Doherty, William John (William)
Long Service and Good Conduct Medal
Sergeant
No. 4476, 1st Battalion, Royal Irish Rifles
Died in service on Thursday 16 August 1917 (aged 40)
No known grave
Commemorated:
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
Tyne Cot Memorial, Belgium (Panel 138 to 140 & 162 to 162A & 163A)
Newtownards and District War Memorial
Journey of Remembering Belfast Book of Honour
BIOGRAPHY
In some records his surname is spelt Dogherty
William John Doherty was born in Shankill, Belfast and he was a career soldier. He was a Bugler in the Royal Irish Rifles and he served both in India and the South African Campaign. He was awarded the Long Service and Good Conduct Medal.
William Doherty and Sarah Carnduff (sometimes Cairnduff) were married on 8 December 1903 in Newtownards Parish Church of Ireland Church (St Mark’s). William John Doherty, a Bugler in the RIR, from 2 Mark Street, Newtownards was a son of James Doherty, a flax dresser. Sarah Carnduff from Newtownards was a daughter of James Carnduff, a dealer.
They lived in Talbot Street, Newtownards; Balfour Street, Newtownards and at 52 James Street, Newtownards and they had at least five children:
Robert James (born 31 May 1905)
Sarah Elizabeth (born 3 December 1906)
Agnes Jane (born 16 August 1908)
Eleanor (twin, born 1.30 am 23 March 1910 in James Street, Newtownards).
William John (twin, born 4.30 am 23 March 1910 in James Street, Newtownards)
Sergeant William John Doherty died on 16 August 1917 during the Third Battle of Ypres and at the time of his death his family lived at Tullywest, Saintfield.
Sergeant William John Doherty (No. 4476) has no known grave and is commemorated on the Tyne Cot Memorial in Belgium; on Newtownards and in the Belfast Book of Honour (Page 157).