Shot at dawn: Mailly-Maillet
On 19 March 1916 two men of 15th Royal Irish Rifles Battalion, 107 Brigade, 36th (Ulster) Division, Riflemen James Templeton and James Ferguson McCracken, were executed for desertion at Mailly-Maillet. The war diary of their battalion on that day stated:
Lovely day. Parade at 6.30. AM
The diary of the 6th (Inniskilling) Dragoons Service Squadron, located at nearby Bertrancourt, stated:
2 men of 15th Royal Irish Rifles shot at Mailly-Maillet for Desertion. Squadron paraded within earshot.
They were buried in the Mailly Maillet Communal Cemetery Extension, Somme.
James Templeton was born on 6 January 1894 at Taylorstown, Ballyscullion, County Antrim, the third of ten children of labourer William Templeton and his wife Mary Ann (née McWilliams). Soon after the family moved to Belfast. At the time of the 1911 Census James was living in Enfield Street with his parents and five of his six surviving siblings, and working as a mill doffer.
Templeton enlisted in the Royal Irish Rifles soon after the war began and was posted to the 15th (Service) Battalion (North Belfast) (regimental number 15/890). He probably embarked for France with the battalion at the beginning of October 1915.
On 27 February 1916 Templeton was tried for desertion at a Field General Court Martial. Found guilty, he was executed at Mailly-Maillet on 19 March. He was buried in the Mailly Maillet Communal Cemetery Extension, Grave C.20. His gravestone inscription reads:
15/890 RIFLEMAN
J. TEMPLETON
ROYAL IRISH RIFLES
19TH MARCH 1916
John Ferguson McCracken was born on 19 September 1895 at 9 Hillside Place, Lower Ballysillan, Belfast, one of at least five children of foreman hackler John McCracken and his wife Martha (née Hoy). At the time of the 1911 Census he was living at 26 Ligoniel Road, Belfast, with his grandmother and other relatives, and working as a clerk in a flax mill.
McCracken enlisted in the Royal Irish Rifles in late 1914 or the first half of 1915 and was posted to the 15th (Service) Battalion (North Belfast) (regimental number 15/13211). He probably embarked for France with the battalion at the beginning of October 1915.
On 27 February 1916 he was tried for desertion at a Field General Court Martial. Found guilty, he was executed at Mailly-Maillet on 19 March. He was buried in the Mailly Maillet Communal Cemetery Extension, Grave C.21. His gravestone inscription reads:
15/13211 RIFLEMAN
J. F. MC CRACKEN
ROYAL IRISH RIFLES
19TH MARCH 1916 AGE 19
At least one of McCracken's brothers, William Hoy McCracken, also served in the war, in the Canadian Infantry.
Images from Mailly-Maillet Copyright © Phillip Tardif with all rights reserved as set out in this Use of Material policy. The image of Rifleman Templeton is courtesy of Eileen Hinken, via Peter Mulvany, Coordinator, Shot at Dawn CampaignIrl.