HUGH LYNCH, Sergeant 4423, 7th Battalion, Royal Irish Rifles

HUGH LYNCH, Sergeant 4423, 7th Battalion, Royal Irish Rifles, is NOT named on the Larkhall War Memorial.

His parents were Michael Lynch, a Bricklayer, and Ellen Gillan, who were married at Glasgow on 16th December, 1880.

His paternal grandparents were Michael Lynch, a Bricklayer, and Sarah McColgan.
His maternal grandparents were Hugh Gillan, a Blacksmith, and Helen Devlin.

The 1891 GLASGOW, GOVAN, Census was taken on 6th April, 1891.
The family are listed at 18 Errol Street, Glasgow, as follows:
Michael Lynch, age 35, Head, Bricklayer, b Glasgow.
Ellen Lynch, age 33, Wife, b England.
William J. Lynch, age 8, Son, Scholar, b Glasgow.
Ellen Lynch, age 4, Daughter, b Glasgow.

HUGH LYNCH was born at 18 Errol Street, Hutchesontown, Glasgow, on 6th June, 1891.

On 6th April, 1894, his mother Ellen Lynch, age 34, died at 119 Kidston Street, Hutchesontown, Glasgow. The cause of death was Apoplexy.

The 1901 GLASGOW, GOVAN, Census was taken on 31st March, 1901.
The family are listed at 57 Wallace Street, Govan, Glasgow, as follows:
Michael Lynch, age 40, Head, Bricklayer, b Glasgow.
Margaret Lynch, age 35, Wife, b Campbelltown, Argyll.
HUGH LYNCH, age 9, Son, Scholar, b Glasgow.
Sarah Lynch, age 5, Daughter, b Glasgow.
Michael Lynch, age 3, Son, b Glasgow.
Margaret Lynch, age 1, Daughter, b Glasgow.
[His father Michael Lynch and Margaret Brown were never married.]

On 30th June, 1901, his father Michael Lynch, age 45, died at Glasgow Royal Infirmary as a result of a fracture to the base of his skull. His usual address is shown as 57 Wallace Street, Glasgow.

Due to the death of both parents while he was young, I am unable to find a 1911 Census record for HUGH LYNCH.
His marriage record of 23rd October, 1915, shows that he was a Reservist in the 7th Battalion, Royal Irish Rifles. The rank of Sergeant shows that he was in the military for a long time. Being a Reservist indicates that he had served his time, and was discharged to the Reserves.

On 23rd October, 1915, HUGH M. LYNCH, age 23, a Boiler Stoker (Sergeant 7th Battalion, Royal Irish Rifles - Reservist), of 22 Percy Street, Larkhall, married Margaret Hinshelwood, age 19, a Domestic Servant of 22 Percy Street, Larkhall, at 17 Almada Street, Hamilton.
[Margaret Hinshelwood was born at 70 Glengowan, Larkhall, on 20th May, 1896, - hence the Larkhall connection.]

HUGH LYNCH was a trained soldier with the 7th Battalion, Royal Irish Rifles as Sergeant 4423, and went to France on 21st December, 1915.

HUGH LYNCH was Killed-In-Action on 9th September, 1916, age 25.

The Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC) entry for HUGH LYNCH shows that he is commemorated at THIEPVAL MEMORIAL, Somme, France.
There are 72,338 identified casualties listed on THIEPVAL MEMORIAL.

HUGH LYNCH is commemorated at The Scottish National War Memorial (SNWM) in Edinburgh Castle.

The entry in Soldiers Died in the Great War (SDGW) shows that HUGH LYNCH was born in Govan, Glasgow, and enlisted enlisted in Glasgow.
 

The Medal Rolls Index Card (MIC) for HUGH LYNCH shows that he was awarded The 1914-15 Star Medal, The Victory Medal and The British War Medal.
The MIC is dated 21st December, 1915, which shows that he went to France on that date.

In his Soldier's Will, dated 17th December, 1915, he bequeaths all of his property and possessions to his wife Mrs H. Lynch, 22 Milton Place, Percy Street, Larkhall, Lanarkshire, Scotland.

The "Soldier's Effects" record shows that his widow Margaret received his Outstanding Pay of £6/17/3, and a War Gratuity of £9/-/-.

A newspaper clipping taken from The Hamilton Advertiser, dated 25th November, 1916, reads:
"LARKHALL AND THE WAR - Mrs H. Lynch, 22 Milton Place, Larkhall, has received official notice that her husband, Sergt. H. Lynch, of the Royal Irish Rifles, was killed in action on the 8th September. He enlisted in May, 1915. Previous to enlisting he was employed in a brewery in Glasgow".
[Note: Milton Place was in Percy Street.]

Lest We Forget!

Medal Rolls Index Card (MIC)

Soldier's Will.

Soldier's Effects record.

Hamilton Advertiser, 25th November, 1916.