Lives of the First World War
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We remember William Frederick Mcfadzean
We remember William Frederick Mcfadzean
Timeline
Timeline
1895
birth
Lurgan, County Armagh, Northern Ireland
United Kingdom
Source:2788583
Source:9441325
9th October 1895
1914
enlistment
Belfast
Ireland
Source:6159662
22nd September 1914
1915
theatres
France & Belgium: 1a
Source:6656900
5th October 1915 - 1st July 1916
1916
awards
Victoria Cross (VC)
British Award/Decoration
Source:9441334
1st July 1916
service
British Army
Private
14/18278
14th Royal Irish Rifles
36th Ulster Division
Source:6656844
1916
death
Killed in Action
Saved the lives of many soldiers in his trench when he threw himself on a box of grenades, two of which had lost their firing pins. Posthumously awarded the VC.
Thiepval Wood, Somme
France
Source:2788583
Source:8451200
1st July 1916
burial
No known grave
Source:6159662
Details
Details
Names
| Type | Name |
|---|---|
| First Names | William Frederick |
| Initials | WF |
| Last Name | Mcfadzean, |
| Source | 9441325 |
Gender
| Gender | Source |
|---|---|
| Male |
Contribution
Military Service
Military Service
| Service | Number | Unit | Section | Rank | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| British Army | 14/18278 | 14th Royal Irish Rifles | 36th Ulster Division | Private |
Awards
| Award | Type | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 1914/15 Star | First World War Campaign/Service Medal | |
| British War Medal | First World War Campaign/Service Medal | |
| VC | British Award/Decoration | |
| Victoria Cross (VC) | British Award/Decoration | |
| Victory Medal | First World War Campaign/Service Medal |
Family
Parents
| Name | Relationship | Dates | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Annie Pedlow McFadzean | mother | ||
| William McFadzean, JP | father |
Media
Media
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Sympathy Appreciation CardSympathy Appreciation Card from the family of William Frederick McFadzean, V.C., dated July 1916, after his death on the first day of the Battle of the Somme.Contributed by:
Patricia58160 -
Pte. William Frederick McFadzeanClipping of a photograph of Pte. William Frederick McFadzean, V.C. from The Daily Sketch on September 11, 1916 from an article titled The New V.C.s: Thrilling Stories of Bravery and Sublime Sacrifice.Contributed by:
Patricia58160 -
Private McFadzeanNewspaper clipping about William Frederick McFadzean, V.C. from The Daily Sketch on September 11, 1916 from an article titled Twenty More Victoria Crosses Won.Contributed by:
Patricia58160 -
Somme and James McFadzean collageThe picture: very top is the division sign and the man himself; middle is the divisional sign/collage thing; bottom is a Battle of the Somme painting.Contributed by:
Matthew57315 -
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Thiepval Memorial.Dedicated to those that made the ultimate sacrifice that have no known grave.Contributed by:
Desmond1478 -
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Letter to IWMLetter written by McFadzean's father to Imperial War Museum, which followed the donation of William's portrait photograph to the collection.Contributed by:
Catherine91214 -
review of Ricky Warwick song100 years after his death, Billys story can inspire a heavy rocker to write a wonderful "middle of road song" about 2 young lads from different backgrounds sharing a path to death. Schwaben Redoubt by Ricky Warwick and Sam Robinson. From interview by Mark Ashby with Ricky WarwickContributed by:
Nigel129009 -
Blue plaque on 'Rubicon' Cregagh Road BelfastBlue plaque unveiled by Ulster History Circle 11/11/2016Contributed by:
Nigel129009 -
Grave not foundDocument held by family. The start of the quest to find his grave by his familyContributed by:
Nigel129009 -
Communities
Communities
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Irish Victoria Cross RecipientsMore about Irish Victoria Cross Recipients
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Martin Middlebrook "The First Day on the Somme"More about Martin Middlebrook "The First Day on the Somme"
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The Battle of the Somme 1916, Recipients of the Victoria Cross.More about The Battle of the Somme 1916, Recipients of the Victoria Cross.
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Evidence
Evidence
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Official Records
| Title | Connected by | More information |
|---|---|---|
| Medal Index Card | ||
| Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC) Casualty Records Transcription | Patricia58160 | |
| Soldiers died in the Great War 1914-1919 Transcription | Patricia58160 | |
| Victoria Cross Recipients 1854-2006 Transcription | Patricia58160 | |
| Ireland Census 1911 Transcription | Patricia58160 | |
| Ireland Census 1901 Transcription | Patricia58160 |
External Evidence
| Reference | Connected by | More information |
|---|---|---|
| William McFadzean VC (1895-1916) | Cathy24638 | |
| Our Heroes: Entry for William Frederick McFadzean | John94621 | |
| William McFadzean VC | John94621 | |
| William Frederick McFadzean VC, 1895 - 1916 | Jonathan101862 | |
| William McFadzean | Jonathan101862 | |
| The London Gazette | Jonathan101862 |
Multimedia
| Title | Connected by | More information |
|---|---|---|
| Billie McFadzean | Deryck11795 | |
| Irish VCs commemorated at Ulster Tower | Deryck11795 | |
| Victoria Cross | Deryck11795 | |
| Billie McFadzean CWGC cert | Deryck11795 | |
| VC Citation | Deryck11795 | |
| Mills Bombs/Hand Grenades | Deryck11795 | |
| Royal Irish Rifles cap badge | Deryck11795 | |
| Instruction for Arming | Deryck11795 | |
| Billie McFadzean MIC | Deryck11795 | |
| Pip, Squeak and Wilfred | Deryck11795 | |
| Mills Bombs distribution | Deryck11795 | |
| Sympathy Appreciation Card | Patricia58160 | |
| Pte. William Frederick McFadzean | Patricia58160 | |
| Private McFadzean | Patricia58160 | |
| Somme and James McFadzean collage | Matthew57315 | |
| James McFadzean | Matthew57315 | |
| Billy | Selena49658 | |
| Thiepval Memorial. | Desmond1478 | |
| Thiepval Memorial | Desmond1478 | |
| The Battle of the Somme. | Desmond1478 | |
| The Battle of the Somme. | Desmond1478 | |
| Letter to IWM | Catherine91214 | |
| review of Ricky Warwick song | Nigel129009 | |
| Blue plaque on 'Rubicon' Cregagh Road Belfast | Nigel129009 | |
| Grave not found | Nigel129009 | |
| Private William Frederick McFadzean V C. | Desmond1478 |
Stories
Stories
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