Heslop's Local Advertiser
Pauline Priano has submitted the following:-
Hugh O’Reilly Jnr was born in 1878 at Byker, a suburb of Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Northumberland, one of 6 children he was the eldest of 3 sons and had 3 sisters. His father Hugh O’Reilly native of Scotland married in 1875 at Newcastle-upon-Tyne to Ellen Quinn of Gateshead, both were born in 1855. He was employed as a watchmaker finisher, in 1881 they and their children Catherine (5) and Hugh (3) were living at 24, Wesley Street, Newcastle. They spent time in the Liverpool area around 1883 where their daughter Frances was born, returning to live at Jarrow by 1885 for the birth of Ellen. Son Thomas was born in Poplar, London in 1887 before they again returned to Jarrow, Newcastle by 1899 where Ellen gave birth to their youngest child Edward. By 1901 they had moved to 94, Somerset Street, Gateshead, Hugh found work as a stationary engiineman, daughter Catherine was employed at a factory making nails.
Hugh O’Reilly Jnr was married at Gateshead in 1899 to Mary McPeak born at Felling, Gateshead in 1878. Newly married they were living at 34, Church Street, Walker near Newcastle where Hugh was employed as a bricklayer at the colliery, Catherine McPeak (15) Mary’s sister was their general domestic servant. They had 8 children of whom only 2 survived, of the 6 deceased only one is known by name, their son Hugh Jnr born in 1901 died in 1909. In 1904 Mary gave birth to son Vincent and Lawrence in 1910. Employed as a shipyard worker in 1911 Hugh and his family was living in 2 rooms at Tyne Street, Felling.
On the outbreak of war many new Battalion were raised, Hugh enlisted at Gateshead assigned as Private 27/555 to the 27th (Tyneside Irish) Battalion, Northumberland Fusiliers newly formed in January 1915 at Newcastle-upon-Tyne. After initial training near home they joined the 103rd Brigade, 34th Division at Ripon in June 1915. After further training they were taken over by the War Office August 27th 1915 and moved to Salisbury Plain for final training before leaving for France in January 1916. The division concentrated near La Crosse east of St. Omer before moving to the Somme in time for the opening attack, planned for July 29th but delayed due to bad weather until July 1st 1916, at La Boisselle, part of the Battle of Albert.
Private 27/555 Hugh O’Reilly Northumberland Fusiliers was killed in action July 1st 1916. His sacrifice is recorded as one of the 72,246 names inscribed on the Thiepval Memorial to the Missing of the Somme, Thiepval, France, commemorating servicemen from Britain and South Africa who died on the Somme 1915-1918 who have no known grave. He was 38 years old.
His widow Mary received all monies due to him, a pension for herself and their 2 sons as well as his awards of the British War Medal and Victory Medal, she does not appear to have remarried.
Mary’s brother served as Private 25469 John McPeakDurham Light Infantry and was killed in action October 10th 1917, his sacrifice is also recorded on the Thiepval Memorial to the Missing, Somme, France.
In God’s safe keeping. Rest In Peace.
His death was reported in Heslop's Local Advertiser 18/8/1916.
Hugh Reilly (sic) is remembered at Felling on F32.06
