Cpl
David John McAulay
Information about birth
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Year of birth: 1882 |
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Place of birth: Ballycastle, County Antrim, Belgium |
General information
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Last known residence: Castlesaunderson, County Cavan, Ireland, United Kingdom |
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Profession: Game keeper |
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Religion: Church of Ireland |
Army information
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Country: Verenigd Koninkrijk |
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Force: British Expeditionary Force |
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Rank: Corporal |
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Service number: 340 |
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Enlistment place: Belfast, County Antrim, Ireland, United Kingdom |
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Units: — Royal Irish Rifles, 13th Bn. (1st County Down) (Last known unit) |
Information about death
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Date of death: 16/08/1917 |
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Place of death: Somme - Wiesengut, Saint-Julien, Belgium |
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Cause of death: Killed in action (K.I.A.) |
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Age: 35 |
Cemetery
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Tyne Cot Cemetery Plot: VII Row: G Grave: 16 |
Distinctions and medals 3
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1914-15 Star Medal |
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British War Medal Medal |
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Victory Medal Medal |
Points of interest 5
| #1 | Place of birth | ||
| #2 | Last known residence | ||
| #3 | Place of work | ||
| #4 | Enlistment place | ||
| #5 | Place of death (approximate) |
My story
David John McAulay was born around 1882 in Ballycastle, a small coastal town at the northeastern tip of Ireland, in County Antrim. In March 1901, the 19-year-old enlisted in the Royal Irish Fusiliers.
In November 1907, David was called as a witness in a trespassing case. The McAulay family was then living in Castlesaunderson near Belturbet, in County Cavan, where David worked as a gamekeeper and his father as a land steward on the estate of Captain Somerset Francis Saunderson, the High Sheriff of County Cavan. Saunderson’s father had been a lieutenant-colonel in the Royal Irish Fusiliers; the same regiment in which David had served a few years earlier.
David testified against Patrick Fitzpatrick, who, during a hunt, had pursued game and unlawfully entered the Saunderson family's land. Fitzpatrick was sentenced to seven days in jail and fined five shillings; the equivalent of a full week’s groceries for a modest household.
In 1912, David signed the Ulster Covenant, a document in which he declared his opposition to Irish Home Rule.
With the outbreak of the First World War, David volunteered for the British Expeditionary Force in Belfast, listing Belturbet, County Cavan, as his place of residence. From October 1915, he served on the Western Front with the 13th Battalion (1st County Down) of the Royal Irish Rifles, part of the 108th Brigade within the 36th (Ulster) Division.
On 16 October 1917, the 36th (Ulster) Division took up positions just south of the village of Sint-Juliaan. The division advanced with two brigades: the 109th Brigade on the left flank and the 108th Brigade on the right. On their right was the 16th (Irish) Division. The 108th Brigade battalions taking part in the attack were the 9th Royal Irish Fusiliers and the 13th Royal Irish Rifles; the 12th Royal Irish Rifles were in support and the 11th was held in reserve.
At 4:45 a.m., the attack began. The 13th Royal Irish Rifles advanced behind a creeping artillery barrage but could not keep pace due to the swampy terrain. The battlefield was littered with water-filled shell craters and flooded trenches. On top of these difficulties, the front lines came under heavy machine-gun and rifle fire from bunkers at Somme Farm. The men managed to pass Somme but could not capture it, forcing the companies to dig in nearby.
Support and reserve units were sent forward to reinforce the assault, but their advance was heavily hindered by machine-gun fire from Gallipoli, Hindu Cottage, and Aisne Farm on the right, and from Pond Farm and again Hindu Cottage on the left. One hour after the attack began, the battalion withdrew to its original positions. The survivors were regrouped, and reinforced by men from battalion headquarters, another attempt was made to capture Somme, in vain. The renewed assault was quickly shattered by intense German crossfire, and the troops withdrew once more. The battalions of the 108th Brigade became scattered and intermingled along their original line. Officers reorganized the troops and began to consolidate the position. The next day, the 107th Brigade relieved the 108th.
The attack was an outright disaster. The two Irish divisions made scarcely any noticeable progress. No further attacks were carried out by the 36th (Ulster) Division on 16 October.
Corporal David John McAulay, aged 35, was killed in action on 16 October 1917. He was initially buried near Somme. After the war, he was given his final resting place at Tyne Cot Cemetery, Plot VII, Row G, Grave 16.
