McMath, Francis
Company Sergeant Major
No. 57550, 122nd Field Company, Royal Engineers, 36th (Ulster) Division
Died of wounds on Saturday 11 December 1915 (aged 41)
Buried:
Louvencourt Military Cemetery, France (Plot 1 Row C Grave 20)
Commemorated:
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
Cousin of Quartermaster Sergeant Andrew Boyd
Cousin of Private John Boyd (No. 790538)
BIOGRAPHY
In the Soldiers Died in the Great War 1914 – 1919 database it is recorded that Company Sergeant Major (CSM) Francis McMath was born in Donaghadee.
Francis McMath was born on 20 February 1874 in the townland of Drumfad, Carrowdore and he was a son of James and Margaret McMath (nee Boyd) who were married on 9 August 1870 in Carrowdore Parish Church of Ireland Church (Christ Church). James McMath, a widower and a labourer from Ballyrolly was a son of Francis McMath, a weaver. Margaret Boyd from Drumfad was a daughter of James Boyd, a labourer. James McMath had previously been married to Margaret Fulton, a daughter of Hugh Fulton, a farmer. James McMath and Margaret Fulton were married on 29 June 1861 in Millisle Presbyterian Church and Margaret died of stomach cancer on 4 June 1869 (aged 55) in the townland of Ballyrolly.
James McMath worked as a labourer and he and Margaret McMath (nee Boyd) had three children:
Francis (born 20 February 1874 in Drumfad)
Jane (born 17 June 1876 in Drumfad)
Agnes (born 4 July 1880 in Drumfad)
The McMath family lived in the townland of Drumfad, Carrowdore and their three children were baptised in Carrowdore Parish Church of Ireland Church.
Records show that Francis McMath lived in Dublin for a time. He worked as a clerk before he enlisted in Belfast on 24 October 1914 and it was noted in his attestation papers that he was 5 feet 6¼ inches tall with grey eyes and dark hair. He had previous service with the Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers.
CSM Francis McMath served with the 122nd Field Company Royal Engineers. He went to France on 4 October 1915 with the 36th (Ulster) Division in October 1915 and, two months later, on 11 December 1915, Company Sergeant Major Francis McMath (aged 41) died of a gunshot wound to the head at Louvencourt in France. In Army records he named as his next-of-kin his uncle, John Boyd, of Wentworth Cottage, Hill of Howth, Co Dublin.