Private, 345176, 'B' Company, 24th (Denbigh Yeomanry) Battalion, Royal Welsh Fusiliers (formally 656, Denbigh Yeomanry, RHA). Died of wounds, aged 28 on 8 November 1918 at the Western Front.
The Battalion was formed in Egypt from the dismounted Denbighshire Yeomanry on 1 March 1917 and joined the 231st Brigade, 74th (Yeomanry) Division. It moved to France in early May 1918. On 21 June 1918 it transferred to 94th Brigade, 31st Division.
On 31 October the Battalion were involved in the "Actions at Tieghem", part of the "Final Advance at Flanders". The Battalion War Diary records that on 30 October - "Battalion went in the line at Ingoychen. Fairly heavy 5.9, 7.2 and gas shelling. Few casualties". On 31 October - "Operations. Battalion advanced the line to S of Caster, capturing 10 Field Guns and about 250 prisoners. Time did not permit other material being counted". On 1 November - "Operations. Battalion advanced to a point approximately SE of Elsgem, capturing one Howitzer. Two casualties". Private Irvine's Service Record indicates that he was wounded on 31 October. He was transferred from the 3 Australian Casualty Clearing Station to 55 General Hospital at Bologne on 3 November and died on 8 November from a gunshot wound to the chest (back) and pneumonia.
He was born at Llanrwst, Denbighshire on 7 September 1891, the only son of the late Christopher and Mary Anne Irvine (nee Cutting) of Holyhead. His parents were married at Llanwrst in 1890. His father was a Watchmaker, who died at the Valley Workhouse of Pneumonia in 1907, aged about 53. His mother died of TB at 5 Samuel Place, Holyhead in 1906, aged 48. In 1901 the family resided at 20 Wian Street, Holyhead and later at 53 Kings Road, Holyhead.
Having moved from Holyhead, Private Irvine lived at 1, Reeves Terrace, Bagillt, Flint. In 1911 he was employed as an Assistant at a Pawnbrokers and lived at Stanley House, Flint. He enlisted into the Denbigh Yeomanry at Eccleston Camp, Lancashire on 1 September 1914, having been previously employed as a Ironworker at John Summers Steelworks, Shotton. He transferred to the 24th RWF on 16 December 1916 and served in the UK from enlistment to 2 March 1916. He served in Egypt from 3 March 1916 to 28 April 1918 and arrived in France on 8 May 1918. He went on two week home leave on 22 July 1918.
As he had no direct next-of-kin his effects, and later his campaign medals, were sent to his Fiancee, Miss Mildred Anna Williams of Glen Haven, Abergele Road, Colwyn Bay (but may have originated from Cardiff). His effects included "Photographs, pipe, four books, pouch, pencils, wristwatch and strap". In late 1920 Mildred married Percy William Pumphrey, who was the proprietor of an Ironmonger’s Shop and Garage at 1, Holywell Street, Flint. She died in Ware, Hertfordshire in 1967 aged 77.
Awarded the Victory Medal and British War Medal.
Buried at Terlincthun British Cemetery, Wimille, France. Grave location VII.D.25. Also commemorated on the Flint War Memorial and other locations.
With thanks to the Flint War Memorial website http://www.flintshirewarmemorials.com/ for providing additional family information.