Friends of the Somme - Mid Ulster Branch  
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Updates for Rifleman George Knox McKinley
Date Information
18/09/2021
18/09/2021 George Knox McKinley was the son of James and Mary Jane McKinley. James McKinley and Mary McMahon were married on 22nd November 1881 in the district of Armagh.
18/09/2021 George Knox McKinley was born on 10th October 1892. He was one of at least eight children, all born in Dungannon.
18/09/2021 The CWGC record Rifleman George Knox McKinley as the son of James McKinley of Union Place, Dungannon, County Tyrone, Ireland.
18/09/2021
18/09/2021 George McKinley enlisted on 15th December 1915 at Trentham Military Camp, near Wellington in New Zealand. He gave is next of kin as his sister, Mrs Gordon Price, Post Office, Waipawa, Hawke's Bay, New Zealand.
18/09/2021 On 3rd October 1916, Rifleman McKinley and two comrades were sitting outside a dug-out when a shell exploded, which killed his companions and left Rifleman McKinley severely wounded. He died of his wounds before reaching an aid post.
18/09/2021
18/09/2021 Known family: James McKinley, Mary Jane McKinley, Eliza Lillie McKinley (born 29th December 1883), Ruth McKinley (born 15th May 1885), Agnes McKinley (born 8th June 1887), Mary McKinley (born 19th February 1889), Robert John McKinley (born 30th October 1890), George Knox McKinley (born 10th October 1892), Fredrick McKinley (born 6th May 1894), Henrietta McKinley (born 30th December 1895).
12/01/2017 From the Belfast Newsletter dated 28th December 1916:
12/01/2017 Rifleman George Knox McKinley was serving with the 3rd New Zealand Rifle Brigade when he died of his wounds in France on 3rd October 1916. He was listed as serving with the 4th Battalion at the time.
12/01/2017 Private George McKinley, New Zealand Infantry, son of Mr James McKinley, Union Place, Dungannon, died of wounds.
12/01/2017
08/01/2017 From the Belfast Newsletter dated 7th November 1916:
08/01/2017 Private George McKinley, New Zealand Infantry, officially reported wounded in action on 3rd October, is a younger son of Mr James McKinley, Union Place, Dungannon. His relatives received no tidings from him since the end of September. Prior to emigrating to New Zealand, he was in the employment of Messrs Dickson & Company, Milltown Weaving Factory, Dungannon. His elder brother Robert is also at the front with the New Zealand Expeditionary Force.
08/01/2017
30/12/2015 George’s brother, Robert John McKinley, also served with the New Zealand Army. He survived the war.
30/12/2015 Rifleman George Knox McKinley joined the 11th Reinforcements of the New Zealand Expeditionary Force in December 1915 and by April 1916 he was in camp near Wellington.
30/12/2015 The 1911 census lists George Knox as age 18 living with the family at house 3 in Geraghty's Lane, Dungannon, Tyrone. George was working as a linen lopper at Messrs. Dickson's factory, Dungannon.
30/12/2015 The 1901 census lists George Knox as age 8 living with the family at house 1 in Geraghty's Lane, Dungannon, County Tyrone. George's father was a rope maker.
30/12/2015 He then moved on to New Zealand where he worked as a farm labourer.
30/12/2015 George K McKinley has no known grave and is commemorated on a panel in Caterpillar Valley Cemetery in the Somme.
30/12/2015 George Knox McKinley is also commemorated on the family plot in Drumcoo Cemetery, Dungannon (see below). The plot lies along the left hand wall (nearest Coalisland), half way down – when entering from the Coalisland Road entrance.
30/12/2015 From the Tyrone Courier dated 6 April 1916:
30/12/2015 George McKinley and two comrades were sitting outside a dug-out when a shell exploded, which killed his companions and left Rifleman McKinley severely wounded.
30/12/2015
30/12/2015 Rifleman McKinley embarked for France on the Mokoia or Navua on 6th May 1916 with the 3rd Re-enforcements to "G" company, 3rd Battalion
30/12/2015 George emigrated to Australia about April 1914.
30/12/2015
30/12/2015
30/12/2015
30/12/2015 Private George Knox McKinley, whose photo is given this week, is the second son of James McKinley, Union Place, Dungannon. He had emigrated to Australia two years ago, and joined the 11th Reinforcements of the New Zealand Expeditionary Force in December last and is at present in camp near Wellington, where the photo was taken. He had formerly been employed at Messrs. Dickson's factory, Dungannon.
30/12/2015 From the Tyrone Courier dated 9 November 1916:
30/12/2015
30/12/2015 Mr James McKinley, Union Place, Dungannon, has received intimation that his son, Private George McKinley, New Zealand Infantry, was wounded in action on 3rd October. Prior to emigrating to New Zealand, he had been in the employment of Messrs. Dickson's Milltown Factory.
30/12/2015 From the Tyrone Courier dated 4 January 1917:
30/12/2015
30/12/2015 Mr James McKinley, Union Place, Dungannon, has received intimation that his son, Private George Knox McKinley, New Zealand Infantry, has died from wounds received. It appears that he and two comrades had been sitting outside a dug-out when a shell exploded, which killed his companions and mortally wounded Private McKinley. Prior to emigrating to New Zealand, the deceased had been in the employment of Messrs Dickson and Co, Dungannon. His elder brother, Robert, is also at the front with the New Zealand Force.
30/12/2015
30/12/2015
30/12/2015 From the Mid Ulster Mail dated Saturday 11th November 1916:
30/12/2015
30/12/2015 Mr James McKinley, Union Place, Dungannon, has received official intimation that his son, Private George McKinley, New Zealand Infantry, was wounded in action on 3rd October, but although the soldier was in the habit of constantly writing home, no communication has been received from him since the end of September. Prior to emigrating to New Zealand, he was in the employment of Messrs Dickson & Company, Milltown weaving Factory, Dungannon. His elder brother Robert is also at the front with the New Zealand Expeditionary Force.
30/12/2015
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