Friends of the Somme - Mid Ulster Branch  
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10739   Private Edward Lavery
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Dated added: 30/12/2015   Last updated: 01/05/2020
Personal Details
Regiment/Service: 2nd Battalion, Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers (British Army)
Date Of Birth: 28/02/1897
Died: 16/05/1915 (Killed in Action)
Age: 18
Summary      
Edward Lavery was the second son of John and Eleanor Laverty. The family lived in the Lisburn area. His mother died when he was eight. His father remarried. Edward Lavery was enlisted in Lisburn. He was living in Cookstown at the time. Private Edward Lavery was serving with the 2nd Battalion of the Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers when he was killed in action on Sunday 16th May 1915 during the Battle of Festubert.
Further Information
Edward Lavery was the second son of John and Eleanor Laverty. John Laverty and Eleanor McCarthy were married on 19th January 1892 in the district of Lisburn.
Edward Lavery was born on 28th February 1897 in the Lisburn area. He was one of four children from his father’s first marriage.
Family 1: John Lavery, Ellen Lavery, James Robert Lavery (born 7th January 1893), William John Lavery (born about 1895), Edward Lavery (born 28th February 1897), Richard Lavery (born 11th December 1900).
The 1901 census lists Edward as age 4, living with the family at house 35 in Ballyellough, Knocknadona, County Antrim. John Lavery was a ploughman.
Edward’s mother is believed to have died in Lisburn on 16th November 1903, age 44. Edward was eight years old.
John Lavery married Rachel Taverner on 11th January 1905 in the district of Lisburn. They went on have at least four more children.
Family 2: John Lavery, Rachel Lavery, Mark Lavery (born 4th January 1906), Thomas Wesley Lavery (born 1st December 1907), Christina Lavery (born 15th September 1909),Alfred Lavery (born 17th December 1912).
The 1911 census lists Edward as age 14, living with his step-mother and family at house 34 in Young Street, Lisburn, County Antrim. Edward was still at school. His father was a general labourer.
Edward Lavery was enlisted in Lisburn. He was living in Cookstown at the time.
Medal card
Private Edward Lavery was serving with the 2nd Battalion of the Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers when he was killed in action on Sunday 16th May 1915 during the Battle of Festubert.
At 9.00pm on the 16th May 1915 the 2nd Inniskillings formed up in breastworks for an attack, A and D Companies were in the front line with B and C in support. It was a costly attack which claimed the lives of two hundred and forty men.
Private Edward Lavery has no known grave and Edward is commemorated on the Le Touret Memorial in France.
Private Edward Lavery is also commemorated on the World War One Memorial tablet in Magheragall Parish Church, near Lisburn.
Magheragall WW1 War Memorial
The CWGC record Private Edward Lavery as the son of John Lavery of 10 Old Hillsborough Road, Lisburn, County. Antrim.
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Relevant Cookstown Area Locations
No Location Region Location Notes Longtitude Latitude
1 Cookstown area Cookstown Central Living in Cookstown area 54.646413 -6.747289
References and Links
No Link Reference Map Doc
1 1901 Census lists Lavery family 1901 census lists Edward as age 4, living with the family at house 35 in Ballyellough, Knocknadona, Antrim
2 1911 Census lists Lavery family 1911 census lists Edward as age 14, living with the family at house 34 in Young Street, Lisburn, Antrim
3 Magheragall Parish Church War Memorial Private Edward Lavery listed on Magheragall Memorial
4 National Archives UK Medal card can be purchased here
Cookstown District's War Dead Acknowledgements 2010-2023