John James Durneen was the son of James and Margaret Eleanor Durneen. He was born about 1997 in Clogher. John James worked for Bullock & Co, a draper in Fintona, County Tyrone. He then moved on to work for Mulholland Bros., Cookstown. John enlisted in Antrim about July 1916. Private John James Durneen joined the 5th Army Cyclist Corps – the North Irish Horse – Regiment 'A' Squadron. Private John James Durneen was killed in action on Tuesday 26 March 1918 near Rubempre He was returning from special reconnaissance work and was instantly killed by a stray shell.
Further Information
John James Durneen was the son of James and Margaret Eleanor Durneen. James Durneen and Margaret Johnston were married on 3rd September 1895 in the district of Dungannon.
John Durneen was born about 1997 in Clogher. He was one of seven children, five surviving. Partly because of the variation of the spelling of Durneen, it has not been possible to find the birth record in the GRONI records.
The 1901 census records only the initials of the children. John James is 4. His father was a farmer. The family were living in Clogher, County Tyrone.
Known family: James Durneen, Margaret Eleanor Durneen, W D Johnston (born about 1891), John James Durneen (born about 1897), Margaret? Eveline Durneen (born 15th August 1898?), Martha Kathleen Durneen (born 26th June 1900), Thomas Edward Durneen (born 17th October 1901).
The 1911 census indicates John James no longer lived with the family. 14 year old John James was living in Fintona, Tyrone and working as an apprentice draper.
John James worked for Bullock & Co, a draper in Fintona, County Tyrone,
John James then moved on to work for Mulholland Bros., Cookstown.
John enlisted in Antrim about July 1916.
Private John James Durneen joined the 5th Army Cyclist Corps – the North Irish Horse – Regiment 'A' Squadron.
Private John James Durneen was killed in action on Tuesday 26 March 1918 near Rubempre when the British 5th Army was driven back across the former Somme battlefields during the German Kaiserschlacht offensive (called Operation Michael). He was 22.
In a letter to his father, his captain explained that Private John James Durneen was returning from special reconnaissance work and was instantly killed by a stray shell. He had recently been given the responsible position of corps guide.
From the Tyrone Courier and Dungannon News dated Thursday 11 April 1918:
Mr James Durnan of Clogher has received official intimation that his son, Private Jphn James Durnan, North Irish Horse (N.I.H), was killed in action on 26th March 1918. His Captain writing to the family says that as the deceased was returning from special reconnaissance work and was instantly killed by a stray shell. His death was a great loss he added, to the regiment as he was always bright and cheerful and done extremely well and lately was given a most responsible position – that of corps guide. The deceased was aged 22 and was formerly in business with Bullock & Co, Draper, Fintona, and later in Mulholland Bros., Cookstown. He was a year and nine months in the army.
Private John James Durneen is buried in Toutencourt Communal Cemetery in France. His inscription reads: FOR EVER WITH THE LORD.
Private John James Durneen is commemorated locally on Clogher War Memorial and on the WWI tablet in St Macartan's Cathedral in Clogher.
The CWGC record Private John James Durneen as the son of James Durneen and M E Durneen of Clogher, County Tyrone, Ireland.
