Newspaper image
(courtesy of John McCormick)
Lieutenant Thomas Lamont McFall MM
McFall was born at Magherintendry, Bushmills, Co. Antrim on 15th November 1894 to John McFall, Farmer and Elizabeth McFall nee Nevin. They had married at Ballyclabber Meeting House on 8th October 1880.Following his education at Coleraine Acedemical Institution, McFall joined the Belfast Banking Company and is recorded as working in Portaferry and Magherafelt (Belfast News Letter below) branches. His father signed the Bankers Guarantee.
Belfast Bank - Bankers Guarantee ledger sheet
McFall volunteered and enlisted into the 12th Battalion, Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers with Service Number 12/24513.
The 'Northern Constitution' published on 3rd July 1915 carried this report that featured T L McFall:
McFall's first theatre of war is recorded as France from 7th June 1916.
T L McFall - Medal Index Card
Promotion to Lance Corporal, Corporal followed prior to being commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant on 4th October 1915. His promotion was reported in the London Gazette in August 1916.
The Belfast News Letter of 3rd September 1916 reported:
During November 1916, the following was reported:
"Capt. Alexander M Reilly ..... was severely wounded on November 22 1916. The battalion were in the front line just to the south of where the Spanbroekmolen Mine would be blown 6 months later, south of Ypres and suffered heavy bombardment".
The war diary states:
"A direct hit was secured by the Boche on No 3 Company resulting in the deaths of 3 other ranks and Capt A M Reilly, Company Commander, 2nd Lieut T L McFall and 2 other ranks being wounded. Captain Reilly afterwards died from his wounds in No 2 Casualty Clearing Station".
The Belfast News Letter of 14th December 1916 reports:
"A direct hit was secured by the Boche on No 3 Company resulting in the deaths of 3 other ranks and Capt A M Reilly, Company Commander, 2nd Lieut T L McFall and 2 other ranks being wounded. Captain Reilly afterwards died from his wounds in No 2 Casualty Clearing Station".
The Belfast News Letter of 14th December 1916 reports:
McFall is buried in the Potiize Chateau Grounds Cemetery, leper West-Vlaanderen, Belgium. He had originally been buried in a smaller area of the cemetery with a wooden cross with badge identifying the grave. On 10th July 1919 his remains were re-interred in his current location.
He is also remembered in Dunluce Parish Church, Bushmills.
McFall was awarded the Military Medal in addition to the British War Medal and Victory Medal. According to the Medal Roll, the latter two were awarded on 31st October 1922.
The Belfast News Letter of 20th August 1917 reports:
McFall was awarded the Military Medal in addition to the British War Medal and Victory Medal. According to the Medal Roll, the latter two were awarded on 31st October 1922.
McFall is remembered in the Ireland's Memorial Record:
The family headstone in Billy Church of Ireland:
Dervock Reformed Presbyterian Church
(courtesy of John McCormick)
Coleraine Acedemical Institution
(courtesy of Nigel Henderson)
(courtesy of Nigel Henderson)
Additional photographs from LennonWylie:
Aggie McFall, James Nevin McFall and Tillie McNeill
Front centre Aggie McFall and front right Tillie McNeill
Thomas's father and two of his three brothers
James, their father John and Robert
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