| Samuel McIlree was listed on Panel Two of the World War One memorial in Coagh Orange Hall to those who served. He was one of eight brothers who served, four of whom were listed on the memorial.
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| Samuel McIlree was the son of John and Eliza Martha McIlree (nee McGee).
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| Samuel was born on 18th July 1884 in the Coagh area.
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| Known family: John McIlree, Eliza Martha McIlree, Herbert McIlree, Andrew McIlree (born about 1871, Ardboe), Elizabeth McIlree (born 14th February 1871), John McIlree (16th October 1872), William McIlree (born 21st January 1875), Robert McIlree (born 28th May 1877), David McIlree (born 27th September 1879), Hessie McIlree (born 26th May 1882), Samuel McIlree (born 18th July 1884), Leslie McIlree (born 27th May 1886), Mary Martha McIlree (born about 1889), Alexander Sandy McIlree (born 29th September 1890), Maggie Agnes McIlree (born 3rd June 1893).
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| The 1901 census does not list Samuel as living with the family at house 6 in Duffless in Tullaghogue, County Tyrone. John McIlree was an agricultural labourer.
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| The 1911 census does not list Samuel as living with the family at house 23 in Tullyveagh, Red Row Village, Coagh, Tyrone.
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| Gunner Samuel McIlree left with his unit for France on 9th September 1914.
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| Gunner Samuel McIlree served with the 24th Heavy Battery of the Royal Garrison Artillery in World War One.
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| From the Mid Ulster Mail dated 23rd January 1915:
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| Mrs McIlree of Drapersfield, Cookstown, has eight sons serving in the army at present, which probably constitutes a record for County Tyrone. John and David are at present at Randalstown, in the 9th Battalion of the Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers; Herbert and Andrew are in the North Irish Horse; Leslie is in the 6th Battalion of the Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers; which has gone to the front lately; William is in the Welsh Mountain Artillery; Sandy is in the 3rd Battalion of the Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers and Samuel is in the Field Artillery at the front. Three of them (John, David and Andrew) have South African war medals. John and Andrew were also in the Indian frontier war, 1897-98.
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| From the Mid Ulster Mail dated 26th June 1915: Gunner Samuel McIlree
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| Gunner Samuel McIlree, Royal Field Artillery, writing to his wife, Mrs McIlree, Drapersfield says:-
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| ‘We had a big day’s bombarding here on 16th June, and I am glad to say the victory was for us as we took three lines of trenches from the Germans, but we lost a good few of our men during the charge, and we are waiting on them making a counter attack. It was something terrible for twelve hours, but we got what we wanted, and are still holding it. We have got great praise from General French for our work in the charge. We want all the men we can get here at present as it is the stronghold of the fighting line. The Germans have done their best to break through but have still been beaten back. The Germans are a treacherous lot of baby killers and gas users, but thank God the gas sometimes goes back to their own trenches. The last bombardment here was simply awful with bursting shrapnel and gas shells, but we escaped with a few wounded. Some of our battery have won the V.C. for bravery on the field. My overcoat is like a lemon from the smoke of the gas shells, but I am thankful that I have such good luck so far.’
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