Coagh and District in World War One

24/01/2019

From the Mid Ulster Mail dated 8th June 1918:

24/01/2019

But as long as life and memory last,

24/01/2019

We will remember thee’

24/01/2019

A lonely grave in a foreign land,

24/01/2019

Be laid in a soldier’s grave.

24/01/2019

We little though how soon he would

24/01/2019

He looked so strong and brave,

24/01/2019

Deeply regretted by his sorrowing uncle, aunt and cousins. Ballinahone, Bigbridge

24/01/2019

‘When last we saw his smiling face,

24/01/2019

JUNK – 7th June 1917. Killed in action, Private S J Junk, 9th Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers, son of Mr S Junk, Ballymaguire, Stewartstown.

24/01/2019

A grave we may never see,

24/01/2019

05/06/2017

He enlisted in Cookstown around 1915.

05/06/2017

Samuel Junk was the son of Samuel and Margaret Junk. Samuel Junk married Margaret Spratt on 26th October 1894.

05/06/2017

Samuel was the only confirmed child of Samuel and Margaret. He was born about 1897 in Ardboe.

05/06/2017

The 1901 census lists Samuel as age 4, living with the family at house 4 in Ballydawley, Springhill, County Londonderry. His father was a farm labourer.

05/06/2017

Margaret Junk died in the district of Moneymore on 23rd July 1902, aged 32. GRONI references (U/1902/183/1022/17/400) the death of new born twins Margaret and Sarah on 19th July 1902. It is not known if this was a related event.

05/06/2017

Samuel’s father, Samuel Junk, married Sarah Spratt on 13th November 1902 in the district of Cookstown. It seems plausible that this was Margaret’s younger sister.

05/06/2017

Samuel and Sarah went on to have at least three children.

05/06/2017

Known family 2: Samuel Junk, Sarah Ann Junk, William Junk (born 21st August 1904), Maggie Jane Junk (born 4th October 1906), Sarah Junk (born 18th August 1909).

05/06/2017

The 1911 census lists Samuel’s step-family as living at house 9 in Ballymaguire, Killycolpy, County Tyrone.

05/06/2017

The 1911 census lists Samuel as age 14, living with relatives at house 18 in Kilsally, Killycolpy, County Tyrone. He was still at school.

05/06/2017

Samuel Junk was living in Stewartstown at the outbreak of the war.

14/03/2016

The explosions were followed by nine divisions of infantry advancing under the cover of a creeping barrage of artillery fire.

14/03/2016

Private Samuel Junk was had served with the 9th Battalion of the Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers for nearly two years by the time of the Battle of Messines in 1917.

14/03/2016

For more than a year the allies had tunnelled under the German trenches and placed 455 tonnes (1,000,000 lb) of ammonal explosive. Twenty one mines were eventually placed under the German front lines. The detonation of the mines were all timed to go off at 3.10am on the morning of 7th June 1917, this was preceded by a heavy artillery bombardment. When 19 of the original 21 mines exploded, the noise was said to have been heard as far away as London, and was possibly the loudest man made noise up to that date. In Switzerland the explosions registered as an earthquake. Some estimates put the German casualties of the initial mine explosions at 10,000 men.

14/03/2016

The task of the 9th Inniskillings that day was to support the 11th Inniskillings in the advance and to push through to the far side of the village of Wytschaete.

14/03/2016

Private Samuel Junk was serving with the 9th Battalion of the Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers when he was killed in action on Thursday 7th June 1917.

14/03/2016

Private S Junk is buried in Irish House Cemetery in Belgium

14/03/2016

The two mines which failed to detonate on the morning of 7th June 1917 remained undetected until years after the war as details of their placements were lost, much to the discomfort of people who lived in the region. During a thunder storm on 17th June 1955 one of the mines detonated, the only casualty was a cow grazing in a field nearby. The second mine is thought to have been recently pinpointed, but is yet to be recovered.

14/03/2016

Last Will and Testament of Private Samuel Junk dated 3rd August 1916:

14/03/2016

The Battle of Messines was launched on 7th June 1917 by British General Herbert Plumer’s second army, which included the 36th (Ulster) and the 16th (Irish) Divisions, near the village of Mesen in Belgium. The target for the offensive was a ridge running north from Mesen village past Wytschaete village (which the Ulster and Irish Divisions eventually overran). The ridge was a natural stronghold southwest of Ypres.

30/12/2015

Eighteen men of the 9th Inniskillings died at the Battle of Messines.

30/12/2015

WILL: In the event of my death during active service, I leave all my property, money and effects to my father Mr Samuel Junk, Ballymaguire, Stewartstown, Co Tyrone. 17495-Private Samuel Junk no 3 Company Witness Private Thomas Jeffrey. Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers. 3 August 1916.

