Friends of the Somme - Mid Ulster Branch  
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27755   Private Joseph McMaster
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Dated added: 30/12/2015   Last updated: 21/09/2021
Personal Details
Regiment/Service: 9th Battalion, Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers (British Army)
Date Of Birth: 14/12/1894
Died: 01/07/1916 (Killed in Action)
Age: 21
Summary      
Joseph McMaster was the youngest son of Henry McMaster. He was born on 14th December 1894 in Ballynany, Favor Royal, Ballygawley. He was one of at least five children. Joseph’s mother died sometime between 1897 and 1901. Joseph’s father was a farmer. Joseph McMaster enlisted in Omagh. Private Joseph McMaster was serving with the 9th Battalion of the Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers when he was killed in action on the first day of the Battle of the Somme on 1st July 1916. Joseph was 21 years old.
Private Joseph McMaster
Further Information
Joseph McMaster was the youngest son of Henry McMaster.
Joseph McMaster was born on 14th December 1894 in Ballynany, Favor Royal, Ballygawley, County Tyrone. He was one of at least five children.
Joseph's mother died sometime between 1897 and 1901.
Known family: Henry McMaster, Ellen McMaster (born 14th August 1884), George Henry McMaster (born 18th April 1888), Annie McMaster (born 19th June 1892), Joseph McMaster (born 14th December 1894), Sarah Jane McMaster (born 25th May 1896).
The 1901 census records his father as a farmer. Henry McMaster was described as a widower. Joseph was 6 years old and at school. The family lived in Ballynany, Favor Royal, County Tyrone.
Around 1901, Henry McMaster married Margaret McMaster.
The 1911 census records Joseph as 16 years old. He was described as a scholar. The family still lived in Ballynany, Favor Royal, County Tyrone.
Family: Henry McMaster, Margaret McMaster (2nd wife and not Joseph's mother), Ellen McMaster (born about 1884), George Henry McMaster (born about 1888), Annie McMaster (born about 1892), Joseph McMaster (born about 1895), Sarah Jane McMaster (born about 1897)
Joseph McMaster enlisted in Omagh.
Medal card
Private Joseph McMaster was serving with the 9th Battalion of the Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers when he was killed in action on the first day of the Battle of the Somme on 1st July 1916. Joseph was 21 years old.
Private Joseph McMaster has no known grave and are commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial. The Thiepval Memorial, the Memorial to the Missing of the Somme, bears the names of more than 72,000 officers and men of the United Kingdom and South African forces who died in the Somme sector before 20 March 1918 and have no known grave. Over 90% of those commemorated died between July and November 1916.
Private Joseph McMaster is listed on page 32 of the Ballygawley War Dead book.
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Relevant Dungannon Area Locations
No Location Region Location Notes Longtitude Latitude
1 Ballynany, Favor Royal Ballygawley Census listing in Ballynany, Favor Royal 54.439326 -7.053437
GRONI References
TYPE - B:Birth M:Marriage D:Death | GRONI | SIBLING: brother or sister | NOTES: spelling inconsistencies, etc.
Date Type Surname First name Relationship GRONI Ref Notes
14/08/1884 B McMaster Ellen Sibling U/1884/76/1026/7/102 Fleming
18/04/1888 B McMaster George Sibling U/1888/102/1026/7/174 Flemming
19/06/1892 B McMaster Annie Sibling U/1892/102/1026/8/14 Fleming
14/12/1894 B McMaster Joseph Casualty U/1895/102/1026/8/225 Fleming
25/05/1896 D McMaster Sarah Sibling U/1896/102/1026/8/352 Fleming
07/09/1899 B McMaster Ann Parent D/1899/102/1026/7/466 ?, died age 44
04/08/1900 D McMaster Sarah Parent D/1900/102/1026/8/49 ?, died age 28
References and Links
No Link Reference Map Doc
1 1901 Census lists McMaster Family Lists Joseph as age 6, living with the family at house 3 in Ballynany, Favor Royal, Tyrone
2 1911 Census lists McMaster Family Lists Joseph as age 16, living with the family at house 4 in Ballynany, Favor Royal, Tyrone
3 National Archives UK Medal Card can be purchased here
Dungannon District's War Dead Acknowledgements 2015-2023