Private Robert Morrow V.C.
The Newmills War Hero
Sessia, Newmills and World War One
Newmills is a small village near Coalisland in County Tyrone, Northern Ireland. It lies three miles from Dungannon and two miles from Coalisland.
Newmills Village
Roughan Castle and Roughan Lough are situated a mile outside Newmills on the road to Stewartstown. The castle was built in 1618 by Sir Andrew Stewart. Andrew Stewart was not paid by King James for his work but was awarded land in Tyrone.
It was during the reign of James I that a dedicated attempt was made to plant Protestant settlers in Tyrone, and from this, many new English and Scottish families arrived in the area and the early church of Tullyniskan was restored as a Protestant Church.
Newmills lies in the parish of Tullyniskan, which also included the townlands of Aghakinsallagh Glebe, Ballymenagh, Blacktown, Bloomhill Demesne, Coalisland, Creenagh, Cullion, Curran, Derry, Derrywinnin Glebe, Doras, Drumard, Drumey, Drumreagh Etra, Drumreagh Otra, Edendork, Farlough, Glencon, Gortgonis, Gortin, Gortnaskea, Mineveigh, Mullaghmarget, Quintinmanus, Sessia, Stughan, Whitetown, and Woodhill.
Newmills got its name from a corn mill and kilns that formerly stood in the area. A flax mill and a corn mill were located in the centre of the village. The Torrent river flows through the village.
The church came into use in 1793. National Schools were set up in 1821 and one was built in Newmills. It remained in use until the 1960s.
In 1837, Newmills was described as having tillage which was good for corn crops and flax. At Derryvale, Torren Hill and Newmills, there were large greens for bleaching linen cloth, where some 20,000 pieces were finished annually. At Coalisland, Oghran and Newmills, there were extensive ironworks, forges and plating mills for the manufacture of spades, shovels and other edge tools.
In 1887 Newmills Orange Hall was built.
Map of Newmills area around 1900
Newmills Presbyterian Church lay to the north of the village. Newmills Church of Ireland lies to the south of the village.
Sessia is a townland south west of the village of Newmills.
Many men from the Newmills served in World War One. Twenty three men made the ultimate sacrifice. Amongst their number was Private Morrow, V.C. He gained the highest honour it was possible to bestow on any member of the British Commonwealth Armed Forces, regardless of rank.
Newmills Village
Amongst the Newmills casualties were two of the Daniel's brothers, Ernest and Robert, who were the sons of Mr Robert Daniel, J.P. Their father owned a linen finishing business at Derryvale, Newmills. A third son, Godfrey, fought with the Canadians and survived the War.
Robert Fulton, who is also commemorated in Newmills Presbyterian Church, was a member of the Newmills Company of the Ulster Volunteers.
Thomas Hunter was the son of a farmer. He was only 19 when he was killed in action in August 1917.
Herbert and John Johnston were sons of David Johnston J.P. They were born in Roughan, near Newmills, but the family moved on to live in Lurgan by the time of the War.
Newmills Village Rifleman Robert Fulton Lieut. Ernest Daniel 2nd Lieutenant Joseph Marsh Private William James McMinn Private James Stewart
John George Jones was an orphan from Caledon who lived with the Ferry family in Mineveigh, probably the nearest casualty to the Morrow family in Sessia. He was a member of Newmills L.O.L. 183. Private Jones is buried in Caledon. Private Terence Colton's parents also lived in Mineveigh.
James Stewart, from Farlough, was 40 years old when he was killed at the Somme on 1st July 1916. He was secretary of Newmills L.O.L. 183 and left a widow and four children.
Thomas Henry Morgan was educated at Newmills National School. He joined the Royal Irish Constabulary in 1906 and remained with them until 1910. Thomas moved to Australia where he worked as a Motor Driver. Thomas was serving with the Australian Infantry when he died of his wounds in April 1918.
The four Lynn brothers who died whilst serving lived only three miles away from Sessia.
The list of Newmills casualties for the World War One is as follows.
1 Private Arbuthnot, John Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers
2 Private Arthurs, James M Royal Canadian Regiment
3 Private Colton, Terence Northumberland Fusiliers
4 Lieut. Daniel, Ernest Royal Irish Rifles
5 Trooper Daniel, Robert South African Infantry
6 Private Farr, Robert Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers
7 Rifleman Fulton, Robert Royal Irish Rifles
8 Private Gibson, James Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers
9 Private Gibson, Thomas John Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers
10 Lance Corporal Hunter, Thomas J. A. Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers
11 Corporal Johnston, Herbert C. Royal Irish Fusiliers
12 Private Johnston, Thomas John Royal Canadian Regiment
13 Private Jones, John George Army Service Corp
14 2nd Lieutenant Marsh, Joseph Royal Irish Rifles
15 Private McMinn, William James Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers
16 Sergeant Milligan, John Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers
17 Private Montgomery, Walter A. Royal Air Force
18 Private Moore, Mick Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers
19 Private Morgan, Thomas Henry Australian Infantry
20 Private Morrow, Robert V.C. Royal Irish Fusiliers
21 Private Patton, William Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers
22 Private Patterson, Thomas Royal Irish Regiment
23 Private Stewart, James Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers
Robert Morrow V.C. © 2015-23
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