9th Battalion, Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers (British Army)
Date Of Birth:
09/06/1898
Died:
07/06/1917 (Died of Wounds)
Age:
18
Summary
David Glass was the son of Wilson and Elizabeth Glass. David Glass was born in Dungannon on 9th June 1898. He had a twin sister, Edith. The 1901 census records Lizzie as having 2 families. David Glass was two years old and living with the family at Brooke Street, Dungannon. By 1911, the family was still living in Brooke Street. David was 12 years old. His mother Lizzie was now a widow. Private David Glass was serving with the 9th Battalion of the Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers when he died of wounds on 7th June 1917.
Further Information
David Glass was the son of Wilson and Elizabeth Glass. This was Elizabeth’s second marriage.
William Bell and Elizabeth Gilmour were married on 21st December 1877 in the district of Dungannon. It is believed they had five children.
Known family 1: William Bell, Elizabeth Bell, Annie Bell (born 9th July 1878), William Bell (born 1st May 1882, Lurgan)?, John Bell (born 10th June 1884), Sarah Bell (born 17th January 1886), Elizabeth Bell (born 4th July 1888).
Elizabeth’s first husband, William Bell, died either on 6th October 1890 (age 32) or 14th October 1893 (age 26) in the district of Dungannon.
Wilson Glass and Elizabeth Bell were married on 25th September 1894 in the district of Dungannon. They went on to have four children.
Family 2: Wilson Glass, Elizabeth Glass, Wilson Glass (born 5th March 1895), Leslie Glass (born 8th February 1896), David Glass (born 9th June 1898), Edith Glass (born 9th June 1898).
David Glass was born in Dungannon on 9th June 1898. He had a twin sister, Edith Glass.
The 1901 census records Lizzie as having two families. David Glass is two years old and living with the family at Brooke Street, Dungannon. His mother was a linen weaver.
By 1911, the family was still living in Brooke Street. David was 12 years old. His mother Lizzie was a cotton weaver.
David Glass enlisted in Dungannon around May 1915.
David’s half-brother, William Bell, also served,
From the Mid Ulster Mail dated 2nd October 1915: Private Bell Needed a Smoke (half-brother of David Glass)
Private William Bell, 2nd Royal Irish Fusiliers, writing from France to his mother, Mrs E Glass, Brooke Street, Dungannon, says:- ‘I am glad of your parcel as we were up in the trenches at the time it arrived and hadn’t a smoke, so it came in very handy. We have some rough times out here, but will have to put up with it if we intend to beat the Germans, which we will do shortly.’ In a further letter he mentions:- ‘I would have written sooner but that the regiment got a lot of knocking about this last while. I suppose you thought my days were numbered but, thank God, I am still going on strong and keeping up the snapping at the Germans.’
From the Mid Ulster Mail dated 6th November 1915: Private Bell Suffers From Shock (half-brother of David Glass)
Private William Bell, 2nd Battalion Royal Irish Fusiliers, writing to his mother, Mrs Glass, Milltown, Dungannon, from the front says that he suffering from shock and is recovering.
From the Tyrone Courier dated 18 May 1916:
Private David Glass, Inniskillings, son of Mrs L Glass, Milltown, Dungannon, was wounded in the arm by shrapnel in a charge on the German lines and is in hospital. He is only 17 years of age and volunteered about a year ago. A brother and brother-in-law are also serving.
Private David Glass was serving with the 9th Battalion of the Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers when he died of wounds on Thursday 7th June 1917, David was just two days short of his 19th birthday.
From the Tyrone Courier dated 14 June 1917: Died of Wounds
Private David Glass, Inniskillings, son of Mrs L Glass, Milltown. He was only 18 years of age, and had volunteered in 1915, and had previously been wounded. A brother and brother-in-law are also serving.
In his Will, he left all to his mother, Mrs Lizzie Glass, Milltown Street, Dungannon.
Last Will and Testament of Private David Glass dated 20th April 1916:
In the event of my death, I give the whole of my money to Mrs Lizzie Glass, Milltown Street, Dungannon, County Tyrone. No 23206. Private David Glass, 9th Battalion Inniskilling Fusiliers,
Private David Glass is buried in Bailleul Communal Cemetery Extension, Nord, France.
Private David Glass is commemorated locally on Dungannon War Memorial and on the WWI Roll of Honour in St Anne's Church Of Ireland in Dungannon.
The CWGC record Private D Glass as the brother of Wilson Glass, of Park Road, Dungannon, County Tyrone.
