Ireland, Robert John
Private, US Army
325th Infantry Regiment, 82nd Division American Expeditionary Force
Killed in action on Friday 11 October 1918 (aged 27)
Buried:
Meuse-Argonne American Cemetery, France (Plot D Row 20 Grave 21)
Commemorated:
American Battle Monuments Commission
Comber and District War Memorial
Second Comber Presbyterian Church
BIOGRAPHY
It was reported in the Press that Private Robert John Ireland of 12 Josephine Street, Belfast, and late of Comber, who had been serving with the United States Army had been killed in action.
Robert John Ireland was born on 16 June 1891 at 19 Josephine Street, Belfast and he was a son of John and Hannah (sometimes Annie, sometimes Agnes) Ireland (nee McKeag) who were married on 9 March 1888 in Great Victoria Street Presbyterian Church, Belfast. John Ireland from Comber was a son of John Ireland, a labourer. Agnes McKeag from Belfast was a daughter of John McKeag, a labourer.
John Ireland worked as a labourer and he and Annie had five children including:
Jane (born 1 January 1889 in Ballyloughan, Comber)
Robert John (born 16 June 1891 at 19 Josephine Street, Belfast)
William (born 16 April 1894 at 9 Josephine Street, Belfast)
The Ireland family was living in Comber in both 1901 (High Street) and 1911 (Castle Street).
Robert John Ireland moved from Comber to New York and it was there that he joined the US Army. He served with the 325th Infantry Regiment in 82nd Division American Expeditionary Force and he was 27 when he was killed in action on 11 October 1918 during the Allied offensive against all sections of the German line.
Private Robert John Ireland was buried in Meuse-Argonne American Cemetery, France and he is commemorated on the American Battle Monuments Commission website; on Comber and District War Memorial and in Second Comber Presbyterian Church.