Private 19041 Patrick Coleman
Regiment/Unit: Royal Dublin Fusiliers - 1st Bn.
Theatre of War: France & Flanders
Theatre of War First Served: (2b) Balkans
Date Entered Therein: 09/08/1915
Age at death: 41
Date of death: 16th of July 1918
Born: Billinge, Lancs
Resided: Billinge, Lancs
Burial / Memorial: Ploegsteert Memorial - Panel 10.
Census details:
1881 - 4 years old Patrick is living at Lane Ends, Billinge with parents Patrick (39), Margaret (31) and two siblings: Walter (7), Mark (1). Also at the address is lodger Peter Mollrie (25). 1891 - 14 years old 'Coal Miner' Patrick is living at 88 Rainford Road, Billinge with mother Margaret (41) and four siblings Walter (17), Mark (11), Peter (9), Geoffrey (7). Also at the address is uncle - Peter Mulroy (34). 1901 - 24 years old 'Colliery Hewer' Patrick is living at 86 Rainford Road, Billinge with mother Margaret (51) and three siblings: Mark (21), Peter (19), Geoffrey (17). Still at the adress is uncle - Peter Mulroy (46). 1911 - Sees 32 years old 'Coal Miner - Hewer' Patrick living at 86 Rainford Road Billinge. Brothers Peter and Geoffrey are living next door at No.88.
Notes:
[url=lmem.php?lmem=39]Remembered On The St. Aidan's C of E Church Memorial[/url] Age taken from census.
[url=lmem.php?lmem=39]Remembered On The St. Aidan's C of E Church Memorial[/url] Age taken from census.
Patrick was born on the 11th of December 1876 the third of seven children of Patrick and Margaret Coleman (nee Mulroy) of Rainford Road, Billinge, and was baptised on the 17th of December 1876 at St. Mary`s R.C. Church.
It would seem likely that he enlisted with Henry Wilson as they both enlisted at St. Helens and both joined the 3rd Battalion of the Royal Dublin Fusiliers, an unusual regiment for Billinge men. If so, he may have seen his friend and fellow villager killed in Gallipoli before the Battalion came back to fight on the Western Front.
While serving in Flanders he was killed in action on Tuesday the 16th of July 1918. Patrick was 41 years old, and his name is recorded on the Ploegsteerty Memorial, Belgium, panel 10, and also on both St. Aidan`s C.E. Church and St. Mary`s R.C. Church Memorials.
Sources:- St. Helens Local History Library, Soldiers killed in the Great War; The Commonwealth War Graves Commission; St. Mary`s Church Registers; St. Aidan`s Parish Magazine.
[url=http://sthelens-connect.net/sitefiles/billinge-history.pdf]Information Courtesy of The Billinge History Society[/url]
