McKittrick, David John (served as McKitterick, David)
Private
No. 437974, 44th Battalion, Canadian Infantry (New Brunswick Regiment)
Killed in action on Sunday 19 November 1916 (aged 33)
No known grave
Commemorated:
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
Vimy Memorial, France
Presbyterian Church in Ireland (PCI) Roll of Honour 1914 – 1919 for
Dundonald Presbyterian Church
BIOGRAPHY
In some records his surname is spelt McKittrick (attestation papers and newspaper report) and in others it is spelt McKitterick (census and CWGC Debt of Honour).
David John McKittrick was born on 15 June 1883 in Dundonald and he was a son of Alexander (Alex) and Elizabeth (Lizzie) McKittrick (nee Middleton) who were married on 28 September 1880 in Greenwell Street Presbyterian Church Newtownards. Alex McKittrick from Dunlady was a son of John McKittrick, a labourer. Elizabeth Middleton from Cherry Valley was a daughter of Alex Middleton, a labourer.
The McKittrick family lived in the townland of Carrowreagh and later in Ballybeen.
Alexander McKittrick worked as an agricultural labourer and he and Lizzie had ten children including:
Alexander McConnell (born 9 June 1881 in Ballyregan)
David John (born 15 June 1883 in Dundonald)
Alfred (born 11 February 1886 in Ballyregan)
Maggie (born 17 June 1888 in Ringcreevy)
James (born 17 March 1891 in Ringcreevy)
Mary (born 8 July 1894 in Carrowreagh)
Elizabeth (Lizzie, born 3 January 1897 in Carrowreagh)
Samuel (born 31 January 1899 in Carrowreagh)
Agnes (born 23 July 1902 in Carrowreagh)
David McKittrick moved to Canada in 1906 where he worked as a labourer before enlisting at Edmonton on 19 November 1915. It was noted in his attestation papers that he was 5 feet 3 inches tall with a fresh complexion, grey eyes and dark brown hair. He declared his date of birth to be 15 June 1886. He sailed from Halifax to Liverpool on 18 April 1916 aboard the SS Missanabie. The voyage took ten days.
This ship was torpedoed and sunk on 9 September 1918 by the German submarine UB 87 off the south coast of Ireland.
Private David McKittrick served with the 44th Battalion Canadian Infantry (New Brunswick Regiment) and he went to France in August 1916.
Private David McKittrick was 33 when he died on 19 November 1916, exactly one year after he enlisted. In the Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC) Debt of Honour Website his age at death is recorded as 23. In his will he left all of his property and effects to his father.