McCready, James Morrison (James)
Rifleman
No. 16740, ‘A’ Company, 13th Battalion, then 11th/13th Battalion,
then 12th Battalion, Royal Irish Rifles
Killed in action on Sunday 25 August 1918 (aged 19)
Buried:
Arneke British Cemetery, France (Grave III. E. 26)
Commemorated:
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
Donaghadee and District War Memorial
Donaghadee Parish Church of Ireland Church
BIOGRAPHY
James Morrison McCready was born in Saltcoats, Ayrshire in Scotland and he was a son of James and Ellen McCready (nee Little) who lived at 12 Harbour Street, Saltcoats. James McCready worked as a general labourer and he and Ellen had at least seven children:
Catherine (born around 1896/1897 in Scotland)
James Morrison (born around 1897/1898 in Scotland)
Sarah (born around 1900/1901 in Scotland)
William (born around 1902/1903 in County Down)
Hugh (born 30 November 1906 in Union Street, Donaghadee)
Alexander (born 4 March 1908 in County Down)
Isabella Little (born 25 June 1910 in East Street, Donaghadee)
The McCready family moved to Donaghadee and in 1911 they were living in East Street. Ellen’s widowed father, William Little (a retired coal miner), and her sister Isabella lived with them.
James McCready enlisted in Donaghadee and he served with the 13th Battalion Royal Irish Rifles in 108th Brigade of the 36th (Ulster) Division. In November 1917 the 11th and 13th Battalions were amalgamated and when they were disbanded in February 1918 James was transferred to the 12th Battalion. Rifleman James McCready (No. 16740) was 19 when he died on 25 August 1918 during the Allied offensive against all sections of the German line.
Rifleman James McCready (No. 16740) was buried in Arneke British Cemetery, France and there is an inscription on his CWGC headstone:
ONE OF THE NOBLE DEAD
Rifleman James McCready (No. 16740) is commemorated on Donaghadee and District War Memorial and in Donaghadee Parish Church of Ireland Church.