In November 1907, David was called as a witness in a trespassing case. The McAulay family was then living in Castlesaunderson near Belturbet, in County Cavan, where David worked as a gamekeeper and his father as a land steward on the estate of Captain Somerset Francis Saunderson, the High Sheriff of County Cavan. Saunderson’s father had been a lieutenant-colonel in the Royal Irish Fusiliers; the same regiment in which David had served a few years earlier.
David testified against Patrick Fitzpatrick, who, during a hunt, had pursued game and unlawfully entered the Saunderson family's land. Fitzpatrick was sentenced to seven days in jail and fined five shillings; the equivalent of a full week’s groceries for a modest household.
In 1912, David signed the Ulster Covenant, a document in which he declared his opposition to Irish Home Rule.
With the outbreak of the First World War, David volunteered for the British Expeditionary Force in Belfast, listing Belturbet, County Cavan, as his place of residence. From October 1915, he served on the Western Front with the 13th Battalion (1st County Down) of the Royal Irish Rifles, part of the 108th Brigade within the 36th (Ulster) Division.
On 16 October 1917, the 36th (Ulster) Division took up positions just south of the village of Sint-Juliaan. The division advanced with two brigades: the 109th Brigade on the left flank and the 108th Brigade on the right. On their right was the 16th (Irish) Division. The 108th Brigade battalions taking part in the attack were the 9th Royal Irish Fusiliers and the 13th Royal Irish Rifles; the 12th Royal Irish Rifles were in support and the 11th was held in reserve.
At 4:45 a.m., the attack began. The 13th Royal Irish Rifles advanced behind a creeping artillery barrage but could not keep pace due to the swampy terrain. The battlefield was littered with water-filled shell craters and flooded trenches. On top of these difficulties, the front lines came under heavy machine-gun and rifle fire from bunkers at Somme Farm. The men managed to pass Somme but could not capture it, forcing the companies to dig in nearby.
Support and reserve units were sent forward to reinforce the assault, but their advance was heavily hindered by machine-gun fire from Gallipoli, Hindu Cottage, and Aisne Farm on the right, and from Pond Farm and again Hindu Cottage on the left. One hour after the attack began, the battalion withdrew to its original positions. The survivors were regrouped, and reinforced by men from battalion headquarters, another attempt was made to capture Somme, in vain. The renewed assault was quickly shattered by intense German crossfire, and the troops withdrew once more. The battalions of the 108th Brigade became scattered and intermingled along their original line. Officers reorganized the troops and began to consolidate the position. The next day, the 107th Brigade relieved the 108th.
The attack was an outright disaster. The two Irish divisions made scarcely any noticeable progress. No further attacks were carried out by the 36th (Ulster) Division on 16 October.
Corporal David John McAulay, aged 35, was killed in action on 16 October 1917. He was initially buried near Somme. After the war, he was given his final resting place at Tyne Cot Cemetery, Plot VII, Row G, Grave 16.
Sources 7
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13 Battalion Royal Irish Rifles (The National Archives, KEW (TNA), WO 95/2506/3). https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/ Sources used |
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British Army World War I Medal Rolls Index Cards, 1914-1920 (The National Archives, Kew (TNA), WO372). https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/ Sources used |
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Census of Ireland 1901/1911 (The National Archives of Ireland, Dublin (NAI)). https://www.nationalarchives.ie/ Sources used |
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Ireland, Petty Session Court Registers, 1818-1919 (The National Archives of Ireland, Dublin (NAI), CSPS 1/2540-2579). https://www.nationalarchives.ie/ Sources used |
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McCarthy Chris., Passchendaele. The Day-by-Day Account (London, Unicorn Publishing Group, 2018) 52-55. Sources used |
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Ulster Covenant 1912 (Public Records Office of Northern Ireland, Belfast (PRONI)). https://www.nidirect.gov.uk/campaigns/public-record-office-northern-ireland-proni Sources used |
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War Office: Soldiers' Documents (The National Archives, Kew (TNA) WO363). https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/ Sources used |
More information 3
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Commonwealth War Graves Commission Database https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/casualty-details/463709 |
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Namenlijst (In Flanders Fields Museum) https://namenlijst.org/publicsearch/#/person/_id=2d724d81-d9db-4861-867d-f774e0f165d8 |
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Lives of the First World War (Imperial War Museum) https://livesofthefirstworldwar.iwm.org.uk/lifestory/2743905 |