John's Story.
EARLY LIFE
John Mulrooney was born on 8 July and baptised on 28 July 1867 at St Alban's Church, Macclesfield, the son of Margaret (nee Mannion) and John Mulrooney a labourer from Ireland. In 1871, four-year-old John was living at 23 Watercotes with his parents and siblings Mary (8) and William (5).
In 1873, John and his brother were enrolled at St George's C of E School, Sutton, south Macclesfield. John was later educated at St Alban's RC School.
By 1891 John's father had died and the family had moved the short distance to 24 Watercotes. John was then working as a general labourer. Five years later John enlisted with the 4th Cheshire Regiment (Militia Reserve) with service number 1131. He was mobilised in 1900 and served in South Africa between February and August 1902, afterwards receiving the South African clasps for Cape Colony, Orange Free State and Johannesburg. His character was stated to be 'good'. In 1904 John re-enlisted in the local Militia with service number 5601; at the time he was employed by Mr Rathbone as a quarryman at Sutton Lane Ends.
John's family later lived at 7 Orchard Passage, Waterside, Macclesfield.
WW1 SERVICE
John was mobilised in 1915 with the 7th Cheshire Regiment, service number 3188, but was later transferred to the 431st Agricultural Company, Labour Corps, service number 255094. John was reported to have died of haemoptysis (coughing up blood) while serving at Lydd, in Kent. This could have been caused by a number of illnesses.
The death of Private Mulrooney was reported in the Macclesfield Times on 25 October 1918. The report states that he was attached to the RGA but this appears to be an error.
PTE JOHN MULROONEY, attached Royal Garrison Artillery, of Waterside, Macclesfield, died at Lydd, Kent on October 3rd. Fifty years of age, he was educated at St Alban’s School and attended the church. Before the war he was employed as a quarryman by Mr H Rathbone, Higher Sutton. He was mobilised in 1915 with the Cheshire Regt and had trained at Aberystwyth, Northampton and Lydd. Deceased served for two years and seven months with the 2nd Cheshire Regt in the South African war, and his brother, Mr Wm Mulrooney, also went through that campaign with the 4th Cheshire Regt. The funeral took place at the Macclesfield cemetery with military honours.
COMMEMORATION
Private John Mulrooney is buried in grave ref. J. 9013. in Macclesfield Cemetery. His brother asked for the inscription "DIED IN THE SERVICE OF HIS KING & COUNTRY" to be added to his headstone. The Commonwealth War Graves Commission holds casualty details for Private John Mulrooney, and he is listed on the Imperial War Museum’s Lives of the First World War website.
In Macclesfield, Private John Mulrooney is commemorated on the Park Green and St Alban’s Church war memorials.
SOURCES
Family History Society of Cheshire (FHSC): Macclesfield Catholics CD – Baptism transcriptions
National School Admission Registers and Log-books (FindMyPast)
Census (England & Wales): 1871, 1881, 1891, 1911
WW1 British Army Service Records (Find My Past)
WWI Pension Record Cards (Western Front Association)
Commonwealth War Graves Commission website
Macclesfield Times:25 October 1918
Research by Rosie Rowley, Congleton.