McCunn, Thomas

Driver Thomas J McCunn Junior

was born on 16th May 1898 and was the son of Thomas McCunn (dairy farmer) and Annie McCunn nee Cherry. They had married on 15th January 1889 and registered in Limavady district.

In 1901 Thomas (1) was living in house 3, Tamlaught, Fruithill, Londonderry with his parents and 3 older siblings, John (9), Samuel (6)(see bottom of page) and Annie Mary (3).

In 1911 the family have expanded and moved to house no 7, Myroe Level, Myroe, Co. Londonderry. There are now the parents, a grandfather and seven children living in the house. The additional children are Margaret Jane (7), Robert James (4) and Joseph (2). The grandfather is Adam McCunn (retired farmer).

Thomas joined Northern Bank in 1915 at Head Office.

Northern Bank, Head Office, Victoria Street, Belfast

Thomas volunteered and enlisted into the Army Service Corps (ASC) – Mechanical Transport with Service Number M/345384. Later he was attached to the 59th Siege Battery, Royal Garrison Artillery.  His

Thomas died (of pneumonia) on active service on 21st April 1918 and is buried in Wimereux Communal Cemetery, Pas de Calais, France.

He was awarded the British Victory Medal and the British War Medal. His Medal Index Card records 2 addresses; Oyster Vale, Myroe, Co. Derry and William Horner, Solicitors, Limavady, Co. Londonderry.

Thomas McCunn - Medal Index Card 

Thomas McCunn - Medal Roll

CWGC Headstone - Thomas McCunn

Thomas McCunn (Senior) died on 18th April 1919. His headstone in Tamlaghtfinlagan Churchyard, Ballykelly has the following names:

• Thomas McCunn 1898-1918
• Thomas McCunn 1863-1919
• Joseph McCunn d 1932
• Anna McCunn 1889-1935
• John McCunn d 1964
• Lydia Stevenson d 1972

Homes for Heroes NI (1921-1939) by Nigel Henderson writes about Samuel McCunn who was awarded a 'home for Heroes' on Seacoast Road, Limavady.  

Thomas McCunn's elder brother:

Samuel McCunn, the occupant in 1932, was born on 21st May 1894 at Claggan in Tamlaght Finlagan to Thomas McCunn, a farmer, and Annie McCunn (nee Cherry). Samuel McCunn enlisted with the Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers and was deployed to France with 10th Battalion in October 1915. He was transferred to the Class Z Army Reserve on 15th Mary 1919. Samuel McCunn was living at Ballarena when he married Hester Stevenson on 21st November 1921 at Tamlaghtard Parish Church. He died on 2nd October 1961, aged 67, and Hester McCunn died in January 1982 at Lisnakilly.

I understand that a Hester McCunn still lives in the cottage.