Galway, William
Gunner
No. 17685, ‘A’ Company, 13th Battalion, Royal Irish Rifles, transferred to
Machine Gun Corps, transferred to
No. 75257, ‘D’ Battalion, Tank Corps
Killed in action on Tuesday 20 November 1917 (aged 25)
Buried:
Flesquieres Hill British Cemetery, France (Grave III. B. 8)
Commemorated:
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
Belfast Corporation Roll of Honour in Belfast City Hall
Holywood and District War Memorial
Holywood Orange Lodges Memorial Plaque
High Street Presbyterian Church Holywood
BIOGRAPHY
William Galway was born on 29 May 1892 in Church View, Holywood and he was a son of Robert and Elizabeth Galway (nee Bann) who were married on 1 July 1887 in First Holywood Presbyterian Church. Robert Galway, a butcher from Holywood, was a son of William Galway, a butcher. Elizabeth Bann, a servant from Cultra, was a daughter of Adam Bann, a miner.
The Galway family lived at 39 Church View, Holywood.
Robert Galway worked as a general labourer and he and Elizabeth had ten children including:
Florence Madge (born 24 March 1888 in Spencer Street, Holywood)
Robert (born 13 June 1889 in Spencer Street, Holywood; died of bronchitis 13 March 1891)
William (born 29 May 1892 in Church View, Holywood)
Elizabeth (born 26 March 1897 in Church View, Holywood)
Agnes (born 18 May 1900 in Church View, Holywood)
Mary (born 31 December 1902 in Church View, Holywood)
Robert (born 18 May 1905 in Church View, Holywood)
John (born 19 June 1908 in Church View, Holywood)
Sophia (born 18 June 1911 in Church View, Holywood)
Their father, Robert Galway, died of a tumour on 24 January 1914 (aged 55).
William Galway worked as a grocer’s van man before the outbreak of the Great War. He enlisted in Holywood and served initially with the 13th Battalion Royal Irish Rifles (No. 17685) in 108th Brigade of the 36th (Ulster) Division. He was transferred to the Machine Gun Corps, then to the Tank Corps (No. 75257) and he was 25 when he was killed in action on 20 November 1917.
Gunner William Galway was buried in Flesquieres Hill British Cemetery, France and there is an inscription on his CWGC headstone:
FATHER IN THY GRACIOUS KEEPING
LEAVE WE NOW OUR DEAR ONE SLEEPING
Gunner William Galway is commemorated on the Belfast Corporation Roll of Honour in Belfast City Hall; on Holywood and District War Memorial; on the Holywood Orange Lodges Memorial Plaque, and on the Memorial Plaque in High Street Presbyterian Church Holywood.