30/12/2015

Date	Information

24/01/2019	From the Mid Ulster Mail dated 8th June 1918:
24/01/2019	But as long as life and memory last,
24/01/2019	We will remember thee’
24/01/2019	A lonely grave in a foreign land,
24/01/2019	Be laid in a soldier’s grave.
24/01/2019	We little though how soon he would
24/01/2019	He looked so strong and brave,
24/01/2019	Deeply regretted by his sorrowing uncle, aunt and cousins. Ballinahone, Bigbridge
24/01/2019	‘When last we saw his smiling face,
24/01/2019	JUNK – 7th June 1917. Killed in action, Private S J Junk, 9th Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers, son of Mr S Junk, Ballymaguire, Stewartstown.
24/01/2019	A grave we may never see,
24/01/2019
05/06/2017	He enlisted in Cookstown around 1915.
05/06/2017	Samuel Junk was the son of Samuel and Margaret Junk. Samuel Junk married Margaret Spratt on 26th October 1894.
05/06/2017	Samuel was the only confirmed child of Samuel and Margaret. He was born about 1897 in Ardboe.
05/06/2017	The 1901 census lists Samuel as age 4, living with the family at house 4 in Ballydawley, Springhill, County Londonderry. His father was a farm labourer.
05/06/2017	Margaret Junk died in the district of Moneymore on 23rd July 1902, aged 32. GRONI references (U/1902/183/1022/17/400) the death of new born twins Margaret and Sarah on 19th July 1902. It is not known if this was a related event.
05/06/2017	Samuel’s father, Samuel Junk, married Sarah Spratt on 13th November 1902 in the district of Cookstown. It seems plausible that this was Margaret’s younger sister.
05/06/2017	Samuel and Sarah went on to have at least three children.
05/06/2017	Known family 2: Samuel Junk, Sarah Ann Junk, William Junk (born 21st August 1904), Maggie Jane Junk (born 4th October 1906), Sarah Junk (born 18th August 1909).
05/06/2017	The 1911 census lists Samuel’s step-family as living at house 9 in Ballymaguire, Killycolpy, County Tyrone.
05/06/2017	The 1911 census lists Samuel as age 14, living with relatives at house 18 in Kilsally, Killycolpy, County Tyrone. He was still at school.
05/06/2017	Samuel Junk was living in Stewartstown at the outbreak of the war.
14/03/2016	The explosions were followed by nine divisions of infantry advancing under the cover of a creeping barrage of artillery fire.
14/03/2016	Private Samuel Junk was had served with the 9th Battalion of the Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers for nearly two years by the time of the Battle of Messines in 1917.
14/03/2016	For more than a year the allies had tunnelled under the German trenches and placed 455 tonnes (1,000,000 lb) of ammonal explosive. Twenty one mines were eventually placed under the German front lines. The detonation of the mines were all timed to go off at 3.10am on the morning of 7th June 1917, this was preceded by a heavy artillery bombardment. When 19 of the original 21 mines exploded, the noise was said to have been heard as far away as London, and was possibly the loudest man made noise up to that date. In Switzerland the explosions registered as an earthquake. Some estimates put the German casualties of the initial mine explosions at 10,000 men.
14/03/2016	The task of the 9th Inniskillings that day was to support the 11th Inniskillings in the advance and to push through to the far side of the village of Wytschaete.
14/03/2016
14/03/2016
14/03/2016	Private Samuel Junk was serving with the 9th Battalion of the Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers when he was killed in action on Thursday 7th June 1917.
14/03/2016	Private S Junk is buried in Irish House Cemetery in Belgium
14/03/2016	The two mines which failed to detonate on the morning of 7th June 1917 remained undetected until years after the war as details of their placements were lost, much to the discomfort of people who lived in the region. During a thunder storm on 17th June 1955 one of the mines detonated, the only casualty was a cow grazing in a field nearby. The second mine is thought to have been recently pinpointed, but is yet to be recovered.
14/03/2016	Last Will and Testament of Private Samuel Junk dated 3rd August 1916:
14/03/2016	The Battle of Messines was launched on 7th June 1917 by British General Herbert Plumer’s second army, which included the 36th (Ulster) and the 16th (Irish) Divisions, near the village of Mesen in Belgium. The target for the offensive was a ridge running north from Mesen village past Wytschaete village (which the Ulster and Irish Divisions eventually overran). The ridge was a natural stronghold southwest of Ypres.
30/12/2015	Eighteen men of the 9th Inniskillings died at the Battle of Messines.
30/12/2015	WILL: In the event of my death during active service, I leave all my property, money and effects to my father Mr Samuel Junk, Ballymaguire, Stewartstown, Co Tyrone. 17495-Private Samuel Junk no 3 Company Witness Private Thomas Jeffrey. Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers. 3 August 1916.
30/12/2015
30/12/2015