4th Battalion, Royal Garrison Artillery (British Army)
Date Of Birth:
03/03/1888
Died:
30/06/1917 (Died of Wounds)
Age:
29
Summary
Patrick Joseph Sands was the son of James and Catherine Sands. Patrick Joseph Sands was born on 3rd March 1887. He was one of nine children, all born in Dungannon. The family lived at Mullaghanagh on the outskirts of Dungannon. His father was a farm labourer. Gunner Patrick Joseph Sands was serving with the 4th Siege Battery of the Royal Garrison Artillery when he died of wounds on 30th June 1917.
Further Information
Patrick Joseph Sands was the son of James and Catherine Kate Sands. James Sands and Catherine Mallon were married on 2nd October 1879 in the district of Dungannon.
The CWGC record the family name as ‘Sandes’. However, all local documentation and local war memorials spell of the surname Sands.
Patrick Joseph Sands was born on 3rd March 1887. He was one of nine children, all born in Dungannon.
Known family: James Sands. Catherine Kate Sands, Jane Sands (born 27th January 1880), James Sands (born 8th April 1882), Catherine Sands (born 26th April 1884), Ellen / Nellie Sands (born about 1885), Patrick Sands (born 3rd March 1887), John Sands (born 1st January 1890), David Sands (born 7th September 1893), William Sands (born 7th September 1893, died 9th November 1893), Sarah Sands (born 8th September 1897)
The 1901 census records Patrick as 14 years old. His father worked on a farm and his mother was a linen weaver. He was living with the family at house 1 in Mullaghanagh, Derrygortrevy, Tyrone.
Patrick Sands enlisted in Dungannon around 1909.
On the outbreak of war Gunner Patrick Sands was with his battalion in India.
1915
Gunner Patrick Sands had been on garrison duty in England for some time before going to France with the Royal Garrison Artillery 20th May 1915.
Gunner Sands was injured in France on 4th August 1915. He was removed to Manchester War Hospital.
From the Tyrone Courier dated 19th August 1915:
Mrs Sands, Mullaghanagh, Dungannon, received official intimation that her second son, Private Patrick Sands, Royal Garrison Artillery, is at present in Manchester suffering from wounds received in France on 4th inst.
From the Mid Ulster Mail dated 21st August 1915: Private Patrick Sands in Hospital
Mrs Sands, Mullaghanagh, Dungannon, has received official intimation that her second son, Private Patrick Sands, Royal Garrison Artillery, is at present in Manchester War Hospital suffering from wounds received in France on 4th August. Private Sands is one of three brothers on active service. He had been in the army for the past six years, and on the outbreak of war was with his battalion in India. He had done garrison duty in England for some time and went to the front some months ago.
A newspaper report from December 1915 states that he was back at the front.
From the Tyrone Courier dated 2 December 1915: Mullaghanagh Man's Four Sons Serving
The four sons of Mr James Sandes, Mullaghanagh, Dungannon, are nobly serving their King and country in the army, all four being present at the front. The eldest son, Bombardier James Sandes, Royal Field Artillery, was a reservist and was called up at the outbreak of the war and is now serving with the Mediterranean Expeditionary Force in Salonika. The next son, Gummer Patrick Sandes, Royal Garrison Artillery, had been on the army for a number of years before the outbreak of hostilities and had served for a period in China. He is now in France with his regiment. The other two sons, Driver John Sandes and Private David Sandes, both of the 6th Inniskilling Fusiliers, volunteered early in the war and are now fighting against the Bulgarians like their brother James. Gunner Patrick Sandes has been twice wounded in France, while his brother David is in hospital suffering from dysentery.
1916
From the Belfast Newsletter dated 6th October 1916: Brother of Patrick Sands
Gunner James Sandes, Royal Field Artillery, wounded in the arm at the Eastern front, belongs to Mullaghanagh, Dungannon, and was called up on the Special Reserve on the outbreak of hostilities. He was a section leader in the Dungannon Battalion U.V.F., and a member of Dungannon L.O.L. No. 1229, and of Dungannon Brass Band.
From the Tyrone Courier dated 12 October 1916: Brother of Patrick Sands
Private John Sands, Inniskillings, who is in hospital suffering from malarial fever, is one of three soldier sons of Mr James Sands, Mullaghanagh. His wife resides in Milltown. His brother James has been wounded.
1917
Gunner Patrick Joseph Sands was serving with the 4th Siege Battery of the Royal Garrison Artillery when he died of wounds on 30th June 1917.
From the Belfast Newsletter dated 9th July 1917:
Gunner Patrick Joseph Sandes, Royal Garrison Artillery, died of wounds, was one of four soldier sons of Mr James Sandes, Mullaghanagh, Dungannon.
From the Tyrone Courier dated Thursday 12 July 1917:
Intimation has been received that Gunner Patrick Joseph Sandes, Royal Garrison Artillery, son of Mr James Sandes, Mullaghanagh, Dungannon, has died from wounds received in action. The deceased had been on the army for some years before the start of the war and had been drafted to France on the outbreak of hostilities. He was one of four brothers serving.
Patrick Sands was one of four brothers who served. Patrick’s younger brother, David, also died in the war on 31st January 1917, five months earlier.
Memorials
Gunner Patrick Joseph Sands is buried in Duisans British Cemetery, Etrunm, Pas-de-Calais, about nine kilometres west of Arras
Gunner Patrick Sands 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 David Sands as the son of Kate Sandes of Park Road, Dungannon, County Tyrone.
