Liverpool & South West Lancashire FHS - Forum

While at Liverpool yesterday I was looking through the Parish Magazine for St. Michael, Garston. I copied all articles relating to WW1 and I have this letter:-

The Last Letter of the late Sergeant G. Devlin who was Killed in action

My Dear Father and Mother,

Just a few lines in case I don't come back. We leave Southampton today on board the "Lapwing" For France. I shall look after Arthur to the last, so don't worry my dear parents, leave everything in God's hands. I have left my box and bag for Sergeant Blundell to send to you. Well, dear mother, if anything happens, get my money out of the bank and keep it. Once more I send my love to you and Clarice and Eric, and all.

From your loving son

GEORGE DEVLIN

Our deepest sympathies go out to Mr. and Mrs. Devlin at the sad loss of their brave son, and we pray that God shall shield and bless their other two sons who are serving King and Country and bring them back safe home to England.

Now I can't find a George Devlin on the CWGC.

Found him William George Devlin. So sad

http://www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casua ... M%20GEORGE

He was born in Huyton and the family resided in Widnes in 1911

So poignant! Did his brothers Arthur and Frederick survive? Their father was retired military. Haven't found them in 1910+1 yet so they could have followed their father and joined the Army.

The family are here in 1901... transcribed Devilen, as per Summary page.
RG13 Piece: 3510 Folio: 30 Page: 17
Address: Hazel Cottage, Knowsley Village, Lancashire
MAYOR, Willm Head 61 1840 Farm Bailiff - Ormskirk, Lancashire
MAYOR, Jane Wife 62 1839 - Skelmersdale, Lancashire
MAYOR, James Son u/m 37 1864 - Ashton in Makerfield, Lancashire
DEVILEN, George Son-in-law 36 1865 - Ireland
DEVILEN, Sarah Ann Dtr 35 1866 - Skelmersdale, Lancashire
DEVILEN, William G Son 11 1890 - Warrington, Lancashire
DEVILEN, Arthur C Son 8 1893 - Warrington, Lancashire
DEVILEN, Clarice A Dtr 6 1895 - Ireland [Athlone has been crossed thru']
DEVILEN, Fredrick S Son 9 1892 - Prescot, Lancashire

Edit to add...
Clarice was not born in Ireland!
Births Dec 1894: Devlin, Clarice Ambrose - Prescot 8b 647

But Arthur was!
Birth: Arthur Cecil Devlin
Event Date: Oct - Dec 1892
Event Place: Athlone, Ireland
Registration Quarter and Year: Oct - Dec 1892
Registration District: Athlone
Volume Number: 3; Page Number: 8

It looks as though Frederick survived....

Death: DEVLIN, Frederick Stanley
Registration district: Knowsley, Lancashire
Year of registration: 1980; Quarter of registration: Jul-Aug-Sep
Date of Birth: 12 July 1891
Volume no: 36; Page no: 0157

Has to be our man because this is the only birth 1890 to 1893...
Births Sep 1891: DEVLIN, Frederick Stanley - Warrington 8c 235

Survive he did DS,

Frederick Stanley Devlin, 8185.

Joined the South Lancs aged 14 in 1906,
Missing 21/8/1914
German government reported him as POW, 20/1/1915/

Married Eleanor Pearson, 1923.

Looks like Sergeant Blundell didn't make it,


Name:
Charles Henry Blundell
Birth Place:
Westminster, Middx.
Death Date:
19 Feb 1917
Death Location:
France & Flanders
Enlistment Location:
Blackdown, Surrey
Rank:
Sergeant
Regiment:
Prince of Wales's Volunteers (South Lancashire Regiment)
Battalion:
2nd Battalion
Number:
8474
Type of Casualty:
Died
Theatre of War:
Western European Theatre

Captain Arthur Cecil Devlin 1893-1938 was also taken prisoner.
I can't read the story, attached to a private tree

Looks like Arthur C Devlin might have gone to the US?

Passenger: Captain A C DEVLIN
Date of departure: 15 April 1921
Port of departure: Liverpool
Passenger destination port: New York, USA
Passenger destination: New York, USA
Date of Birth: 1890 (calculated from age)
Age: 31
Occupation: Captain
Passenger recorded on: Page 38 of Manifest
Ship: CELTIC

Since the GRO do not have a 1938 death in the Index, he may have stayed in the US? However, there is a 1938 death of a Devlin at sea in January of that year. He/she was a passenger on the MV Gorgon. Doubtful though because The SS Gorgon (and its 1933 replacement the MV Gorgon) carried passengers, general cargo, sheep, wool and cattle from Perth to Singapore from 1918 through to the 1960s.

This could be the story, DS.

Birth: 1893
Warrington
Cheshire, England
Death: Nov. 19, 1938

Arthur Cecil Devlin was born 1893 in Warrington, England. Son of a Boer War hero (George Devlin DCM) Arthur joined the South Lancashire Regiment as a boy recruit, served throughout WWI, promoted through the ranks under fire, rising to Captain. MIA then POW May 1918. He later moved to USA, arriving Ellis Island 25 Apr 1921 and joined US Army.

http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cg ... d=49228369&

Good find Bert!
But the transcriber used the 1901 census information for his place of birth and that was unfortunately incorrect. I have sent a note about a correction.

Thank you Bertie and DS. It is these articles that tell their story. The article may only have a few lines, but those few lines tell a lot. I'm sure there is a Picture of this Soldier in the paper, with the Knowsley/Prescot connection. I have a article for this man in the Prescot Reporter will copy and post. Thanks Guys

I am a little concerned about that citation on the Find-a-grave site where Arthur's father is referred to as 'Boer War hero George Devlin DCM'. The only such DCM in that war that I could find was this one:
Boer War 1899 - 1902...
Devlin, G - 222 - Sergeant Major, (Prince of Wales's Volunteers) South Lancashire Regt. Source: DCM recipients.

I have not yet found a source for this man's first name and we know Arthur's father George was staying with his family in the home of his in-laws on the 31st of March 1901, with no occupation specified. Haven't found his Army records either.

Hi DS,

Can only add this,

222, Sergt Major, Devlin G.
Issued 15/3/02.
Discharged to Pension, 12/12/00

would account for him being home for the census.