Montgomery, William

Bombardier

No. 1054168, 5 Field Regiment, Royal Artillery

Died in a Prisoner-of-War Camp on Thursday 14 June 1945 (aged 43)

Buried:

Labuan War Cemetery, Malaysia (Grave M. D. 7)

Commemorated:

Commonwealth War Graves Commission

Bangor Parish Church of Ireland Church (St. Comgall’s)

BIOGRAPHY

William Montgomery was born on 9 April 1902 in Castlemount, Bangor and he was the eldest son of William and Ellen Jane Montgomery (nee Beattie) who were married on 16 September 1901 in Wesley Centenary Methodist Church, Bangor.  William Montgomery, a grocer from Castle Street, Bangor was a son of Robert Montgomery, a traveller.  Ellen Jane Beattie from Castle Street, Bangor was a daughter of John Beattie, a labourer.

William and Ellen Jane Montgomery (nee Beattie) had at least six children:

William (born 9 April 1902 in Castlemount, Bangor while his father was a yeoman in South Africa)

Robert (born 25 January 1904 at 10 Sancroft Street, Belfast)

Ellen (born around 1905)

Hugh (born 10 February 1907 at 12 Lawther Street, Belfast)

John (born 9 March 1909 at 6 Clements Street, Belfast; died 18 March 1909, buried Belfast City Cemetery Public Ground)

Francis James Beattie (born 7 October 1910 at 20 Springmount Street, Belfast)

In different records William Montgomery Senior is described as a grocer, yeoman, labourer, carter, and stoker.  After William died, Ellen Jane Montgomery (nee Beattie) remarried.

Ellen Jane Montgomery (nee Beattie) and James Edmondson were married on 15 October 1934 in Newtownards Registrar’s Office.  Ellen Jane Montgomery (aged 55), a widow from Bangor, was a daughter of John Beattie, a labourer (deceased).  James Edmondson (aged 54), a widowed boot maker from Bangor, was a son of Thomas Edmondson, a boot maker (deceased).  James Edmondson had previously been married to Ellen Jane’s sister, Maggie Beattie; James Edmondson and Maggie Beattie were married on 8 April 1912 in Bangor Abbey Church of Ireland Church.

James Edmondson died on 4 March 1944 (aged 58).

Bombardier William Montgomery (No. 1054168) was 43 when he died of malaria on 14 June 1945 in a Japanese Prisoner-of-War Camp in Kuching, Sarawak, Malaysia.

[5 Field Regiment, Royal Artillery surrendered to the Japanese in Singapore on 15 February 1942].

It was reported in the County Down Spectator that William Montgomery’s rank was Regimental Sergeant Major, and he had an army record of service spanning more than 25 years.  His brother, Francis James Montgomery, lived at 22A Primrose Street, Bangor and his mother, brothers and sisters lived at 14 Dufferin Avenue, Bangor.  Bombardier William Montgomery’s wife and three children lived in Natal, South Africa.

William Montgomery’s family placed a Roll of Honour notice in the 23 February 1946 edition of the County Down Spectator and it contained the text:

God takes our loved ones from our homes,

But never from our hearts

Bombardier William Montgomery (No. 1054168) is commemorated in Bangor Parish Church of Ireland Church (St. Comgall’s).