorial
The CWGC record Rifleman Hoey as the son of James and Rachel Hayes Hoey of Gilford, County Down.
The CWGC also record that Rifleman George Hoey was the husband of Anne Eliza Hoey, of Seapatrick, Banbridge, County Down.
Note that there is also a George Hoye in the Dungannon War Dead list.
Read more
Relevant Dungannon Area Locations
No Location Region Location Notes Longtitude Latitude
1 Moy Moy Born in Moy 54.449233 -6.699615
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
21/04/1866 M Hayes Rachael Parent M/1866/Q1/96/1/62b
21/04/1866 M Hoey James Parent M/1866/Q1/96/1/62a
18/06/1868 B Hayes Samuel Sibling U/1868/12/1002/3/401
01/05/1872 B Hayes Margaret Sibling U/1872/12/1002/5/381
22/12/1899 M McBride Ann Wife M/1899/R1/313/7/59
22/12/1899 M Hoey George Casualty M/1899/R1/313/7/59
01/08/1900 B Hoey James Children U/1900/32/1006/35/331
22/08/1901 B Hoey George Children U/1901/32/1006/36/210
26/04/1903 B Hoey Samuel Children U/1903/32/1006/37/314
17/01/1904 D Hoey George Children D/1904/32/1006/30/482 died age 3
11/11/1904 B Hoey Rachel Children U/1904/32/1006/38/369
15/01/1907 B Hoey William Children U/1907/32/1006/40/148
16/11/1908 B Hoey Thomas Children U/1908/32/1006/41/283
14/01/1912 B Hoey Robert Children U/1912/32/1006/43/388
References and Links
No Link Reference Map Doc
1 1901 Census lists Hoey family Lists George as age 20 living with his family at house 75 in Seapatrick, Banbridge Rural, Down
2 1911 Census lists Hoey family Lists George as age 30 living with his family at house 59 in Kilpike, Banbridge Rural, Down
3 Banbridge War Memorial George Hoey listed on the memorial
4 FindAGrave.com Photo of Rifleman George Hoey
5 Household Almanac 1917 Photo of Rifleman George Hoey
6 National Archives UK Medal Card can be purchased here
7 Private George Hoye From Fivemiletown
Dungannon District's War Dead Acknowledgements 2015-2023