9th Battalion, Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers (British Army)
Date Of Birth:
06/01/1889
Died:
01/07/1916 (Killed in Action)
Age:
27
Summary
William George Duke was the son of William and Mary Ann Duke. William was born in Miltown, County Armagh on 6th January 1889. William came from a family of shoemakers. William was a member of Moy Company of the Ulster Volunteer Force (U.V.F.). William Duke was living in Grange, Moy, County Tyrone with his wife and children. Private William Duke was serving with the 9th Battalion of the Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers when he was killed in action on the first day of the Battle of the Somme on 1st July 1916. He was 27 years old.
Further Information
William George Duke was the son of William and Mary Ann Duke. William Duke and Mary Murdock were married on 29th January 1875 in the district of Armagh.
William Duke was born in Miltown, County Armagh 6th January 1889. He was one of at least nine children.
Known family: William Duke, Mary Ann Duke, Thomas Duke (born 4th June 1876), Mary Duke (born 20th October 1878), Sarah Duke (born 4th January 1881), Lucinda Jane Duke (born 4th January 1883), Eliza Duke (born 19th December 1884), Richard Henry Duke (born 3rd January 1886), William George Duke (born 6th January 1889), Robert James Duke (born about 1893), Lillie Eveline Duke (born 14th February 1897).
The 1901 census lists William as age 12 living with the family at house 40 in Charlemont, County Armagh. William was still at school. His father was a shoemaker.
The 1911 census lists William George as age 20 living with the family at house 33 in Charlemont Town, County Armagh. It doesn't give William's occupation, but the rest of the family were employed as shoemakers.
William was a member of Moy Company of the Ulster Volunteer Force (U.V.F.).
William Duke was living in Grange, Moy, County Tyrone with his wife and children.
From the Mid Ulster Mail dated 24th October 1914: For Soldiers
Thomas Huey, Broughadoey, was granted a cottage on James Kerr’s farm at Drummond. Hoey is at present at the front. William Duke, Grange, who has also joined the colours, was granted a cottage on the lands of John Patterson, Grange.
William Duke enlisted with the Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers.
Private William Duke arrived in France on 5th October 1915.
Private William Duke was serving with the 9th Battalion of the Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers when he was killed in action on the first day of the Battle of the Somme on 1st July 1916. He was 27 years old.
From the Belfast Newsletter dated 13th July 1916:
Private William Duke, Tyrone Volunteers, killed, Grange, Moy.
From the Tyrone Courier dated 20 July 1916:
Private William Duke, killed, was a member of Moy Company U.V.F. He was the son of Mr William Duke senior, and his wife and children reside at Grange.
Private Duke has no known grave and is commemorated on pier and face 4D and 5B on Thiepval Memorial in France.
Private William Duke is commemorated locally on Moy War Memorial.
