Friends of the Somme - Mid Ulster Branch  
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Updates for Corporal Robert Forde
Date Information
03/04/2024
12/10/2018 L.O.L. No. 325 met in the Orange Hall on Friday evening, the W.M. presiding, several candidates were passed for the next meeting. The W.M. said since their last meeting, death had claimed one of their members, Corporal R Forde, 9th Battalion of the Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers. The lodge has lost one of it’s most best members. A vote of sympathy was passed to the deceased’s father, the members standing. The 1st of July parade was arranged. A social meeting followed.
12/10/2018
12/10/2018 From the Mid Ulster Mail dated 12th June 1915: Pomeroy
29/08/2018 The remains of Corporal Robert Forde, of the 9th Battalion Inniskilling Fusiliers, stationed at Randalstown, were buried with full military honours in Antrim Cemetery on Saturday. The deceased, who was a native of Bardahessiagh, Pomeroy, was a young man of sterling character, and was a general favourite in the camp. He had been an esteemed section leader of the Pomeroy Company, Dungannon Battalion, U.V.F, and on volunteering for service with the Inniskillings, was rapidly promoted. He became ill with scarlet fever a short time ago, and was removed to Antrim Hospital, where he died. A detachment of officers and men from Randalstown attended the funeral, and wreaths were sent by the officers and men of the battalion. The coffin, which was covered with a Union Jack, was borne on a gun carriage, which was preceded by a detachment of the deceased’s comrades and band with muffled drums. The father of the deceased and Lieutenant Colonel R T G Lowry, D.L., Pomeroy House, followed immediately behind the coffin, and there was a large attendance of the general public. The services were conducted by Rev W A Adams, B.A., chaplain of the forces, Antrim, and Rev George Kelly, B.A., of Pomeroy, and the last named paid a tribute at the graveside to the esteem in which the deceased had been held in his native district. The solemn service at the grave was concluded by the sounding of the Last Post by the buglers.
29/08/2018
29/08/2018 From the Mid Ulster Mail dated 5th June 1915: Pomeroy Volunteer’s Death
08/08/2018 Lance Corporal Forde is at present on a visit home from the Randalstown camp. Before volunteering for Kitchener’s Army he was a section leader of the local companies of Pomeroy U.V.F, and one of the best in the force, and his success, and the honoured promotion he has gained, is hailed with delight by all his comrades in Pomeroy.
08/08/2018
08/08/2018 From the Mid Ulster Mail dated 17th April 1915:
10/05/2017 Prior to enlisting, Robert Forde was a section leader with Pomeroy Company of Ulster Volunteers.
10/05/2017 The CWGC list Corporal Robert Forde as the husband of Anna Forde. It is not known how accurate this information is.
10/05/2017 It is believed Robert was born in the Rock area on 20th December 1888. He was one of three sons. There is some doubt because GRONI does not list the first names of the three sons.
10/05/2017 Possible family: Robert Forde, Annie Forde, Unknown male (born 15th November 1882), Thomas G Forde (born 3rd October 1884), Robert Forde (born 20th December 1888).
10/05/2017 The 1901 census lists Robert as 11 years old, living with the family at house 16 in Bardahessiagh, The Rock, County Tyrone. They were a farming family.
10/05/2017 The 1911 census lists Robert as 22 years old, living with the family at house 4 in Bardahessiagh, Rock. Robert was working on his father’s farm.
10/05/2017 Robert joined with the 9th Battalion of the Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers at Finner Camp, Ballyshannon, County Donegal.
10/05/2017 Robert attained the rank of Corporal.
10/05/2017 While the battalion was training at Randalstown, County Antrim, Corporal Robert Forde contracted scarlet fever and was taken to hospital in Antrim town where he died of his illness on 27th May 1915.
10/05/2017 Robert was the youngest son of Robert and Annie Forde. Robert Forde married Annie Gibson on 24th December 1879 in the district of Cookstown.
10/05/2017 The CWGC record Corporal Robert Forde as the son of Robert Forde of Bardahessiagh, Pomeroy, County Tyrone.
10/05/2017 Corporal Robert Forde is interred in Antrim Cemetery, County Antrim.
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