Connolly (or Conolly), John Henry

2nd Lieutenant John Henry Connolly (or Conolly)

Connolly was born at Coleraine on 4th November 1896 to John Matthew Conolly and Ellen J Conolly nee Henry. They had married at Castlerock on 4th September 1895.

In 1901 Connolly (4) is living in house 4, Castletoodry, Bannbrook, Co. Londonderry with his parents and 2 siblings; Samuel Hardford (3) and Alfred James (1).

By 1911 the property is known as house 8, Castletoodry, Bannbrook, Co. Londonderry. Connolly now has 2 sisters; Margaret (8) and Helen (2).

He was known as Harry and was educated at Coleraine Academical Institution

In 1913, Conolly joined the Belfast Banking Company and served in Central branch. His father signed the Bankers Guarantee and recorded his address as Cranagh Hill, Coleraine, Co. Londonderry.

Belfast Bank - Bankers Guarantee ledger sheet

Belfast Bank, Central branch 

Connolly was a member of Queens’ University, Belfast, Officer's Training Corps (OTC) in 1915. He volunteered and enlisted into the 6th Bn. Royal Munster Fusiliers as a 2nd Lieutenant. He was later attached to the 11th Bn. Royal Irish Rifles when he was killed in action (died of wounds – gas) on 1st September 1916.

The Belfast News Letter of 5th September 1916 reports:

He is buried in the Bailleul Communal Cemetery extension (Nord). Conolly is mentioned in ‘Coleraine Hero’s 1914 - 1918’ by Robert Thompson, Coleraine, published privately, 2004.

2nd Lieutenant J H Connolly's name is recorded on the Queen's University Officer's Training Corps War Memorial.

The family surname is spelt Connolly on the Northern Bank War Memorial.

His name is on this [unknown] roll of honour.

Unknown war memorial

Coleraine Acedemical Institution
(courtesy of Nigel Henderson)