Condon, David

Ex-Company Quartermaster Sergeant

No. 19033, Royal Dublin Fusiliers, transferred to

No. 336041, Labour Corps

Died of disease on Wednesday 17 September 1924 (aged 47)

Buried:

Killysuggan Graveyard, Newtownards, Co Down

Commemorated:

Newtownards and District War Memorial

Family grave headstone in Killysuggan Graveyard

BIOGRAPHY

The name David Condon is listed on Newtownards and District War Memorial and in the booklet produced for the Unveiling and Dedication Ceremony held on Saturday 26 May 1934 he is described as a Company Sergeant Major in the Labour Corps.  The organising committee of the day decided to include the names of ex-servicemen who died up to that date from what they considered to be war related causes, whether as a result of wounds or disease.

David Condon was born on 13 July 1877 in Convent Street, Tallow, Co Waterford and he was a son of Thomas and Helena Condon (nee Cunningham) who were married on 30 May 1875 in Cappaquin Roman Catholic Church, Co Waterford.  Thomas Condon (aged 30), a policeman from Cappaquin was a son of David Condon, a farmer.  Helena Cunningham (aged 25), a publican from Cappaquin was a daughter of William Cunningham, a farmer.

Thomas Condon served with the Royal Irish Constabulary (RIC) and he and Helena had at least eight children:

William Joseph (born 11 March 1876 in Cappaquin, Co Waterford)

David (born 13 July 1877 in Convent Street, Tallow, Co Waterford)

Catherine Mary (born 1878; baptised 26 November 1878 in Rathdowney, Queen’s County; worked as an elementary school teacher in Northumberland; died of pneumonia 22 October 1920 at Ballylinan, Athy; buried in Killeshin Church of Ireland Churchyard, Co Laois – previously Queen’s County)

Abigail (born 24 January 1880 in Maryborough, Mountmelick, Queen’s County; worked as an elementary school teacher in Northumberland)

Thomas (born 6 May 1883 in Stradbally, Athy, Queen’s County)

Helena (born 7 November 1884 in the Police Barracks, Graigue, Queen’s County; died of diarrhoea 23 January 1885 in the Police Barracks, Graigue, Queen’s County)

Mary (born 27 April 1887 in Leighlin Street, Graigue, Queen’s County; died of convulsions 27 March 1902 in Ballylinan, Athy aged 14)

Josephine (born 18 January 1889 in Chaff Street, Graigue, Queen’s County)

Their father, Thomas Condon, died in Ballylinan, Queen’s County on 20 August 1893 (aged 44).  His son William was with him when he died.

In civilian life David Condon worked as a surveyor and on 28 May 1901 he enlisted in Belfast.  Sapper David Condon (No. 9015) served with the Royal Engineers and it was noted in his attestation papers that he was 5 feet 7¾ inches tall with a ruddy complexion, grey eyes and brown hair.

David Condon and Helen (Nellie) McNeill were married on 8 November 1904 in St Columba’s Roman Catholic Church Londonderry.  David Condon, a Sapper in the Engineers and stationed in Draperstown, Co Derry was a son of Thomas Condon deceased (an ex-Sergeant in the RIC).  Nellie McNeill from Derry was a daughter of James McNeill, a tradesman.

Sapper David Condon (No. 9015) was discharged from the Army on 14 October 1908.

In 1911 David and Nellie Condon were living in Dublin and they had no children.  David described himself as an unemployed land surveyor and draughtsman.

Military records show that, during the Great War, David Condon served as a Company Quartermaster Sergeant (No. 19033) with the Royal Dublin Fusiliers and he went to France on 19 December 1915.  After being wounded he was transferred to the Labour Corps (No. 336041)

Company Quartermaster Sergeant David Condon’s wife, Helen (Nellie) Condon, died of purpura haemorrhagica in William Street, Newtownards on 5 February 1918 (aged 36).

Company Quartermaster Sergeant David Condon and Isabella Riordan (nee McAlea, sometimes McIlea) were married on 1 October 1918 in St. Comgall’s Roman Catholic Church, Donaghadee.  David Condon, a widower and a Quartermaster Sergeant in the Labour Corps from Camp, Newtownards was a son of Thomas Condon, Royal Irish Constabulary (RIC).  Isabella Riordan who was born on 14 May 1873 was a widow from 42 Ann Street, Newtownards, and she was a daughter of Hugh McAlea, a publican.

Company Quartermaster Sergeant David Condon was discharged from the Army on 18 December 1918.

Ex-Company Quartermaster Sergeant David Condon was 47 when he died of cardiac disease on 17 September 1924 at 59 North Street, Newtownards and his wife Isabella, who was with him when he died, placed a death notice in the Newtownards Chronicle.

Ex-Company Quartermaster Sergeant David Condon is commemorated on Newtownards and District War Memorial and on the family grave headstone in Killysuggan Graveyard where the inscription reads died 1922.