John Wallace Corry, 109th Infantry Brigade, 14th Battalion, Royal Irish Rifles
(Young Citizen Volunteers)

John Wallace Corry, 109th Infantry Brigade, 14th Battalion, Royal Irish Rifles (Young Citizen Volunteers) 36th Ulster Division.
John was born on January 31st 1898 and lived McClure Street, Belfast and was a member of the Young Citizen Volunteers (YCV) before enlisting with the Royal Irish Rifles at the age of 18.

"Apparently my Granda had been an iron pounder at Harland &Wolfe before the war and couldn't return to that job after, due to lung damage caused by mustard gas. I clearly remember him wheezing constantly. It must have been horrendous!"

Help needed with photograph

John's Grandson, Ian has asked us to post this picture of his Grandfather in a band, which was taken around 1916, in the hope that some of our visitors may be able to identify some of the other members of the band, or have some information on the band. If you have any information please email the Association at info@belfastsomme.com, putting "Corry" in the subject field and we will pass your information on to Ian and put what information you provide here. Some information has already been supplied from John's son.

John Wallace Corry - back row, 3rd from right, holding French Horn.

"I have been thinking about Me Da's band photo and it came to mind that I met one of the people in the picture, Fred Mortimer who later became the bandmaster of what at that time was the #1 band in the world, Fodens Motor Works Band and they visited Belfast and Jack & I were taken to hear them perform in The Ulster Hall and we wereintroduced to Fred Mortimer after the concert.That was in the late 20s or early 30s and I still can remember that evening.
Fred's son Harry later took over the Fodens band and if I am still right the last I heard of him he was Sir Harry . He was the best cornet player in Britain at that time. Funny how things come back to your memory . Fred was English so the theory that it was a concert band could be right, I think it was made up of men who had a bit of interest in music who got together and entertained others, not all from the 36th division and certainly not all from NI."

At the going down of the sun, and in the morning
WE WILL REMEMBER HIM

Ttribute created with the kind permission of John's Grandson Ian Corry
. If you have any information concerning John Corry, or would like to pay tribute to one of your relatives who fought with the 36th on a page like this, please contact info@belfastsomme.com putting "Hero" in the subject field

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