Montgomery, James
Rifleman
No. 9/3778, 9th Battalion, Royal Irish Rifles transferred to
No. 333801, 421st Agricultural Company, Labour Corps
Died of disease on Thursday 31 October 1918 (aged 49)
Buried:
Carnmoney Cemetery, Co. Antrim (Grave X. 94)
Commemorated:
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
Journey of Remembering Belfast Book of Honour
BIOGRAPHY
In the Soldiers Died in the Great War 1914 – 1919 database it is recorded that Rifleman James Montgomery (No. 333801) was born in Newtownards.
James Montgomery was born on 28 February 1869 in Scotch Row, Ballymacarrett, Belfast and he was a son of Alexander and Jane Montgomery (nee Aiken, sometimes Aicken, sometimes Aikin) who were married on 21 June 1864 in Argyle Place Presbyterian Church, Belfast.
The Montgomery family lived in Scotch Row, Ballymacarrett; Derwent Street, Belfast and Snugville Street, Belfast.
Alexander Montgomery worked as a stonecutter and he and Jane had at least six children:
Margaret (born 4 November 1864; married James Nixon on 11 April 1884 in Newington Presbyterian Church, Belfast)
Jane (born 6 February 1867)
James (born 28 February 1869 in Scotch Row, Ballymacarrett, Belfast)
Alexander (born 31 July 1871)
Mary (born 28 November 1873)
Richard (born 1 May 1879 at 17 Sheridan Street, Belfast)
Their father Alexander died of bronchitis at 63 Riga Street, Belfast on 2 November 1880 (aged 43).
In civilian life James Montgomery worked as a coachman and as a carter.
James Montgomery enlisted in Belfast and he went to France on 2 October 1915. He served with the 9th Battalion Royal Irish Rifles in 107th Brigade of the 36th (Ulster) Division before being transferred to the 421st Agricultural Company Labour Corps. Rifleman James Montgomery was 49 when he died of pneumonia in Old Derby War Hospital, Warrington on 31 October 1918 and he was buried in Carnmoney Cemetery, Co Antrim. There is an inscription on his CWGC headstone:
IN CHERISHED REMEMBRANCE OF MY DEAR BROTHER
Rifleman James Montgomery (No. 333801) is commemorated in the Belfast Book of Honour (Page 476). Rifleman James Montgomery’s war gratuity was paid to his sister, Margaret Nixon. Margaret’s husband James worked as a power loom tenter in a linen factory and they had at least eleven children including James, Mary, Edward, Florence (Florrie), Herbert, Louis, Emily, Laura and David.