Soldier Record

Drummer John Love of the 10th Bat Royal Inniskillings joined up as a volunteer in County Donegal. Having survived the entire first battle of the Somme his company {D} were given some time behind the lines, where they were entertained with Chaplain films before relieving company C at the front on the evening of November 19th 1916. On reaching the front John stopped to talk with his brother in law, sergeant Doherty. Moments later John took a snipers bullet in the neck and died instantly. John was actually a piccolo player in the regimental band, though ranked as drummer, was buried where he fell and later reintered at Pond Farm in Belguim. He left a widow, Mary in Londonderry and is commemorated in the Londonderry Cathedral memorial.