Friends of the Somme - Mid Ulster Branch  
ff
6915   Private Peter Tohill (O'Neill)
Save as PDF
Dated added: 30/12/2015   Last updated: 21/05/2020
Personal Details
Regiment/Service: 1st Battalion, Royal Irish Rifles (British Army)
Died: 09/05/1915 (Killed in Action)
Age: 30
Summary      
Peter Tohill was the son of Hugh and Elizabeth Tohill of Stewartstown, County Tyrone. There is some dispute as to whether Peter was born in Belfast or Londonderry. When he enlisted in Banbridge he did so under a false name. He used the name of Patrick O誰eill on his enlistment and it is stated that Patrick O誰eill was born in Belfast, but according to Commonwealth War Graves details, he was born in Londonderry.
Further Information
Peter Tohill was the son of Hugh and Elizabeth Tohill of Stewartstown, County Tyrone.
There is some dispute as to whether Peter was born in Belfast or Londonderry.
When he enlisted in Banbridge he did so under a false name. He used the name of Patrick O誰eill on his enlistment and it is stated that Patrick O誰eill was born in Belfast, but according to Commonwealth War Graves details, he was born in Londonderry.
Either way, at the time he enlisted in Banbridge, he gave his address as Stewartstown, County Tyrone.
He joined the 1st Battalion Royal Irish Rifles and served with them in most of the early fighting of the First World War.
Medal card
Peter was killed in action on Sunday 9th May 1915 during the Battle of Aubers Ridge. This was an attack that resulted in heavy losses and the 1st Battalion lost one hundred and seventy-nine men on that one day. As was to be expected with such heavy losses and with the front line moving backwards and forwards as the battle swayed one way then the other, there is no known grave.
Peter is commemorated on panel 9 on Ploegsteert Memorial, Belgium.
The CWGC record Peter Tohill as the son of Hugh and Elizabeth Tohill of Stewartstown, County Tyrone. He is record as being born in County Londonderry.
Read more
Relevant Cookstown Area Locations
No Location Region Location Notes Longtitude Latitude
1 Stewartstown area Stewartstown CWGC lists parents in Stewartstown area 54.577104 -6.674345
References and Links
No Link Reference Map Doc
1 1901 Census lists 'Tohall' family Does not list Peter as living with the family at house 25 in Hill Head, Stewartstown, Tyrone
2 1911 Census lists Tohill family Does not list Peter as living with the family at house 28 in Hill Head, Stewartstown, Tyrone
3 National Archives UK Medal card can be purchased here
Cookstown District's War Dead Acknowledgements 2010-2023