McMullan, Patrick
(Served as Mullen, Patrick)
Rifleman
No. 6694, ‘B’ Company, 1st Battalion, Royal Irish Rifles
Killed in action on Tuesday 11 April 1916 (aged 32)
Buried:
Becourt Military Cemetery, France (Grave I. H. 2)
Commemorated:
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
Newtownards and District War Memorial (as McMullan, Patrick)
Journey of Remembering Belfast Book of Honour (as Mullen, Patrick)
Brother of ex-Rifleman William McMullan
BIOGRAPHY
In some records his surname is spelt McMullan, in others McMullen, in others Mullan and in others Mullen.
Patrick McMullan was born on 2 March 1884 in Newtownards and he was a son of John and Grace McMullan (nee Busby, sometimes Busbey, sometimes Busley) who were married on 10 August 1865 in Newtownards Registrar’s Office.
John McMullan worked as a labourer and he and Grace had at least eleven children:
William (born 23 August 1866 in Mill Street, Newtownards; died) Mullen
John (born 20 August 1867 in Mill Street, Newtownards; died) McMullen
James (born 1 May 1869 in Mill Street, Newtownards) McMullan
Hugh (born 18 May 1871 in Mill Street, Newtownards) Mullen
Joseph (born 13 January 1873 in Mill Street, Newtownards) McMullen
William (born 2 January 1875 in Mill Street, Newtownards; died) Mullen
Jane (born 5 April 1877 in Ann Street, Newtownards) Mullen
John (twin, born 12 January 1879 in Newtownards Workhouse) Mullen
Robert (twin, born 12 January 1879 in Newtownards Workhouse) Mullen
William (born 17 February 1882 in Newtownards Workhouse) Mullen
Patrick (born 2 March 1884 in Mill Street, Newtownards) Mullen
Patrick McMullan who served as Patrick Mullen was a career soldier and he was described in the Press as ‘an all-round athlete’. He moved to Belfast where he lived at 31 English Street. He was a Special Reservist who was called up the outbreak of war and he served with the 1st Battalion Royal Irish Rifles. He went to France on 29 December 1914. He was a Bugler and in his will he left the whole of his property and effects to his wife.
Patrick McMullan and Ellen Osborne were married on 22 November 1904 in St Peter’s Roman Catholic Church, Belfast. Patrick McMullan, a labourer from 54 Balkan Street, Belfast was a son of John McMullan, a labourer. Ellen Osborne, a mill worker from 54 Balkan Street, Belfast was a daughter of Thomas Osborne, a shoemaker. Their son Patrick was born on 17 August 1912 at 22 Lancaster Street, Belfast.
Rifleman Patrick Mullen (No. 6694) was 32 when he was killed in action on 11 April 1916 during heavy enemy bombardment of the trenches and at that time his wife Ellen and their two children were living at 22 Tun Street, Belfast.
It was reported in the Press that Rifleman Patrick Mullen had three brothers on active service – Drum-Major John Mullen (Connaught Rangers), Private Hugh Mullen (Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers) and Rifleman William Mullen (Royal Irish Rifles, wounded at Neuve Chapelle).
Rifleman Patrick Mullen (No. 6694) was buried in Becourt Military Cemetery, France and he is commemorated on Newtownards and District War Memorial (as McMullan, Patrick) and in the Journey of Remembering Belfast Book of Honour (as Mullen, Patrick).