| 30/03/2019 |
Driver Harry Devlin, Royal Field Artillery, who for the past seven months, has been in the thick of the fighting in France, has arrived at his home in Coagh Street, Cookstown, for a rest. He is a native of Ardboe and was on the reserve when the present war broke out. He was employed by Messrs Mason, Cookstown, and was married to Miss McElhone, Coagh Street. He passed unharmed through the Boer War (which he says was not a patch upon the present campaign) and has had the good fortune to have so far escaped injury. He gives many hair breadth escapes however, and relates many interesting experiences of life at the front and the conduct of hostilities. These however he is opposed to making public. He frequently came into contact with an Ardboe man, an old schoolmate of his own, named Lynn, whom he says is going on well, although in the fighting line for twelve months. He was also through the South African campaign. A Gortalowry man named Taylor was also a chum and is doing well. Driver Devlin, whose comrades sometimes designate him ‘The Wild Irishman’, is looking fit and well. He returns to his unit on 30th September. |
