McNally, Hugh Francis DeSalle (Hugh)

Surgeon

HMS Hampshire, Royal Navy    

Killed by a mine explosion on Monday 5 June 1916 (aged 24)

No known grave

Commemorated:

Commonwealth War Graves Commission

Portsmouth Naval Memorial, Hampshire, England (Panel 11)

Journey of Remembering Belfast Book of Honour

Family grave headstone in Ballyphilip Roman Catholic Graveyard Portaferry

BIOGRAPHY           

Hugh Francis DeSalle McNally was born on 29 January 1892 at 22 Ardmoulin Street, Belfast and he was a son of Nicholas and Elizabeth (Lizzie) McNally (nee McGrath) who were married on 3 April 1888 in St Malachy’s Roman Catholic Church, Coleraine.  Nicholas McNally from Belfast was a son of Nicholas McNally, a farmer (deceased).  Lizzie McGrath from Coleraine was a daughter of Hugh McGrath.

The McNally family lived in Belfast, in Ardmoulin Street and Raglan Street and, later, at The Shore, Portaferry

Nicholas McNally was a National School Teacher and he and Elizabeth had five children:

John (born 7 November 1889 at 26 Ardmoulin Street, Belfast)

Hugh Francis DeSalle (born 29 January 1892 at 22 Ardmoulin Street, Belfast)

Rose (born 22 September 1893 at 22 Ardmoulin Street, Belfast)

Mary Ann (born 16 March 1895 at 22 Ardmoulin Street, Belfast)

Nicholas (born 19 December 1897 at 63 Raglan Street, Belfast)

Rose McNally married Patrick Tomelty who was a brother of Charles Tomelty who was killed in action on 27 August 1918.

Hugh Francis DeSalle McNally studied medicine at Queen’s University Belfast (QUB) and during the Great War he served as a surgeon aboard HMS Hampshire.

Surgeon Hugh Francis DeSalle McNally was 24 when he was killed around 7.40 pm on 5 June 1916 after his ship struck a mine off the Orkneys.  HMS Hampshire was on route to Russia and the principal passenger aboard was Lord Kitchener who was travelling there to participate in strategic discussions.  Lord Kitchener also perished.

William J McCann, Secretary of The National Volunteers Belfast Regiment, wrote to Hugh’s father to express sympathy on behalf of the officers and men of the Belfast Regiment in which Hugh had been a Colonel.

Hugh’s father Nicholas died of heart disease at home in Shore Street, Portaferry on 29 November 1922 (aged 59).  His son Nicholas was with him when he died.

Hugh’s mother Elizabeth died on 19 July 1931 (aged 66).

Surgeon Hugh Francis DeSalle McNally has no known grave and is commemorated on the Portsmouth Naval Memorial, Hampshire, England; in the Journey of Remembering Belfast Book of Honour and on the family grave headstone in Ballyphilip Roman Catholic Graveyard Portaferry.