John McNally

Rank:	Private
Street:	Bog Lane
Townland:
Town/Village:	Longford
Civil Parish:	Templemichael
Catholic Parish:	Templemichael
Country:
Alternative Address:	Ardagh Parish, Longford/ Chapel Lane, Longford/ Main Street, Longford/ Ballymahon Street, Longford
Census 1901:
Census 1911:	Resident at Bog Lane, Longford www.census.nationalarchives.ie/pages/1911/Longford/Longford_No__1_Urban/Bog_Lane/651137/
Regiment/Unit:	Royal Irish Regiment, 1st Garrison Btn; [Connaught Rangers, 5th Service Btn, 3rd Btn]; {Royal Garrison Regiment, 4th Btn}; (Leinster Regiment, 1st)
Regiment Number:	3723; [579]; {3993}; (241)
Date of Death:
Cause:	Survived WW1, natural causes
Memorial:
Information:	John was born in Ardagh, it is likely that he was baptised there on the 30 June 1864*, however he gave different ages throughout his life. He married Eliza (Liza or Lizzie) Curry in January 1891, and had three children: Thomas and Patrick, who both served in WW1, and their youngest, Mary born in May 1904. Pte. McNally initially enlisted in April 1883 with the Leinster Regiment, after serving time in the 6th Battalion Rifle Brigade militia. His first period of service was for 12 years, during which he served two tours in India ending in November 1890, totalling over 6.5 years. After this period of service, McNally served in the militia with the Sligo Artillery. He returned to the army in November 1901 and served in Malta and South Africa, with the Royal Garrison Regiment, and was discharged in August 1905. At the outbreak of the Great War Pte McNally re-enlisted in the Connaught Rangers in August 1914, and served in the Mediterranean Expeditionary Force in the Balkans between August 1915 and March 1917; he was awarded the 1914-15 Star as well as the British War Medal and Victory Medal. He returned to Ireland/Britain in July 1917 and appears to have been discharged. John's son, Thomas, also served in WW1 and WW2.
Parents Names:	Son of Thomas McNally, Ardagh, Co. Longford and likely Margaret (née Woods)
Notes:	John gave his birth date as closer to 1868 in later attestations, presumably to ensure that he met the age requirement to serve; his possible death register gives an approximate birth year of 1876! He is noted as having achieved a 4th Class Certificate of Education, the minimum standard for a soldier between 1871 and when the system was abolished in 1888. Liza died on the 31st August 1933.
Links:	Link to Civil Record of marriage; possible Civil Record of Death (ex-soldier, but age given is younger);