John Harkin likeness

John Harkin cap badgePrivate John Harkin

8th (Service) Battalion Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers
Service No: 25558

John Harkin grave

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Personal details

Family Information

Son of Patrick Harkin and Maggie Jane Harkin of 34 Fahan St, Derry. John's younger brother Private Joseph Harkin (3678) of the same Battalion as John was Killed in Action on the 16/08/1917 (one year after his brother). He is remembered on the Tyne Cot Memorial. From the 1901 Ireland Census - Address - 56 Fahan Street, No. 4 Urban, West Ward, Londonderry - Patrick Harkin aged 40, Margaret Harkin aged 30, John Harkin aged 18, James Harkin aged 16, Joseph Harkin aged 7, Hugh Harkin aged 9, Patrick Harkin aged 14, Maggie Harkin aged 4. From the 1911 Ireland Census - Address - 1 Gallaghers Square, Londonderry Urban (4), Londonderry - Margaret Harkin aged 45, John Harkin aged 24, Margaret aged 14, Hugh Harkin aged 18. John and his brother Joseph's Pension was awarded to their mother Margaret and their younger sister Maggie.

Born / Resided

Londonderry / 10 Kirk St, Coatbridge.

Died

Died of Wounds on the 04/08/1916 at the 33rd Casualty Clearing Station, Bethune

Enlisted

Londonderry

Employed

General Labourer in 1911 in Londonderry

Age

31

Buried / Remembered

Bethune Town Cemetery (V. G. 88), Pas de Calais, France.

Cemetery / Memorial Information

For much of the First World War, Bethune was comparatively free from bombardment and remained an important railway and hospital centre, as well as a corps and divisional headquarters. The 33rd Casualty Clearing Station was in the town until December 1917. Early in 1918, Bethune began to suffer from constant shell fire and in April 1918, German forces reached Locon, five kilometres to the north. The bombardment of 21 May did great damage to the town and it was not till October that pressure from the Germans was relaxed. Bethune Town Cemetery contains 3,004 Commonwealth burials of the First World War,11 being unidentified. This icludes 26 men of the 1/8th Manchester Regiment who were killed by a bomb on 22 December 1917 while marching to rest billets. There are also 122 French and 87 German war graves, 38 of the German burials are unidentified.

Additional Information

The Battalion arrived at Le Havre on the 20/02/1915 and were part of the 49th Brigade, 16th (Irish) Division. SEE PHOTOS x 20 FOR THE 8th (SERVICE) BATTALION ROYAL INNISKILLING FUSILIERS WAR DIARY FEBRUARY - AUGUST 1916. John is listed as HARKEN on the Coatbridge Memorial. He is also remembered in the St. Augustine's Parish (book) Roll of Honour and on the Diamond War Memorial, Londonderry with his brother Joseph (see photos). See photos for John's Medal Index Card, the 1901 Ireland Census, the 1911 Ireland Census, his CWGC Grave Registration x 2, his Headstone Report, his Army Register of Soldiers Effects, his Service Medal and Award Rolls, John and his brother Joseph's names on the Ireland Casualties of WW1, John mentioned in the Diamond War Memorial Register, John and his brother Joseph's Pension Records x 4, the Diamond War Memorial, Londonderry, John and his brother Joseph listed on the Diamond War Memorial, Londonderry x 2, Bethune Town Cemetery and the Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers Cap Badge. Finally, see photos for John's younger brother Joseph's Medal Index Card, his CWGC Grave Registration, his name on the Tyne Cot Memorial Panel List, Tyne Cot Cemetery and Memorial, an aerial view of Tyne Cot Cemetery and Memorial, his name on the Tyne Cot Memorial, his Army Register of Soldiers Effects, his Service Medal and Award Rolls x 2, Joseph mentioned in the Diamond War Memorial Register and Joseph's Will x 2. SEE PHOTOS x 8 FOR THE 8th (SERVICE) BATTALION ROYAL INNISKILLING FUSILIERS WAR DIARY AUGUST 1917.

Photos
John Harkin Medal Index CardJohn Harkin newspaper clippingJohn Harkin newspaper clippingJohn Harkin remembered at homeJohn Harkin remembered at homeJohn Harkin remembered at homeJohn Harkin remembered at homeJohn Harkin additional photoJohn Harkin additional photoJohn Harkin additional photoJohn Harkin additional photoJohn Harkin additional photoJohn Harkin additional photoJohn Harkin additional photoJohn Harkin additional photoJohn Harkin additional photoJohn Harkin additional photoJohn Harkin additional photoJohn Harkin additional photoJohn Harkin additional photoJohn Harkin additional photoJohn Harkin additional photoJohn Harkin additional photoJohn Harkin additional photoJohn Harkin additional photoJohn Harkin additional photoJohn Harkin additional photoJohn Harkin additional photoJohn Harkin additional photoJohn Harkin additional photoJohn Harkin additional photoJohn Harkin additional photoJohn Harkin additional photoJohn Harkin additional photoJohn Harkin additional photoJohn Harkin additional photoJohn Harkin additional photoJohn Harkin additional photoJohn Harkin additional photoJohn Harkin additional photoJohn Harkin additional photoJohn Harkin additional photoJohn Harkin additional photoJohn Harkin additional photoJohn Harkin additional photoJohn Harkin additional photoJohn Harkin additional photoJohn Harkin additional photoJohn Harkin additional photoJohn Harkin additional photoJohn Harkin additional photoJohn Harkin additional photoJohn Harkin additional photoJohn Harkin additional photoJohn Harkin additional photoJohn Harkin additional photoJohn Harkin additional photoJohn Harkin additional photoJohn Harkin additional photo

War Diaries

The battalion War Diary is available on the National Archives website.

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