Mooney, Edward
Rifleman
No. 14/7525, 14th Battalion, Royal Irish Rifles
Killed in action on Saturday 23 March 1918 (aged 22)
Buried:
Ham British Cemetery, Muille-Villette, France (Grave II. B. 12)
Commemorated:
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
BIOGRAPHY
In the Soldiers Died in the Great War 1914 – 1919 database it is recorded that Edward Mooney was born in Newtownards and he enlisted in Belfast.
Edward Mooney was born on 26 March 1895 in John Street, Newtownards and he was a son of James and Mary Eliza (Mary) Mooney (nee Shanks) who were married on 1 January 1894 in St Jude’s Parish Church of Ireland Church, Ballynafeigh, Belfast. At the time of their marriage James Mooney (son of Edward Mooney, a weaver) was living in Newtownards and Mary Eliza Shanks (daughter of Hugh Shanks, a labourer) was living at 7 Somerset Street, Ballynafeigh, Belfast.
After they were married James and Mary Mooney lived in John Street, Newtownards and later, after Jane was born, in Belfast – at 158 Cosgrove Street; at 50 Peveril Street and at 3 Somerset Street, Ballynafeigh.
James Mooney worked as an engine driver and he and Mary had six children:
Edward (born 26 March 1895 in John Street, Newtownards)
Jane (born 8 September 1896 in Marquis Street, Newtownards)
Maggie (born 26 February 1898 at 158 Cosgrove Street, Belfast)
Mary (born 15 January 1900 at 50 Peveril Street, Belfast)
James (born 10 June 1903 at 3 Somerset Street, Belfast)
Sarah Jane (born 18 December 1904 at 56 Fenwood Street, Belfast)
After their father James died of pulmonary tuberculosis in hospital on 13 December 1906 (aged 38) their mother Mary worked as a charwoman and the family lived at 23 Walmer Street, Belfast.
After he left school Edward Mooney worked as a machine minder in a print works.
During the Great War Rifleman Edward Mooney (No. 14/7525) served with the 14th Battalion Royal Irish Rifles in 109th Brigade of the 36th (Ulster) Division and he was three days short of his 23rd birthday when he was killed in action on 23 March 1918. A written statement made on 19 December 1918 by his sister Jane was accepted by the Army as Edward’s nuncupative will. In her statement Jane declared that in October 1917 Edward had said in her presence that if anything happened to him, he wanted his mother Mary to get all that was due to him.