Miskelly, Samuel
Rifleman
No. 15602, 8th Battalion, Royal Irish Rifles
Killed in action on Sunday 2 July 1916 (aged 22)
No known grave
Commemorated:
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
Thiepval Memorial, France (Pier and Face 15 A and 15 B)
Journey of Remembering Belfast Book of Honour
BIOGRAPHY
Samuel Miskelly was born on 8 June 1894 in Movilla Street, Newtownards and he was a son of John and Mary Bella Miskelly (nee Strain, sometimes Strean) who were married on 16 November 1891 in Greenwell Street Presbyterian Church Newtownards. John Miskelly from Newtownards was a son of Samuel Miskelly, a tailor. Mary Bella Strain from Newtownards was a daughter of Robert Strain, a labourer.
The Miskelly family lived in Mill Street, Newtownards; in Movilla Street, Newtownards; at 24 Perry Street, Belfast and at 132 Woodstock Road, Belfast.
John Miskelly was a tailor and he and Mary had seven children including:
Margaret Henry (born 28 October 1892 in Mill Street, Newtownards)
Samuel (born 8 June 1894 in Movilla Street, Newtownards)
John (born 20 May 1896 in Newtownards)
Henry (born 5 December 1897 at 24 Perry Street, Belfast)
Jane (born 30 May 1899 at 132 Woodstock Road, Belfast)
Robert (born 30 January 1901 at 132 Woodstock Road, Belfast)
Margaret, Samuel, John and Henry Miskelly were baptised in Greenwell Street Presbyterian Church Newtownards.
After her husband John died of phthisis on 16 June 1901 (aged 34) Mary Bella Miskelly married Samuel Norris and they had at least three children:
Robert (born 4 September 1903 in Movilla Street, Newtownards)
Elizabeth McClenaghan (born 14 May 1905 in Movilla Street, Newtownards)
David (born 21 February 1908 at 95 Lord Street, Belfast)
Samuel Norris worked as a labourer and he, Mary Bella, their children and his step-children lived at 7 Bangor Street, Belfast.
After leaving school Samuel Miskelly worked as an apprentice gilder.
Samuel Miskelly enlisted in Belfast, he served with the 8th Battalion Royal Irish Rifles in 107th Brigade of the 36th (Ulster) Division and in the Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC) Debt of Honour Website it is recorded that he was killed in action on the second day of the Battle of the Somme. In the heat of battle the 8th Battalion Royal Irish Rifles did not make a casualty return on 1 July 1916 and many military historians agree that those 8th Battalion casualties listed on the 2 July return were killed in action on 1 July.
Rifleman Samuel Miskelly was 22 when he died, he has no known grave and he is commemorated in the Belfast Book of Honour (Page 472).