Birney, George
Rifleman
No. 18877, ‘A’ Company, 13th & 12th Battalions, Royal Irish Rifles
Killed in action on Friday, 19 April 1918 (aged 30)
No known grave
Commemorated:
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
Tyne Cot Memorial, Belgium (Panel 138 to 140 & 162 to 162A & 163A)
Greyabbey and District War Memorial located on the outside wall of
Greyabbey Parish Church of Ireland Church (St Saviour’s)
Headstone in Greyabbey Old Graveyard
BIOGRAPHY
In the Soldiers Died in the Great War 1914 – 1919 database it is recorded that George Birney was born in Arva, Co Cavan, lived in Armagh and enlisted in Ballywalter.
In some records his surname is spelt Berney.
George Birney was born on 22 May 1888 in Drumalt, Arva, Co Cavan and he was a son of William Birney who was born in Co Cavan and Ann Birney (nee Kiernan) who was born in Co Leitrim. William Birney and Ann Kiernan were married on 11 December 1882 in Killoe Parish Church of Ireland Church, Co Longford.
William Birney worked as a general labourer and he and Ann had at least seven children:
William (born around 1883/1884)
James (born around 1885/1886)
George (born 22 May 1888 in Drumalt, Arva, Co Cavan)
Henry (born 25 February 1891 in Drumalt, Arva, Co Cavan)
Thomas (born around 1892/1893)
Ann Elizabeth (Annie, born 27 April 1896 in Drumalt, Arva, Co Cavan)
Josephine (born around 1898/1899)
Private George Birney served with the 13th Battalion Royal Irish Rifles in 108th Brigade of the 36th (Ulster) Division and in November 1917 the 11th and 13th Battalions were amalgamated.
When they were disbanded in February 1918 he was transferred to the 12th Battalion. Private George Birney (No. 18877) was killed in action on 19 April 1918 (16 April 1918 in some records) and he has no known grave.
Private George Birney (No. 18877) is commemorated on the Tyne Cot Memorial, Belgium; on the Greyabbey and District War Memorial located on the outside wall of
Greyabbey Parish Church of Ireland Church (St Saviour’s) and on a headstone in Greyabbey Old Graveyard. There is an inscription on the headstone in Greyabbey Old Graveyard:
Birney
Rifleman George Birney, R.I.R., killed in action on 19th April 1918