Coagh and District in World War One

29/03/2021

Back left is Private Jim Marks. Back right is Private Thomas W Collins. Seated is Private Hiram Irwin. All three served with the North Irish Horse. All three survived the war. Photo courtesy of Dessie Gordon.

29/03/2021

26/02/2019

In 1914 he was section leader in E Company of the Cookstown Battalion of the Ulster Volunteer Force.

26/02/2019

Trooper T W Collins, of the North Irish Horse, has just paid a visit to his parents’ residence, Lower Coagh. He was called up at the outbreak of the war, and since then he has been mostly in France, serving some time as bodyguard to General French. He also took part in the retreat from Mons, and until a short time ago, when he contracted scarlet fever, Trooper Collins was doing one man’s part to help drive the German invaders back across the Rhine. He was some time in hospital both in France and England and on his recovery he was granted a fortnight leave home. He is feeling quite fit now and speaks well of the treatment he received in the different hospitals. He left home again on Thursday.

26/02/2019

From the Mid Ulster Mail dated 6th January 1918: Coagh

26/02/2019

Privates Thomas Creighton, Joseph Curry, James Mitchell, of the Inniskillings, and Trooper Matthew Hagan and Thomas Collins, North Irish Horse, spent Christmas with their friends at Coagh.

26/02/2019

The History of Coagh booklet lists Lance Corporal William T Collins as having served with the 1st North Irish Horse in the war.

26/02/2019

Thomas Collins was the eldest son of Thomas and Elizabeth Collins. Thomas Collins and Elizabeth Glendenning were married on 28th August 1888 in the district of Cookstown.

26/02/2019

Thomas William Collins was born on 2nd January 1892. He was second oldest of ten children, all born in Coagh.

26/02/2019

The 1901 census lists Thomas William as age 9, living with the family at house 10 in Coagh, County Tyrone. His father was a farmer.

26/02/2019

From the Mid Ulster Mail dated 26th June 1915: Coagh

26/02/2019

The 1911 census lists Thomas as age 18, living with the family at house 9 in Coagh, Tyrone, Thomas is already serving as a Yeoman with the army.

26/02/2019

Thomas Collins enlisted in the North Irish Horse between 20 August and 16 September 1910.

26/02/2019

He was called up at the outbreak of the war.

26/02/2019

Trooper Collins embarked for France with A Squadron on 17 August 1914, seeing action on the retreat from Mons and advance to the Aisne.

26/02/2019

Early in the war, Trooper Collins spent some time as bodyguard to General French.

26/02/2019

Trooper Collins remained with the North Irish Horse throughout the war.

26/02/2019

On 2 March 1919 he was transferred to Class Z, Army Reserve.

26/02/2019

He also contracted scarlet fever in 1915. He was some time in hospital both in France and England. On his recovery he was granted a fortnight leave home.

26/02/2019

Trooper Collins latterly served with the Corps of Hussars, with the Service No 71033

26/02/2019

Trooper Collins spent Christmas 1918 at home on furlough with his family.

26/02/2019

Known family: Thomas Collins, Elizabeth Collins, Catherine Collins (born 18th November 1889), Thomas William Collins (born 2nd January 1892), Charles Collins (born 13th June 1894), James Collins (born 27th January 1897), Mary Collins (born 30th September 1899), Rachel M Collins (born 30th March 1902), John Collins (born 16th July 1905), Margaret A Collins (born 16th July 1905), Arthur Collins (born 28th September 1908), Elizabeth Collins (born 17th May 1911).

Date	Information

29/03/2021	Back left is Private Jim Marks. Back right is Private Thomas W Collins. Seated is Private Hiram Irwin. All three served with the North Irish Horse. All three survived the war. Photo courtesy of Dessie Gordon.
29/03/2021
29/03/2021
26/02/2019	In 1914 he was section leader in E Company of the Cookstown Battalion of the Ulster Volunteer Force.
26/02/2019
26/02/2019	Trooper T W Collins, of the North Irish Horse, has just paid a visit to his parents’ residence, Lower Coagh. He was called up at the outbreak of the war, and since then he has been mostly in France, serving some time as bodyguard to General French. He also took part in the retreat from Mons, and until a short time ago, when he contracted scarlet fever, Trooper Collins was doing one man’s part to help drive the German invaders back across the Rhine. He was some time in hospital both in France and England and on his recovery he was granted a fortnight leave home. He is feeling quite fit now and speaks well of the treatment he received in the different hospitals. He left home again on Thursday.
26/02/2019	From the Mid Ulster Mail dated 6th January 1918: Coagh
26/02/2019
26/02/2019	Privates Thomas Creighton, Joseph Curry, James Mitchell, of the Inniskillings, and Trooper Matthew Hagan and Thomas Collins, North Irish Horse, spent Christmas with their friends at Coagh.
26/02/2019	The History of Coagh booklet lists Lance Corporal William T Collins as having served with the 1st North Irish Horse in the war.
26/02/2019
26/02/2019	Thomas Collins was the eldest son of Thomas and Elizabeth Collins. Thomas Collins and Elizabeth Glendenning were married on 28th August 1888 in the district of Cookstown.
26/02/2019	Thomas William Collins was born on 2nd January 1892. He was second oldest of ten children, all born in Coagh.
26/02/2019	The 1901 census lists Thomas William as age 9, living with the family at house 10 in Coagh, County Tyrone. His father was a farmer.
26/02/2019	From the Mid Ulster Mail dated 26th June 1915: Coagh
26/02/2019	The 1911 census lists Thomas as age 18, living with the family at house 9 in Coagh, Tyrone, Thomas is already serving as a Yeoman with the army.
26/02/2019	Thomas Collins enlisted in the North Irish Horse between 20 August and 16 September 1910.
26/02/2019	He was called up at the outbreak of the war.
26/02/2019	Trooper Collins embarked for France with A Squadron on 17 August 1914, seeing action on the retreat from Mons and advance to the Aisne.
26/02/2019	Early in the war, Trooper Collins spent some time as bodyguard to General French.
26/02/2019	Trooper Collins remained with the North Irish Horse throughout the war.
26/02/2019	On 2 March 1919 he was transferred to Class Z, Army Reserve.
26/02/2019	He also contracted scarlet fever in 1915. He was some time in hospital both in France and England. On his recovery he was granted a fortnight leave home.
26/02/2019	Trooper Collins latterly served with the Corps of Hussars, with the Service No 71033
26/02/2019	Trooper Collins spent Christmas 1918 at home on furlough with his family.
26/02/2019	Known family: Thomas Collins, Elizabeth Collins, Catherine Collins (born 18th November 1889), Thomas William Collins (born 2nd January 1892), Charles Collins (born 13th June 1894), James Collins (born 27th January 1897), Mary Collins (born 30th September 1899), Rachel M Collins (born 30th March 1902), John Collins (born 16th July 1905), Margaret A Collins (born 16th July 1905), Arthur Collins (born 28th September 1908), Elizabeth Collins (born 17th May 1911).