Waring, John
Rifleman
No. 11/2255, ‘D’ Company, 11th Battalion, Royal Irish Rifles
Died of wounds on Thursday 26 October 1916 (aged 39)
Buried:
Calais Southern Cemetery, France (Plot F Row 1 Grave 9)
Commemorated:
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
First Lisburn Presbyterian Church
Lisburn War Memorial
Lisburn’s Dead 1914 – 1919 (Friends’ School Lisburn WW1 Research Project)
Family grave headstone in Lisburn Cemetery
BIOGRAPHY
In the Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC) Debt of Honour Website it is recorded that Rifleman John Waring’s sister Mary lived in Copeland, Donaghadee.
In the Soldiers Died in the Great War 1914 – 1919 database it is recorded that John Waring was born in Blaris, and lived in Linenhall Street, Lisburn. He enlisted at Lisburn and served with the 11th Battalion Royal Irish Rifles in 108th Brigade of the 36th (Ulster) Division.
In October 1915 Rifleman John Waring (No. 11/2255) left Bordon Camp in Hampshire and went to France. One year later, on 26 October 1916, he died of wounds in the Millicent Sutherland Hospital at Calais.
Rifleman John Waring (No. 11/2255) had made his will on 16 August 1916 and in it he left all his property and effects to his sister, Mary Waring, who was living in Dublin at that time.
Rifleman John Waring (No. 11/2255) was buried in Calais Southern Cemetery, France and there is an inscription on his CWGC headstone:
LATE OF LISBURN CO. ANTRIM
Rifleman John Waring (No. 11/2255) is commemorated in First Lisburn Presbyterian Church, on Lisburn War Memorial and in Lisburn’s Dead 1914 – 1919 (Friends’ School Lisburn WW1 Research Project).
John Waring was born on 18 February 1877, and he was a son of William John and Mary (sometimes Eliza) Waring (nee McCullough, sometimes McCulla). At civil birth registration two forenames were registered – William John.
William John and Mary Waring (nee McCullough) had at least four children:
Mary Ellen (Mary, born 7 September 1869 at Cabra, Hillsborough; only Ellen was registered at birth, but Mary Ellen was used in census returns)
William John (John, born 18 February 1877 at Piper Hill, Lisburn)
Alfred (born 27 December 1879 at Linenhalll Street, Lisburn; died 6 January 1880)
Alfred (born 9 January 1885 at Hill Street, Lisburn)
In 1901 the Waring family was living at 9 Bullick’s Square, Lisburn:
Mary Waring Head of Family widow (aged 51)
Mary Ellin Daughter Flax Spinner (aged 28)
William John Son Agricultural Labourer (aged 23)
Alfred Son Flax Doffer (aged 16)
In 1911 the Waring family was living at 6 Bullick’s Square, Lisburn:
Mary Waring Head of Family widow (aged 69)
John Son Agricultural Labourer (aged 33)
Alfred Son Painter (aged 27)
Their mother, Mary Waring, died on 9 March 1916 (civil registration, aged 68) and was buried in the New Protestant Burial Ground, Lisburn (Grave D. 243). She had fallen downstairs and bumped her head, and a verdict of accidental death was returned. It was reported in the Press that she had two sons serving at the Front – John and Alfred.
Both were wounded and entitled to wear wound stripes – Alfred was wounded on 13 June 1916; John was wounded in October 1916 and subsequently died.
Alfred Waring enlisted on 12 September 1914 at Lisburn, and he served as a Private with the Royal Irish Rifles (No.11/19228) and the Royal Army Service Corps (No. 036775). He and Margaret Willoughby were married on 27 October 1916 in Christ Church Church of Ireland Church in Gorey, Co Wexford. Their son John was born in Gorey on 6 December 1917. Alfred was discharged on 28 March 1919, and his address was 11 Gafford Street, Belfast. He died on 8 November 1950 (aged 65). His widow Margaret lived at 35 Milrose Street, Belfast, and she died on 11 August 1973; and was buried in Knockbreda Cemetery.
Rifleman John Waring is commemorated on the family grave headstone in Lisburn Cemetery erected by his brother Alfred:
ERECTED BY ALFRED WARING
IN MEMORY OF HIS DEAR MOTHER
MARY WARING
WHO DIED 14TH MARCH 1916
ALSO, HIS SISTER MARY ELLEN
DIED IN USA 1920
AND HIS BROTHER JOHN
DIED OF WOUNDS
RECEIVED IN ACTION IN FRANCE
28TH OCTOBER 1916