8th Battalion, Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers (British Army)
Date Of Birth:
26/12/1894
Died:
07/06/1917 (Killed in Action)
Age:
22
Summary
John Joseph Rush was a son of Francis and Mary Rush. John was of born in Derryloran, Cookstown 26th December 1894. John was one of 15 children. By 1911, only 8 were still living. His father, Frank Rush, worked on the railway. The family lived in Killymoon Demesne, Cookstown. John Rush enlisted at Cookstown, joining the Inniskillings on the 20th November 1914. He was 19 years old. By June 1917, he had attained the rank of Corporal. Corporal John Rush was serving with the 8th Battalion of the Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers when he was killed in action at the Battle of Messines on 7th June 1917. He was 22 years old.
Further Information
John Joseph Rush was a son of Francis and Mary Rush. Francis Rush married Mary Devlin on 6th November 1878 in the district of Cookstown.
John Rush was of born in Derryloran, Cookstown 26th December 1894. John was one of 15 children. By 1911, only 8 were still living.
Known family: Francis Rush, Mary Rush, James Rush (born about 1881), Francis, Rush (born about 1882), Henry Rush (born 26th March 1884), Patrick Rush (born 8th February 1886), Elizabeth Rush (born 3rd May 1888, died 7th March 1889), Mary Rush (born 3rd May 1888, died 1st February 1894, age 6), Bridget Rush (born 29th June 1889), Theresa Rush (born 6th July 1890, died 1st February 1894, age 4), Joseph (born 30th November 1892, died 31st January 1894, age 1), John Joseph Rush (born 26th December 1894), Mary Anna Rush (born 10th February 1897), Domanick Rush (born 3rd August 1899), Thomas Rush (born 22nd December 1900), Sarah Jane Rush (born 1st July 1905).
The 1901 census shows Joseph as 6 years old. His father, Frank Rush, was described as a Gov. R Employee. The family lived in Killymoon Demesne, Cookstown.
By the time of the 1911 census, the family had moved to Clare, Cookstown. John Rush was 15 years old and employed as a mill worker. His father Frank was a plate later.
John Rush enlisted at Cookstown, joining the Inniskillings on the 20th November 1914. He was 19 years old.
In November 1915, after a year’s training, he went to the front.
By June 1917, John had seen action in many of the major battles and was well used to life in the trenches. He had attained the rank of Corporal.
Corporal John Rush was first reported missing and the family at home had an anxious wait before news of his death was confirmed.
Corporal John Rush was serving with the 8th Battalion of the Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers when he was killed in action at the Battle of Messines on 7th June 1917. He was 22 years old.
From the Belfast Newsletter dated 9th July 1917:
Corporal Joseph Rush, fifth son of Mr Frank Rush, Clare, Cookstown, was killed in action on 7th June. He joined the Inniskillings on the 20th November 1914, and after a year’s training went to the front, where he died at the age of 22 years.
Last Testament and Will of Corporal John Rush dated 28th March 1917:
In the event of my death, I give the whole of my property and effects to my mother, Mrs Mary Rush, Clare, Cookstown, Co Tyrone, Ireland
Corporal John Joseph Rush has no known grave and is commemorated on the Menin Gate Memorial in Ypres, West-Vlaanderen, Belgium.
The CWGC record Corporal John Joseph Rush as the son of Frank and Mary Rush of Clare Bridge, Cookstown, County Tyrone.
