Caughey, William James (William)
Lance Corporal
No. 12048, ‘A’ Company, 2nd Battalion, Royal Scots Fusiliers
Died of disease on Wednesday 20 August 1919 (aged 33)
Buried:
Newtownards (Movilla) Cemetery, Co. Down (Grave 11. 132)
Commemorated:
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
Newtownards and District War Memorial
BIOGRAPHY
William James Caughey was born on 20 March 1886 in Church Street, Newtownards and he was a son of John and Martha Caughey (nee Wilson) who were married on 24 June 1884 in Killinchy Non-Subscribing Presbyterian Church. John Caughey from Craigarusty was a son of James Caughey, a labourer. Martha Wilson from Killinakin was a daughter of James Wilson, a labourer.
William James Caughey worked as a labourer and he moved to Scotland where he lived in Shore Road, Stevenston, Ayrshire.
William James Caughey and Annie Bowman McClinton were married on 31 December 1906 in Greenwell Street Presbyterian Church Newtownards. William James Caughey (aged 20) from Shore Road, Stevenston, Ayrshire was a son of John Caughey, deceased. Annie Bowman McClinton (aged 19), a factory worker from Mill Street, Newtownards was a daughter of George McClinton, a labourer.
The Caughey family lived in Scotland, then in Church Street, Newtownards and later at 38 Frederick Street, Newtownards.
William and Annie Caughey (nee McClinton) had at least four children:
George Alexander McClinton (born around 1907/1908 in Scotland)
William James (born 26 February 1910 in Church Street, Newtownards)
Martha Wilson Galway (born 27 February 1914 in Church Street, Newtownards)
James Galway (born 13 March 1917)
The children were baptised in Greenwell Street Presbyterian Church, Newtownards.
William James Caughey enlisted in Ayr on 26 August 1914 and he served with the 6th Battalion Royal Scots Fusiliers before being transferred to the 2nd Battalion and going to France on 2 November 1914. He was seriously wounded on 22 December 1914 and transported to England for hospital treatment. There was serious damage to his lower bowel and he had to have a colostomy. In May 1915 he was discharged from the Army on medical grounds and granted a small pension. Regularly thereafter he was required to appear before a medical board for an assessment of his physical condition and to confirm his eligibility to continue to receive his army pension.
William James Caughey was 33 when he died of consumption on 20 August 1919 at home in Frederick Street, Newtownards and he was buried in Movilla Cemetery Newtownards. His widow Annie paid for the following inscription to be put on his CWGC headstone:
My beloved is mine
And I am his
Lance Corporal William James Caughey (No. 12048) is commemorated on Newtownards and District War Memorial.
In the Presbyterian Church in Ireland (PCI) Roll of Honour 1914 – 1919 for Greenwell Street Presbyterian Church Newtownards Lance Corporal William James Caughey is recorded as having served and survived.