McElroy, Alfred George
Lance Corporal
No. 7498, 12th Battalion, Royal Irish Rifles
Died in service on Monday 7 July 1919 (aged 22)
Buried:
Aldershot Military Cemetery, Hampshire, England (Grave AF. 2006)
Commemorated:
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
Brother of Captain Frederick William McElroy
BIOGRAPHY
Alfred George McElroy was born on 6 July 1897 in the townland of Bellsgrove, alias Ballynagowan Lower,County Tyrone and he was a son of John McElroy (born in County Armagh) and Mary Louisa McElroy (nee Nelson, born in County Meath) who were married on 29 October 1889 in Loughgilly Church of Ireland Church in County Armagh. John McElroy was a son of William McElroy, a farmer. Mary Louisa Nelson was a daughter of George Nelson, a butler.
John McElroy worked as a land steward in different counties throughout Ireland and he and Mary Louisa had six children:
Pearl Louisa (born 8 February 1891 in Drummilt, County Armagh)
Daisy Winifred (born 6 November 1893 in Drummilt, County Armagh)
Frederick William (born 23 November 1895 in Bellsgrove, alias Ballynagowan Lower, County Tyrone)
Alfred George (born 6 July 1897 in Bellsgrove, alias Ballynagowan Lower, County Tyrone)
Ida Elizabeth (born 9 May 1899 in Bellsgrove, alias Ballynagowan Lower, County Tyrone)
Herbert John Nelson (born 8 July 1903 in Inisherk, County Fermanagh)
When the McElroy family moved to Bangor they lived at 37 Princetown Road and later at 13 Downshire Road.
Prior to the outbreak of the First World War Alfred George McElroy worked as a shop assistant for James Forster, a merchant in Ballyconnell, Co Cavan.
Lance Corporal Alfred George McElroy served with the 12th Battalion Royal Irish Rifles and he died on 7 July 1919 – the day after his 22nd birthday.
Three members of the McElroy family were buried in Bangor Cemetery, Newtownards Road, Bangor. Mary Louisa McElroy died on 19 March 1949 (aged 85), John McElroy died on 15 June 1952 (aged 89) and Pearl Louise died on 18 June 1964 (aged 72).