McPhillips, John
Rifleman
No. 9273, 2nd Battalion, Royal Irish Rifles
Died of wounds on Saturday 11 August 1917 (aged 19)
Buried:
Brandhoek New Military Cemetery, Belgium (Grave VI. B. 1)
Commemorated:
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
Newtownards and District War Memorial
BIOGRAPHY
In the Soldiers Died in the Great War 1914 – 1919 database it is recorded that John McPhillips was born in Donaghadee.
John McPhillips was born on 28 September 1897 in Moat Street, Donaghadee and at civil registration it was recorded that he was a son of Patrick and Jane McPhillips (nee Patterson). John McPhillips was baptised on 3 October 1897 in Newtownards Roman Catholic Church where it was recorded that his father was Patrick McPhillips, his mother was Jane Patterson, and she was ‘non-Catholic’. John had an older brother:
James McPhillips was born 6 October 1893 in New Row, Donaghadee and at civil registration it was recorded that he was a son of Patrick and Jane McPhillips (nee Patterson). James McPhillips was baptised on 15 October 1893 in Newtownards Roman Catholic Church where it was recorded that his father was Patrick McPhillips, his mother was Jane Patterson, and she was ‘non-Catholic’. James McPhillips died of heart disease on 29 March 1900 in Nazareth House, Belfast.
[Nazareth House was established in Belfast in 1876, and it provided accommodation for destitute and orphan Roman Catholic children.]
To date, no marriage record for Patrick McPhillips and Jane Patterson has been found.
Patrick McPhillips worked as a labourer and ragman, and he died of bronchitis and heart disease on 22 February 1898 (aged 52) at Mount Street, Donaghadee. Jane was with him when he died.
Jane McPhillips had a daughter, Eveline McPhillips, born on 20 February 1900 in Newtownards Workhouse. No father’s name was recorded at civil registration. In 1901 Jane, John and Eveline McPhillips were lodging in the townland of Ballyhay, Donaghadee with Eliza Strain, a widow and a general servant. The widowed Jane McPhillips also worked as a general servant.
John McPhillips enlisted in Clonmel, Co Tipperary and he served with the 2nd Battalion Royal Irish Rifles.
Rifleman John McPhillips (No. 9273) was 19 when he died of wounds on 11 August 1917 during the fighting at Westhoek Ridge in Belgium. He was buried in Brandhoek New Military Cemetery, Belgium and is commemorated on Newtownards and District War Memorial.
In the Army Register of Soldiers’ Effects his mother, Jane McClure, who lived at 113 East Street, Newtownards, was named as his sole legatee.
On 6 October 1911 Jane Patterson (described as a spinster from East Street, Newtownards) married Stewart McClure in Newtownards Reformed Presbyterian Church.
Jane McClure (nee Patterson), late of 5 Movilla Street, Newtownards, died of a cerebral haemorrhage on 15 November 1927 (aged 66) in Newtownards Hospital.
The widowed Stewart McClure, late of 26 Frederick Street, Newtownards, died of a cerebral haemorrhage on 24 December 1931 (aged 51) in Newtownards Hospital.