Death of a soldier named Concannon

srmf5

I was told by my aunt that there was a soldier William Concannon of Tully or Castlecole, Roscommon in the family that died as a result of mustard gas during World War I.

I found a record for a William Concannon of Roscommon. He died on 23 September 1917. His Service Numer was PW2130. His rank was Private. He was in the Middlesex Regiment. Unit 19th Battalion. Enlisted at Birmingham. Born in Roscommon. Killed in action. Cemetery Tyne Cot Memorial Belgium. Grave panel 113 to 115. I never knew exactly how he was connected (if he is) since there's no age or parents listed.

However when looking through the civil records I came across a death record for another William Concannon on 5 May 1928. He was an ex-soldier. He died in the Co. Home, Roscommon. He was from Castlecole, Castlerea. He was a bachelor and aged 38. He died of tuberculosis, cardiac failure. I know who this person is in my tree as the age and address match.

Is it in any way possible this is the same person and there was a mistake made in the war record? He may have just been injured instead of dead? I wouldn't imagine that there were many William Concannons of Roscommon fighting in WWI. If they are two different people there must have been two in the family that fought in the war. I also find unusual that he's in a the county home when he died rather than a hospital or at his own home. Could this have been due to injuries sustained during the war? I know that I won't get any definite answers but I'm just looking for some opinions on the matter.

lottpaul

A quick look at births for Roscommon/east Galway shows several William Concannons being born in the late 1800s. It's very possible then that more than one could have enlisted. I'd be surprised if they have made a mistake in the war cemetery - and the man who died in the county home is likely a different individual. (the county home would be the equivalent of a district hospital nowadays so it implies he needed a lower level of medical and nursing care rather than active medical treatment/intervention.)

Hermy

According to his service record William who died (unmarried) in 1917 was born in 1878.
His mothers name is Margaret and his brothers name is Frank.
Their address was Derrylahan, Cloonfad, Co. Roscommon.

This might be his birth record.

pinkypinky

1911 census shows 2 William Concannons, with approximately the right age gap as our 2 potentials above. The younger one is in a family with mother called Anne and the older is working in a large shop.

Hermy

In 1901 there's a William, Frank and Patrick living with their mother at 10 Derrylahan. This William would likely be the chap who died in the war given his age and his mother and brothers names.

srmf5

Thank you very much for the replies. That clears that up then. I'll have to look for more records to see can I find the right William Concannon. What website allows you to find a person's service record?

Hermy

Service records are available on Ancestry and Find My Past - both subscription sites.
I found the above record on Ancestry.

srmf5

Thanks. The war records tend to become free often enough so I'll just have to keep an eye out for it next time.