The History of Coagh booklet lists Sergeant Patrick Corr as having served with the Argyle and Sutherland Highlanders in the war.
|
|
Patrick Corr was born about 1885.
|
Patrick Corr enlisted as a young man and fought in the South African War, for which he was awarded the Queen’s medal.
|
Patrick Corr and Jane McIvor / McKeever were married on 29th August 1905 in the district of Cookstown. Patrick and Jane had three children, all born in Coagh.
|
Known family: Patrick Corr, Jane Corr, Gerald Corr (born 7th May 1906), Francis Corr (born 14th June 1909), Joseph Corr (born 5th May 1911).
|
The 1911 census lists Patrick as age 26, living with his wife and family at house 5 in Hanover Street, Coagh, County Tyrone. Patrick was described as a farm servant and an Army Reservist with the Argyle and Sutherland Highlanders.
|
Prior to the war, he was employed by Messrs Elliott and Son.
|
Private Corr was amongst the first to be called to active service. He arrived in France on 11th August 1914, where he took part in the retreat from Mons.
|
Later, in the heavy fighting in the Loos district, he was wounded in both legs. After spending some time in an Amiens hospital, he re-joined his battalion.
|
By this time his time had been completed with the Argyle and Sutherland Highlanders and he returned to England.
|
From the Mid Ulster Mail dated 12th June 1915: Curious Accident at Coagh
|
|
At Coagh on Sunday Francis Corr, aged seven years old, son of Lance Corporal Corr, Argyle and Sutherland Highlanders, met with severe injuries. It appears that James Kempton, in the employment of Messrs J R Elliott & Son, went out to one of Messrs Elliott’s fields to feed some horses, and the little boy and his brother accompanied him. Just as they got inside the gate one of the horses reared up on his hind legs and came down on the boy’s head, with one of his fore feet breaking his skull. Dr Elliott, Cookstown, was quickly in attendance, and after first aid treatment, had the injured boy removed to Cookstown Infirmary. He was found to have sustained two dented fractures, and these were successfully operated upon by Dr Graves and Elliott. The little sufferer is in a dangerous condition, but should septic complications not supervene, there is every hope for his recovery.
|
Soon after though, he joined up again, this time with the Scottish Rifles.
|
In June 1916 found him back in the mud of Flanders, where on 1st July he was again wounded in the left arm. After coming out of hospital he was sent back to the trenches, and was in time for the battle of the Somme, where on 29th October he got wounded the third time, also in the arm, and he has since been in hospital in Leeds.
|
Corporal Corr recovered and returned to the front.
|
Corporal Patrick Corr won the Military Medal, being the first soldier from Coagh to gain the coveted trophy.
|
From the Mid Ulster Mail dated 2nd December 1916: Coagh
|
|
Corporal Paddy Corr, 5th (Territorial) Scottish Rifles, is at home with his wife, who resides in Coagh. He has been in the thick of the fight almost from the beginning, and has been wounded three times. Corporal Corr was a reserve man, and had been through the South African War, for which he wears the Queen’s medal. Before the present war broke out he was employed by Messrs Elliott and Son, and was amongst the first to be called to active service. Arriving in France on 11th August 1914, he took part in the retreat from Mons. Later in the heavy fighting in the Loos district, he got wounded in both legs. And after spending some time in an Amiens hospital, he joined his battalion. By this time his time had been completed with the Argyle and Sutherland Highlanders and he returned to England. Soon after, he joined this time the Scottish Rifles, and June 1916 found him back in the mud of Flanders, where on 1st July he was again wounded in the left arm. After coming out of hospital he was sent back to the trenches, and was in time for the battle of the Somme, where on 29th October he got wounded the third time, also in the arm, and he has since been in hospital in Leeds. He is now in good health and spirits, and says he is longing to get back to the thick of it. He has won the Military Medal, being the first soldier from Coagh to gain the coveted trophy.
|
From the Belfast Newsletter dated 4th December 1916: Military Medal
|
|
The Military Medal for bravery in the field has been awarded to Corporal Patrick Corr, Cameronians (Scottish Rifles), whose wife resides in Coagh. Corporal Corr has been thrice wounded in the war, the last occasion been on 29th October. He was through the Boer War and re-joined the Army in 1914 as a reservist. Prior to that time he was employed by Messrs Elliott & Son. Corporal Corr is at present on leave in Coagh.
|
By 1918, it seems Patrick had been promoted to Sergeant.
|
From the Mid Ulster Mail dated 24th August 1918: Coagh
|
|
Sergeant Patrick Kerr, Scottish Rifles, who has been on leave with his wife at Coagh, has returned to France. He has been in the danger zone since the early days of the war, and is still in good health and spirits.
|
|