Loughrey, John Malachi (John)
Private
No. 21534, 23rd Battalion, Manchester Regiment
Killed in action in France on Monday 22 October 1917 (aged 23)
No known grave
Commemorated:
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
Tyne Cot Memorial, Belgium (Panel 120 to 124 & 162 to 162A & 163A)
BIOGRAPHY
John Malachi Loughrey was born on 17 August 1894 in Bridge Street, Bangor and he was the youngest son of James and Jane Loughrey (McMullan, sometimes McMillan) who lived in Bridge Street, Bangor.
James Loughrey worked as a dealer and then as a greengrocer and fruiterer and he and Jane had at least twelve children including:
Michael Anthony (born 8 May 1880 in Bridge Street, Bangor)
Jane (Jennie, born 12 June 1881 in Quay Street, Bangor)
James (born 18 September 1882 in Bridge Street, Bangor)
Annie (born 29 June 1884 in Bridge Street, Bangor)
Frances Mary (born 26 June 1886 in Bridge Street, Bangor; died 30 August 1886)
John Francis (born 23 October 1887 in Main Street, Bangor; died 4 November 1888)
Lucy Kathleen (born 16 December 1889 in Bridge Street, Bangor; died of nephritis 26 November 1892 in Ballymagee Street, Bangor)
Robert (born 10 May 1891 in Bridge Street, Bangor)
Edith Mary (born 11 August 1892 in Ballymagee Street, Bangor)
John Malachi (born 17 August 1894 in Bridge Street, Bangor)
John Malachi Loughrey worked as an assistant greengrocer.
Michael, Jennie, James and Annie Loughery were enrolled on the opening day of St Comgall’s National School, Brunswick Road, Bangor – 1 October 1890 – by the headmistress and only teacher, Mrs Annie Dunne. Mrs Dunne had two children, Catherine and John Malachi, so it may be that John Malachi Loughrey was named after John Malachi Dunne.
John Malachi Loughrey’s father died of arterio-sclerosis on 14 April 1912 (aged 63) and sometime after that the Loughrey family moved to Manchester. It was there that John enlisted and he served with the 23rd Battalion Manchester Regiment.
Private John Malachi Loughrey was 23 when he was killed in action on 22 October 1917 and it was reported in the press that, at that time, three of his brothers were also serving in the Army.
Private John Malachi Loughrey has no known grave and he is commemorated on the Tyne Cot Memorial in Belgium.