R.M.S. Mongolia
Pauline Priano has submitted the following:-
William McGrath Jnr was one of 14 children and the eldest of his 8 surviving siblings. His father William McGrath Snr originated from Barnard Castle, County Durham, born January 1st 1851 and married at Durham in 1872 to Susannah Isabella Barker. Susannah was born May 15th 1855 at Worlingham, Suffolk, however, she was brought to County Durham when her family migrated to the north east in search of work, in 1861 her family was living at Butsfield.
William McGrath Snr supported his family employed as a coal miner, in 1881 they were living at 16, Wood Street, Houghall Colliery, Elvet, Durham, with William Jnr (2) who was born May 2nd 1878 and 3-month old Hannah. By 1891 they had transferred to Heslop’s Yard, Birtley and Susannah had given birth to a further 3 children, Lily, September 19th 1885, John 1887 and Mary 1890. Their son Joseph who was born in 1893 tragically died in 1906 aged 13 years, Frederick was born in 1895, Margaret 1898 and Thomas in 1900. Still living at the same address, by 1901, William had been joined at the colliery by his older sons, he and William Jnr (22) were hewers, John (14) a pony driver below ground, however, they had moved to 2, Old Hall, Birtley, by 1911, by which time William Jnr had left the family home. He had married at Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Northumberland in 1906 to Agnus Neall born in the district of Chester-le-Street, County Durham in 1886. They settled at 26 Queens Street, Birtley where their son Joseph was born in 1907, Agnus 1909, Thomas 1911 and daughter Lilian Elizabeth in 1913 in the district of Lanchester, while they were living at Langley Park.
Susannah McGrath died during the 4th quarter (Oct/Nov/Dec) 1914, within months of Britain declaring a state of war existed with Germany. William enlisted November 14th 1914 in the newly formed 24th Battalion (1st Tyneside Irish) Battalion, Northumberland Fusiliers and was posted to the Newcastle-upon-Tyne Depot, assigned as Private 1106. After initial training near home they were moved to Ripon in June 1915 where they joined the 103rd Brigade, 34th Division and in late August for final training to Salisbury Plain. They departed to France in January 1916 where the division concentrated near La Crosse, east of St. Omer. Just after his arrival at the front William will have been given the news that his father had died, February 6th in the district of Chester-le-Street. The family could never have imagined that in such a brief time even worse tragedy was to befall them.
Private 1106 William McGrath Northumberland Fusiliers was killed in action during the Battle of Albert on the first day of the Battles of the Somme, July 1st 1916, where the Division captured Scotts and Sausage Redoubts. His sacrifice is recorded as one of over 72,000 names inscribed on the Thiepval Memorial to the Missing of the Somme, Thiepval, France, commemorating men from South Africa and Britain who were killed in the sector before March 20th 1918 and have no known grave. He was 38 years of age.
His widow Agnus received all monies due to him, a pension for herself and their children and his awards of the British War Medal and Victory Medal sent to her at her home address at Langley Park, County Durham.
Agnus did not re-marry but took the courageous step of emigrating with her children to Australia. September 6th 1929 the McGrath family of 18, Elm Street, Langley Park, County Durham, departed from the port of London aboard the R.M.S. “Mongolia,” of the P&O Steam Navigation Company, landing at Sydney.
Joseph McGrath married in Bulli, New South Wales in 1936 to Rita Morante. He died in 1983 at Albion Park, N.S.W. aged 76 years
Agnus McGrath married Henry Brown at Bulli, New South Wales in 1931 and died in 1967 at Coledale, N.S.W. aged 58 years.
Thomas McGrath died in India during 1930 aged 19 years.
Lilian Elizabeth McGrath married June 22nd 1936 at The Osborne Memorial Church of St. Luke to William Henry Walton, a wheeler. Date of demise unknown.
Agnus McGrath nee Neall died in 1967 aged 80 years at Wollongong, N.S.W. Australia.
In God’s safe keeping. Rest In Peace.
William McGrath is remembered at William McGarth at Esh Laude on E73.01 and as William McGrath at Langley Park on L64.01 and L64.02
