McCooay, D (Daniel)
McCooay, D (Daniel)
Private Daniel McCooay was the son of the late Mr. and Mrs. John and Rosa McCooay of 15 Byres Rd, Partick, Glasgow.
During Friday, 10th April 1915, at 7:30pm, two long term friends of fifteen years from Glasgow, a Private Thomas Henry Jackson[1] and Private Daniel McCooay arrived at Leekes Licensed Public House in Magilligan for a few drinks. They were served by a Bernard McDonald and matched each other drink for drink, consuming both stout and whiskey until they departed at approximately 9:00 pm with a few drinks on them for the short journey to their camp.
On their way to their destination Daniel tripped and fell over, Private Jackson then tripped over him as he lay on the ground. This was the last memory Jackson had of what happened that night. A Private Robert Donald,[2] who slept in the same hut noticed the private return at around 11pm. He then fell asleep with his uniform on. The following morning when he awoke, it was noticed that Daniel McCooay was missing. The soldiers immediately went to search for him.
Saturday morning, a local labourer called John Butcher found a body on Magilligan Point Strand about 200 yards out, in uniform, on his back and with his feet pointing towards the sea. He had earlier found a cap in a lane close by and had hung it on a post. John had also seen this soldier leaving Leekes Public House the night before at around 9 o’clock. He went to the camp and informed them of his grim discovery. A Captain Hanley was soon on the scene to overlook the recovery of the body.
Later, Doctor Edward Jamison examined the deceased and determined that Private Daniel McCooay had died accidently.
Daniel received no medals as he did not serve in a conflict zone.
Date of Death: 11/04/1915 (Aged 40)
Service: Private, 3rd Battalion Royal Irish Fusiliers.
Service Number: 17595
Burial Location: Right hand corner, beyond ruins.
[1] Private Thomas Henry Jackson Service Number: 17932. Thomas would unfortunately be killed on the 1st of July 1916, during the Great Assault at the Somme. His body would never be recovered, and he is remembered on the Thiepval Memorial, Pier and Face 15 A.
[2] Private Robert Donald, Service Number: 17644, from Glasgow. He would survive the war, although with a serious gunshot wound to the shoulder. He was discharged on the 14th of December 1918.
