Lurgan Ancestry ~ Lurgan's Dead from The Great War 1914-18 Harold Lyness

He was educated at the Royal Academical Institution, and before the opening of the present war was in the employment of Messrs. William Liddell & Co. Ltd., linen manufacturers. He joined the 9th (Territorial) Battalion Black Watch on December 1914, and served in home defence operations in Scotland for some months, subsequently volunteering for service abroad when he was granted a commission, and was attached to the 5th Battalion Royal Irish Fusiliers on 27th August 1915. He was afterwards posted to the 9th R.I.F. in France, and took part in the advance of 1st July, coming through without injury, though most of his Platoon were killed. On Friday last week he received a gunshot wound to the back, presumably from a sniper, and succumbed the following day. Second Lieutenant Lyness, who was 20 years of age, and was connected by family ties to Lurgan and district. His father was a brother in-law of Mr Hugh Hayes, solicitor, and his mother is a sister of Mrs Thomas Clarke, Springfield.

Lt. Col. Blacker writing to the mother of Lt. Harold’s Lyness:
“He had gone out in charge of a party wiring in front of our line, and was bringing his men back at the conclusion of a night’s good work when he was hit by a chance shot, while in the communication trench. The bullet entered his left side and passed through his body. I sympathize most deeply with you in your sorrow. He had only been a few months with us, and had already made his mark in the battalion. Keen, always ready for any job, absolutely reliable and cheery. I knew that any work given to your son would be well and thoroughly carried out. the battalion can ill afford to lose such an officer. I realised that in your son I had the very stamp of officer I wanted; now he has gone and we are left to mourn the loss of another gallant comrade.”