Died
27 September 1918
Born
c1898
Sources
Ancestry
Barrow News
Hutton "Kitchener's Men" (Pen & Sword) 2008
Place
Walks
Themes
Lance Corporal John William Ireland
K.O.R.L.
Hutton mentions his death in “Kitchener’s Men” (Pen & Sword) 2008: “Sergeant George Inman and Private (sic) John Ireland from Ulverston were both killed in the fighting on 27 September. So was Private Thomas Smith from Barrow.” p200. According to this source, they were aiming to gain 3000 yards through the heavily defended Hindenburg Line.
In Loving Memory of
EDWARD, BELOVED HUSBAND OF
ESTHER ANNIE BALDERSTONE,
DIED 28TH NOVEMBER 1938, AGED 62 YEARS
ALSO OF THE ABOVE ESTHER ANNIE BALDERSTONE
DIED 23RD AUGUST 1941, AGED 69 YEARS
“AT REST”
ALSO OF L/CPL. JOHN W. IRELAND
NEPHEW OF THE ABOVE,
KILLED IN ACTION IN FRANCE, 27TH SEPT 1918,
AGED 20 YEARS.
The Barrow News 12 October 1918 reported:
LANCE-CORPL. JACK IRELAND
Mr. and Mrs. Balderstone, of 7, Newton-street, Ulverston, have received an unofficial intimation that their nephew, Lance-Corporal John (Jack) William Ireland, K.O.R.L., was killed in action in France on the 27th Sept., two days prior to his 20th birthday. The sad news was communicated in a letter of sympathy from the sergeant of the deceased’s platoon. The deceased soldier joined up on the 1st August, 1917, and went to France last December. He was wounded on the 7th of April last, and was recently recommended for the Military Medal for gallantry. At the time of enlistment he was an apprentice plater at the Barrow Shipyard, and previously was in the employ of Henry Riley, Ltd. He was the son of Mr. John Isaac Ireland, now in Toronto, and since the death of his mother 14 years ago had resided with his aunt at the address above mentioned.
The following week the Barrow News 19 October 1918 repeated the above, (alongside his picture) his death having been officially confirmed, and quoted the letter thus: “He was a very good lad, was well liked by everybody in the Company, and is sadly missed by everybody in his platoon.”
1901 Census
Ancestry tells us that in the 1901 Census at 7, Brickworks Cottages, Ulverston, lived Edward Balderstone (25), Head, General Labourer, born Bridge Inn Row, Westmorland; Esther Annie Balderstone (29), born Ulverston; Elsie Balderstone (1 month), born Ulverston. Next door at no. 8 were Isaac John Ireland (29), General Labourer, born Ulverston; Catherine Ireland (28), born Dalton; John William Ireland (2), born Ulverston; Thomas Henry Ireland (8 months), born Ulverston; and James Henry Ireland (11), brother (of Isaac), born Ulverston. Isaac John Ireland married Catherine Errington on 5 December 1897 at the Parish Church, Ulverston. Confusingly, there is another Isaac John Ireland in Ulverston at the same time, who married EleanorBriggs in 1896 at the same venue. Esther A. Balderstone was Isaac Ireland’s older sister (see 1891 Census), so they cannot have been the same age. The 1891 Census has Isaac at 2 years younger.
1881 Census
The 1881 Census shows the Ireland family living at Sandhall, and Isaac’s father was a Foreman Brickmaker. According to a local history source: Brick-making had been carried out at Sandhall since 18th century, and the merits of the local clay had been used to promote the Canal. The road to Priory Point was called Brick Kiln Road. Priory Brickworks advertising bricks and tiles in 1856/60. Ireland’s Brick & Tile Works operated through the 19th century. In 1876 William Gradwell is listed as owning the Ulverston Brick Making Co.. Two terraces of houses were known as Brickwork Cottages. Works and quarry up for auction in 1879, purchased by Gradwell outright. Works closed c.1900. Clay dubs flooded and now angling pools. Source
1911 Census
The 1911 Census tells us more. Living at 1 Burlington St, Ulverston, were Edward Balderstone (34), Head, Blast Furnace Labourer in the Ironworks, born Kendal, Westmorland; Ester Annie Balderstone (39), ‘no particular job’; Elsie Balderstone (10), daughter, scholar; John William Ireland (12), nephew, scholar; Thomas Henry Ireland (10), nephew, scholar.
1911 Census of Canada
I found Isaac Ireland elsewhere on Ancestry. In the 1911 Census of Canada Isaac Ireland (37) was living in Ontario, listed as a Canadian citizen, born Aug 1873, and employed in a restaurant. He had arrived in Canada in 1905. Sharing his address is James Stacey (25), also arrived in 1905, and listed as ‘partner’ and working in a restaurant. By the time of the 1921 Census of Canada he has moved to Toronto, had remarried to Isabella (46), originally from Scotland, and is listed as a dealer. He shares a household with his brother in law Robert Bell and family.
Isaac & Isabella had travelled to England in 1919, arriving back in Quebec aboard the “Empress of France” on 28 October. When they left England his wife was listed as Mabel. Later, he left Halifax, Nova Scotia, in June 1945 on the Cunard/White Star Line “Volendam” to stay at 15, Barley Street, Ulverston. He was 71, and a sheet metal worker.
