McGeown, Irene Ethel (Renie)
Civilian War Dead
Died on Wednesday 26 August 1914 after being accidentally shot (aged 34; 33 on death certificate)
Buried:
Belfast City Cemetery (Section N Grave 709)
Commemorated:
Chapman family grave headstone, Belfast City Cemetery
BIOGRAPHY
Whilst some are commemorated locally, civilian war dead who were killed by service personnel during the First World War are not officially commemorated, and that is the case regarding Irene Ethel (Renie) McGeown. The reason she is included on this website is to provide an example of a civilian whose death is directly attributable to the Great War. Had it not been for the war, Irene Ethel (Renie) McGeown would not have died when she did.
Irene Ethel (Renie) McGeown died in Bangor Cottage Hospital on 26 August 1914, and, on her death certificate, the cause of death is recorded as ‘fracture of skull and laceration of brain’. There is no mention as to how these injuries were sustained, but there is reference to an inquest that was held on 27 August 1914. Newspaper reports on the inquest detail how Renie sustained her fatal injuries.
A spinster, Irene Ethel (Renie) McGeown was a backseat passenger in a car travelling between Bangor and Donaghadee between 8.00 and 9.00 pm on Monday 24 August 1914. At Orlock they were challenged by a soldier from the 4th Battalion Royal Irish Rifles who was stationed there on sentry duty at Orlock Signal Station. The driver of the car testified at the inquest that when he heard a command to halt, he didn’t realise it was directed at him. He slowed down but didn’t stop. The sentry fired and Renie was hit in the head. She was taken to Bangor Cottage Hospital where she underwent emergency surgery but did not regain consciousness and died at 2.00 pm on Wednesday.
Renie’s remains were removed from 34 Wolseley Street, Belfast for burial in the City Cemetery on 28 August. The Army was represented at her funeral by officers from the 4th Battalion Royal Irish Rifles.
Irene Ethel (Renie) McGeown was born on 7 February 1880 at Bachelor’s Walk, Lisburn and she was a daughter of William and Agnes McGeown (nee Dickson, sometimes Dixon) who were married on 12 September 1877 in Hillsborough Presbyterian Church. William McGeown, a traveller from Lisburn, was a son of James McGeown, a merchant. Agnes Dickson from Lisburn was a daughter of David Dickson, a farmer. They had seven children:
Laura Evelyn (born 9 July 1878 at Bachelor’s Walk, Lisburn; married Alfred Chapman on 29 April 1902 in Whitehouse Presbyterian Church)
Irene Ethel (born 7 February 1880 at Bachelor’s Walk, Lisburn)
William Ernest Garsfield (born 26 March 1882 at Market Square, Lisburn; died of tubercular meningitis 1 April 1883 at Market Square, Lisburn)
William Ernest Dickson (born 8 December 1883 at Market Square, Lisburn
Lilian Vida Mary (born 13 February 1885 at Market Square, Lisburn)
George Clarence Brown (born 20 May 1887 at Market Square, Lisburn; died 13 August 1940)
Agnes Bertha (born 10 June 1893 at Market Square, Lisburn)
Irene Ethel McGeown was buried in Belfast City Cemetery (Grave N 709). Also buried in that grave were:
Her brother-in-law Alfred Chapman, who died on 3 March 1937.
Her sister Laura Evelyn Chapman, who died on 23 July 1955.