| Date |
Information |
|
| 23/03/2019 |
Thomas Harkness died on 1st March 1972 at at Marcom Manoy Nursing Home, Riverview, Minnesota, U.S.A. His last address was 13090 Irene Street, Southgate Michigan 48192, USA. Records state his widow was called Effie. |
| 23/03/2019 |
Thomas Harkness was the youngest son of William and Jane Harkness. William Harkness and Jane Lees were married on 8th November 1883 in the district of Cookstown. |
| 23/03/2019 |
Thomas Harkness was born on 1st June 1900. He was the youngest of eight children, all born in the Coagh area. |
| 23/03/2019 |
Known family: William Harkness, Jane Harkness, Margaret Harkness (born 12th September 1884), Mary Charlotte Harkness (born 25th April 1886), John Harkness (born 8th March 1888), William A Harkness (born 4th May 1890), Andrew Harkness (born 29th May 1892), Anna I Harkness (born 2nd June 1895), Samuel Harkness (born 3rd June 1897), Thomas Harkness (born 1st June 1900). |
| 23/03/2019 |
The 1901 census lists Thomas, a baby living with the family at house 2 in Killygonlan, Munterevlin, County Tyrone. Killygonlan is in the Ardboe area. His father was a farmer. |
| 23/03/2019 |
The 1911 census lists Thomas as age 10, living with the family at house 2 in Killygonlan, Ardboe. |
| 23/03/2019 |
The military records available are somewhat contradictory but below is the interpreted version. |
| 23/03/2019 |
Thomas Harkness enlisted, it seems, with the North Irish Horse on 4th January 1917 in Antrim. |
| 23/03/2019 |
Private Thomas Harkness had numerous problems in his brief time in the army. |
| 23/03/2019 |
He became ill during training. A note from the doctor states:- |
| 23/03/2019 |
‘He states that he got a wetting when out with the troops at Antrim. He felt cold and shivery. Later pains emerged in joints. Report sick to me. I examined him, diagnosed rheumatic fever and sent him by ambulance to Military Hoaspital Victoria Barracks, Belfast. On returning from hospital I examined him 28/8/1917 and found him as stated.’ |
| 23/03/2019 |
On 5th October 1917 he was transferred to the Employment Company. |
| 23/03/2019 |
Private Thomas Harkness was discharged on 13th December 1917. He was 19 years old. The reason for his discharge was a disability as a result of active service. He had contracted vascular disease of the heart following acute rheumatism. |
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On 30th October 1917 he was transferred to 395 Company of the Labour Corps. |
| 23/03/2019 |
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The initial page of his military documents state he was with the Royal Irish Rifles but no mention of the regiment occurs in the records. |
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| 22/03/2019 |
The History of Coagh booklet lists Private Thomas Harkness as having served with the 3rd Royal Irish Rifles in the war. |
| 22/03/2019 |
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