Benjamin Conlon was the youngest son of John and Elizabeth Conlon. John Conlon and Elizabeth Gallagher were married on 25th October 1867 in the district of Dungannon.
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Benjamin was born on 15th November 1887. He was the youngest of at least eight children, all born in the Dungannon area.
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Known family: John Conlon, Elizabeth Conlon, William J Conlon (born 30th January 1869), Thomas Conlon (born 25th October 1870), Mary Conlon (born 25th March 1873), David Conlon (born 9th January 1875), James Conlon (born 14th March 1877), Sarah Conlon (born 25th July 1879), Robert Conlon (born 15th March 1882), Benjamin Conlon (born 15th November 1887).
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The 1901 census lists Benjamin as age 13 living with his brother William Conlon and his family at Ennish, Clonaneese, County Tyrone. Benjamin was still at school.
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Benjamin emigrated to Canada about 1912.
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Benjamin had been living for three years in Toronto before enlistment. He was working as a stable groom. He had spent a year with the 48th Highlanders.
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Benjamin Conlon enlisted in Niagara on 9th June 1915. He was single and named his next of kin as his sister, Mrs George Wilson of 11 Smith Street, Risburn.
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Private Benjamin Conlon was serving with the 58th Battalion of the Canadian Infantry when he was killed in action at Courcelette in the Battle of Flers on 22nd September 1916.
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The Canadian Circumstances of Death Register records that Private Conlon was killed in action on 22nd September 1916.. His unit was in the vicinity of Courcelette, east of Thiepval in France.
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From the Toronto Star, 11 October 1916.
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Private Benjamin Conlon, Killed in Action, was 26 years old when he left Toronto with a reinforcing draft from 36th battalion. He had lived three years in Toronto before enlistment. A sister lives in Tyrone, Ireland.
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From the Tyrone Courier dated 26 October 1916:
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Private Benjamin S Conlon, Canadian Infantry, youngest son of the late Mr John Conlon, Castlecaulfield, has been killed in action.
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Private Benjamin Conlon has no known grave and is commemorated on the Vimy Memorial.
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Private Benjamin Conlon is commemorated locally on the WWI Plaque in Lower Clonaneese Presbyterian Church.
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