Blackadder, Thomas
Rifleman
No. 17/709, 9th Battalion, Royal Irish Rifles
Killed in action on Saturday 24 March 1917 (aged 32)
Buried:
Pond Farm Cemetery, Belgium (Grave L. 13)
Commemorated:
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
Journey of Remembering Belfast Book of Honour
BIOGRAPHY
Thomas Blackadder was born on 27 February 1885 in Mill Street, Newtownards and he was the eldest son of John Gilbert Blackadder and Annie Blackadder. Annie Mallon was born in County Tyrone.
John Gilbert Blackadder worked as a block printer and he and Annie had at least four children:
Thomas (born 27 February 1885 in Mill Street, Newtownards)
Jane (born 6 August 1886 at 74 Fortingale Street, Belfast)
John (born 1 July 1890 at 74 Fortingale Street, Belfast; died of bronchitis 17 November 1891 at 72 Bann Street, Belfast)
John (born 6 July 1893 at 72 Bann Street, Belfast)
The Blackadder family moved from Newtownards to Belfast where they lived at 74 Fortingale Street, 72 Bann Street and 79 Urney Street.
John Gilbert Blackadder died of cystitis on 12 July 1899 (aged 45) at 79 Urney Street and was buried in Belfast City Cemetery (Grave C1. 545)
Annie Blackadder worked in a mill as a yarn reeler and she died on 12 April 1924 (aged 66).
Prior to the outbreak of the Great War brothers Thomas and John Blackadder both worked as brush makers and after Thomas enlisted in Belfast he served with the 9th Battalion Royal Irish Rifles in 107th Brigade of the 36th (Ulster) Division.
Rifleman Thomas Blackadder (No. 17/709) was 32 when he was killed in action on 24 March 1917 and at that time his mother was living at 34 Tobergill Street, Belfast.
Rifleman Thomas Blackadder (No. 17/709) was buried in Pond Farm Cemetery, Belgium and he is commemorated in the Belfast Book of Honour.