James Gayton MacLean- WWI- COMPLETED

[aghadowey]

Trying to find information on man killed World War I.

JAMES GAYTON MacLEAN/McLEAN
service number 346792
born Moy Co. Tyrone 17 Sept.1885.
died HMS Tipperary in Battle of Jutland 1 June 1916.

James is listed on Garvagh, Co. Londonderry, War Memorial and is also on Roll of Honour in St. Paul's Parish Church (Church of Ireland) in Garvagh.

Have been unable to trace what his connection to Garvagh was but would be interested in any details of him and/or family.

He & his family might have belonged to Church of Ireland somewhere in/near Moy. Has anyone seen his name on a Roll of Honour (church, school, etc.) in that area? or does anyone have any information on McLeans living in Moy area?

[mikemackean]

This is a complete shot in the dark, but I have McKean interests in Auchnacloy, Co. Tyrone, which is about 20 miles away from Moy.

I realise the name is spelt differently, but if you know anything of Irish spelling, you come to expect the unexpected.  My great grandfather John was born in 1849, and joined the British Army about 1860, served in England, and later moved to Glasgow.

He had a younger brother called James, of whom I know absolutely nothing.  He was born in 1851, so evidently not your James.  However it wouldn't be inconceivable for the name to be handed down another generation would it?

You mention your James had the middle name Gayton.  Could this be his mother's maiden name I wonder? 

Best wishes, Mike

[aghadowey]

Since my posting in early December I have not found much more about James Gayton MacLean/McLean/McClean except his father seems to have been a gardener on the local estate.
At this point I don't think he's connected to your McKeans and I have yet to find what link he had to Garvagh in County Londonderry.
I know Auchnacloy is not far from Moy as my great-aunt Bella was born, or at least supposed to be born, there.

[Wildwinnie]

As this is a response to quite an old post, I'm not sure if more information has since been found on James Gayton Maclean but please check out the book Garvagh & Aghadowey Heroes 1914-18, by Robert Thompson.  James is mentioned on pages 23 and 24.  It doesn't mention how he ended up in Garvagh but it does state that his mother and father were Esther and James MacLean of Moy and he was born at Moy on 17th September 1885.  His father was a landstewart to one of the big landowners in County Tyrone.  He was married to a Kathleen.

[aghadowey]

Thanks for the information but I was researching details for the book back in 2006.

[Wildwinnie]

   I've read the book and recognised the name in your post so thought I'd comment.  Good book.  Did you ever find out what the Garvagh link was?

[aghadowey]

Not really but there are several men listed on the Garvagh War Memorial who didn't have much of a connection themselves to the town.