Rooney, H (Hugh)
Private Hugh Rooney was the son of James and Margaret Rooney; husband of Margaret Henry (formerly Rooney), of Edenderry, Omagh, Co. Tyrone. He served in the Tirah and South African Campaigns and was born in Lisnaskea.
During the Boer war,[1] he took part in the Battle of Tugela (or Thukela) Heights,[2] which was the fourth attempt to relieve Ladysmith.[3] It lasted from the 14th until the 27th of February 1900, with the British winning and the Boers abandoning their siege. They entered Ladysmith on the 1st of March 1900.
Hugh had only joined the 3rd Reserve Battalion a few months prior to his death. He died for reasons that are unknown, but he did receive a full military funeral on Tuesday 9th September.
The 3rd Reserve Battalion, Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers was based in Ebrington Barracks, Londonderry from September 1914 until April 1918 when it moved to England.
Their duties were to recruit and train soldiers for the front line. They alone recruited and trained more than twelve thousand men.
Throughout the war the 3rd had the same commander who was Lieutenant Colonel McClintock. He retired in 1919 when the battalion was disbanded.
On a few occasions, they had to host hundreds of shipwrecked sailors, including those from the Brisk (sunk October 1917) and the American transport ship SS Tuscania (sunk February 1918.) They received praise and gifts for their hospitality on both occasions.
Hugh was awarded the 1895-1902 Indian Medal with the Punjab 1897/98 and Tirah 1897/98 clasps. He was also awarded the South African Medal with the Cape Colony, Tugela Heights, and relief of Ladysmith clasps.
He was not eligible for the 1914/15 Star, the British War or Victory Medals as he never served abroad during the Great War.
Date of Death: 08/11/1915 (Aged 40)
Service: Private, Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers, 3rd Battalion.
Service Number: 24907
Burial Location:
Londonderry (or Derry), City Cemetery, L. Mil. 5.
[1] The Second Boer War in South African, started on 11th October 1899 and ended on 31st May 1902.
[2] Battle of Tugela (or Thukela) Heights had around 2,500 killed on both sides.
[3] Ladysmith is a small town in South Africa.