Hawthorne, Albert
Rifleman
No. 2534, 12th Battalion, Royal Irish Rifles
Killed in action on Monday 2 September 1918 (aged 24)
Buried:
Messines Ridge British Cemetery, Belgium (Grave I. C. 41)
Commemorated:
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
Lisburn’s Dead 1914 – 1919 (Friends’ School Lisburn WW1 Research Project)
BIOGRAPHY
Albert Hawthorne was born in the townland of Magheragall, Lisburn and he was a son of William and Eliza Ann Hawthorne (nee Dixon) who were married on 10 October 1869 in Magheragall Parish Church of Ireland Church.
William Hawthorne worked as a corn miller and he and Eliza Ann had at least twelve children.
Albert Hawthorne worked as a farm labourer before he enlisted in Lisburn. He served with the 12th Battalion Royal Irish Rifles in 108th Brigade of the 36th (Ulster) Division and he was 24 when he was killed in action on 2 September 1918 during the Allied offensive against all sections of the German line.
Rifleman Albert Hawthorne was buried in Messines Ridge British Cemetery, Belgium and there is an inscription on his CWGC headstone:
EVER REMEMBERED BY HIS WIFE AND FAMILY
Albert Hawthorne’s brother Samuel lived at 135 Mill Street, Newtownards and he also worked as a corn miller. Their father died before Albert was killed in action and it was Samuel who was informed of Albert’s death. This was reported in the Newtownards Chronicle under the headline Newtownards Losses.
Rifleman Albert Hawthorne is commemorated in Lisburn’s Dead 1914 – 1919 (Friends’ School Lisburn WW1 Research Project).