Pte 44254 James O'Reilly

• Age: 19
• From: Cork, Ireland
• Regiment: 2 MANCHESTERS
• Died on Saturday 14th July 1917
• Commemorated at: Nieuwpoort Cc
  Panel Ref: II.A.15

James O’Reilly was born in Cork, Ireland, on the 27th March 1898 at 12 Knapps Square. His parents James and Mary(nee Cleary) O’Reilly, both born in Waterford, married in on the 30th June 1889 at St John's Roman Catholic Church, in Waterford. James was a coachmaker of Canada Street, his father, Patrick, a deceased painter, whilst Mary was a servant of South Parade, her father, John, was  a coachman. They had seven children, one of whom died young. Ellen, Patrick and Joseph were born in Waterford, James and Mary were born in Cork, and Kathleen in Liverpool.  

In 1901 the family is living in Louth, at 47 James Street, Dundalk.  His father is aged 38, a coach trimmer, mother Mary is 30, Ellen is 11, a scholar, Patrick 10, a scholar, Joseph 7, a scholar, James 3, a scholar, and Mary is 11 months. 

The 1911 census find them at 4 Madryn Street, Toxteth Park, Liverpool. His father is aged 48,and  a coach trimmer (coach building), his mother, Mary, is aged 43. They advised that they had been married for 21 years, and have had 7 children, 6 of whom have survived. There are five children declared in the household; Patrick is 19, an electric lift attendant, Joseph 17, is a messenger, James is 13, and Mary is 11, are at school, Kathleen is aged just 2 years of age.    

The three brothers, Pat, Joe, and Jim, all enlisted. Pat enlisted in Liverpool on 15^th August 1914 in the 6^th Bn South Lancashire Regiment.  Joe’s service record cannot be found but he served in France and apparently survived the war.  

Jim enlisted in Liverpool as Private 24642, 17^th (Pals) Battalion of The King’s Liverpool Regiment.  He was transferred to 12^th Manchester Regiment, with regimental number 44254, subsequently to 11^th Bn, and finally to 2^nd Manchester Battalion.

His family suffered a loss in 1915, when his eldest brother Pat, L/Cpl 10517 Patrick Bernard O’Reilly, South Lancashire Regiment, was killed at Gallipoli. His body was not recovered or was subsequently lost as he has no known grave and is commemorated on the Helles Memorial, Turkey. He was 24 years of age.

Jim was listed as wounded in the Liverpool Daily Post & Mercury, on 02^nd August 1916:  

O’Reilly, 24642, J. (Liverpool).  

This was very probably a result of the fighting at Guillemont on the Somme on 30^th July1916 and would explain his transfer to the Manchester Regiment after recuperating from his wounds.

A history of the 2^nd Manchester battalion for 1917 records: 

"On the 1st June the battalion moved to Bailleul, in reserve for battle of Messines, 13th June moved to Eecke area and moved on to Nieuport via Tergedem on the 15th. Batt. remained there for some time ‘taking its share of trench duty and carrying out occasional raids’.”

Jim was killed in action on 14^th July 1917, aged 19.

Jim now rests at Nieuwpoort Communal Cemetery, West Flanders.

Nieuwpoort (also known as Nieuport) was about the middle of the line held by XV Corps in June-November 1917. On 10 July 1917, there was heavy fighting in this sector as the Germans mounted an attack from Nieuwpoort northwards. Most of those buried in the cemetery died in June, July and August.

In May 1940, the British Expeditionary Force was involved in the later stages of the defence of Belgium following the German invasion, and suffered many casualties in covering the withdrawal to Dunkirk.

The cemetery contains 70 Commonwealth burials of the First World War (three of them unidentified) and 31 from the Second World War (four unidentified).

His family placed a notice in the Liverpool Echo on 28^th July 1917:

”July 14, killed in action, aged 19 years, James (Jim), Manchesters (late Pals), the youngest son of James and Mary O’Reilly.  Also in loving memory of Pat, brother of above, who was killed in action, August 10, 1915. – Sadly missed by Father, Mother, Sisters, and Joe (in France). – 4 Madryn Street.  R.I.P.”

He earned his two medals.

His pension card shows middle initial A., his effects, army pay £5 2s 4d and £11 war gratuity went to his father James.

On the 1921 Census at Madryn Street, his father, James, is aged 60, a dock watchman for Cunard, with his wife Mary 54, and daughters May 21, and Catherine 13.

His father died aged 76 in 1935 and was buried on the 18th September 1935 at Yew Tree Cemetery, West Derby.

His mother died, in Whiston Hospital, aged 77, in 1943. She was buried with her husband on the 20th December 1943.

Her death was reported in the Liverpool Echo on Friday 17th December 1943;

DEATHS

O’REILLY—MARY, widow of James O’Reilly (late of Madryn Street). Funeral at Yew Tree Cemetery, on Monday next 3 p m. 

James and Patrick are both commemorated on the following Memorials:

Ireland’s National Roll of Honour.

Hall of Remembrance, Liverpool Town Hall, Panel 62.

We currently have no further information on James O’Reilly, If you have or know someone who may be able to add to the history of this soldier, please contact us.