9th Battalion, Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers (British Army)
Died:
01/07/1916 (Killed in Action)
Age:
Summary
There is a Joseph Alexander is commemorated on the World War One Memorial in Lower Clonaneese Presbyterian Church. There are two conflicting stories for Joseph Alexander
Further Information
There is a Joseph Alexander is commemorated on the World War One Memorial in Lower Clonaneese Presbyterian Church.
There are two conflicting stories for Joseph Alexander
STORY 1 - Mullycar
Joseph Alexander was the youngest son of Robert and Jane Alexander nee McCamon.
Joseph was born on 8th June 1876. He was baptised on 6th March 1878 in the parish of Clonaneese. They were from the townland of Tirelugan.
The 1901 census lists Joseph as 22 years old. He is working on his father’s farm. His father is listed as blind. His mother has died. The family lived in Mullycar, Brantry, County Tyrone.
Family: Family : Robert Alexander, Mary Alexander, John Alexander (born 1/8/1864), Robert Alexander (born 12/5/1866), Thomas Alexander (born 1/4/1868), Thomas Alexander (born 9/3/1869), Eliza Alexander (born 10/3/1870), James Alexander (born 17/2/1872), Mary Alexander (born 10/1/1874), Joseph Alexander (born 8/6/1876), Rebecca Jane Alexander (born about 1881).
STORY 2 - Belfast
Robert Joseph Alexander was the son of Robert and Mary Jane Alexander. Robert Alexander and Mary Lyle were married on 28th February 1888 in the district of Newtownabbey.
Robert Joseph Alexander was born on 3rd June 1897 at Ballyrobert. He was one of eleven children, children, ten surviving, all born in the Templepatrick area.
The 1901 census lists Robert Joseph as age 4 living with the family at house 19 in Ballyrobert Grange, Craigarogan, County Antrim. They were a farming family.
Family: Robert Alexander, Mary Jane Alexander, William Alexander (born 21st November 1888), Samuel L Alexander (born 10th October 1890), James Alexander (born 20th July 1892), Elizabeth Alexander (born 17th December 1894), Robert Joseph Alexander (born 3rd June 1897), David Alexander (born 5th September 1899, twin), *Mary Jane Alexander (born 5th September 1899, twin, died 22nd May 1905), Thomas J Alexander (born 3rd March 1901), Alexander Cowley Alexander (born 4th July 1903), Janet Agnes Alexander (born 30th September 1905), Mary Jane Alexander (born 18th July 1908)
The 1911 census lists Robert J as age 13 living with the family at house 13 in Grange of Ballyrobert, Craigarogan, County Antrim. He was still at school.
MERGING THE TWO
There was a Joseph Alexander who married Sara Jane Tollerton on 9th November 1911 at Upper Clonaneese Church, Killeeshill, County Tyrone. His residence at the time of marriage was Mullycar, Co. Tyrone.
This seems extremely unlikely in the case of the Belfast man as he would have been just 14 years old.
The Belfast Joseph Alexander enlisted in Belfast with the Service No 22807
Presbyterian records relating to in Lower Clonaneese Presbyterian Church suggest he was from Mullycar and served with the Royal Irish Fusiliers. However, there is no record of this.
The Belfast Private Joseph Alexander was serving with the 9th Battalion of the Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers when he was killed in action at the Battle of the Somme on 1st July 1916. His widow was granted a war gratuity 9 July 1917, revised 14 October 1919.
At present, absolutely no details are available on the Mullycar Joseph Alexander’s service record.
The Belfast Private Joseph Alexander is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial at the Somme in France. He is also commemorated on Hillsborough War Memorial.
