Montgomery, Andrew
Rifleman
No. 18/1090, 11th Battalion, Royal Irish Rifles
Killed in action on Friday 1 September 1916 (aged 29)
No known grave
Commemorated:
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial, Belgium (Panel 40)
Bangor and District War Memorial
Ballygrainey Presbyterian Church
BIOGRAPHY
Andrew Montgomery was born on 19 December 1886 in Cottown and he was a son of Robert and Rachel Montgomery (nee Campbell) who were married on 15 April 1884 in St Anne’s Church of Ireland Church Belfast. Robert Montgomery from Princes Street, Belfast was a son of William Montgomery, a labourer. Rachel Campbell from Donaghadee was a daughter of Andrew Campbell, a labourer.
The Montgomery family lived in the townland of Cottown, Donaghadee.
Robert Montgomery was a farmer and he and Rachel had four children:
William Robert (born 1 March 1885 in Cottown)
Andrew (born 19 December 1886 in Cottown)
Rachel (born 18 September 1888 in Cottown)
Sarah Jane (born 1 May 1892 in Cottown)
Andrew’s father Robert died in Cottown on 11 June 1908 (aged 69) and his mother Rachel died on 15 March 1914 (aged 57).
Prior to the outbreak of the Great War Andrew Montgomery worked as a general labourer. He enlisted in Donaghadee, served with the 11th Battalion Royal Irish Rifles in 108th Brigade of the 36th (Ulster) Division and was 29 when he was killed in action on 1 September 1916 at Messines. He has no known grave.
Rifleman Andrew Montgomery (No. 18/10190) is commemorated on the Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial in Belgium; on Bangor and District War Memorial (subsidiary plaque) and in Ballygrainey Presbyterian Church.
In the years following Andrew’s death his brother William, who lived in Cottown, placed Our Heroes – In Memoriam notices in the Newtownards Chronicle.