Pte. W J Rankin 42468, (or Corr or Coyle)

William John Rankin for who the Irish GRO death cert is in name of, Alfred Owen the man with the same number on RWF, and Corr the only RWF with that name on MICs

The issue is that he is shown on the online CWGC as a Royal Welsh Fusilier man, with the additional info that he served as "Corr". That number 42468 in RWF though belongs to another man, Alfred Owen, who has medals issued to the number. Medal Rolls confirm his MIC. Hywyn writes "There is a MIC for William John Rankin (CWGC initials are W L) of Royal Irish Fusiliers with the number 42468 and he is most probably going to be him. Medals issued by Dublin Records Office.  I don't think the MIC is going to be enough to convince anyone to change the entry. "

• W John Corr/Coyle/Rankin was born about 1900 in County Tyrone. His mother Catherine ‘Kate’ Coyle married William J Corr Apr/Jun 1903 In Cookstown. I cannot find a birth with this name
• I cannot get him under William John Corr nor William John Coyle
• 1915 Jul 10. Originally, he had enlisted as W.J. Corr. He produced a birth certificate to say he was W.J. Rankin on 10th July 1915.I have no idea who W J Rankin was, nothing obvious comes up in research. From his claimed age WJ Rankin would have been born 6 Jul 1896, but I cannot find a birth anything like that.
• On signing up to join Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers,5 feet 3 inches and 108 lbs. On enlistment he claims he is 19 yrs and 4 days from Aghavey, Coagh. He lists his next of kin as his mother, Kate Coyle.He can only have been 15
• During his army career he had many "run ins" with authority - absent without leave, and drunkenness lateness on parade. He was also charged with stealing a blanket at camp in Drumree
• He served in France from 18th Feb. 1916 to 12th Sept 1916
• 1917 Jan 6. Placed in army reserve until he reached 18 years old.
• 1918 Aug 2. Wounded in action
• 1918 Oct 10. He was invalided in England on due to gunshot wounds to the forearm.
• He died from inflammation of the stomach, caused by tuberculosis in Richmond Hospital, Dublin. His wife Sophie Rankin wished he be buried in Grangegorman Military Cemetery, Dublin. Following a letter from his parents that he should be exhumed and brought home, a letter from the army stating where he had been buried was sent to W.J. Corr, Drumad, Coagh. The local parish priest Rev. P. Quinn from Coalisland on behalf of W.J. Corr wrote to war office to confirm he was a single man.
• 1919 Oct 9. William John’s wife Sophie and one child were awarded 36 shillings and 8 pence per week
• 1920 Apr 1 His memorial scroll was sent to his now remarried wife Mrs Sophie Thompson of 4 Gilbert’s Court, Lurgan.
• He is commemorated on Coagh War Memorial as WJ Corr.

1901 census the only "William John Rankin" I see that would fit a 1900 birth is this man living at 11 High Street,Clonelly, Fermanagh. Which would fit with the William John of right age and in Inniskillen Fus. But does not tie to the Corr/Coyle info, in other words he is not the age of the man whose Birth Cert Coyle used.

1911 census at 14 Drumad, Coagh, Tyrone

1919 Apr Died Ireland, Buried in Grangegorman. His death appears to be as "William John Rankin" on Irish GRO which has him as born 1900. CWGC

British soldiers died in Ireland