PTE. J. J. ORMSBY

2205 - 1st Battalion (4 Guards Brigade) - Irish Guards

John James Ormsby was the son of Burris and Anna Maria Ormsby, of 1 Belle Vue Terrace, Dungannon, Co. Tyrone, Ireland. Born in Ballybunion, Co. Kerry on 19th September 1898, he was 28 years old when he was killed in action. 

He enlisted into the Irish Guards pre-war as a teenager before joining following his father into joining the Royal Irish Constabulary (RIC). After the outbreak of war he was recalled to the Irish Guards and was among the first units sent overseas in the British Expeditionary Force, Ormsby enlisted in Castlebar, Co. Mayo. The 4th (Guards) Brigade consisted of four battalions of Foot Guards - 2nd Bn. Grenadier Guards, 2nd Bn. Coldstream Guards, 3rd Bn. Coldstream Guards and 1st Bn. Irish Guards. 

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The 4th (Guards) Brigade, while attached to the 2nd Division, fought at the Battle of Mons, First Battle of the Marne, First Battle of the Aisne, First Battle of Ypres and the Battle of Festubert - Ormsby was unfortunately killed in action while fighting at the First Battle of Ypres on 1st November 1914.

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Ormsby has no known grave and is remembered on the Menin Gate, Panel 11. Ormsby was the third of seven Royal Irish Constabulary officers who gave their lives in 1914. Of the entire volunteer force, the Royal Irish Constabulary lost 176 men. 

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There is an article in the Belfast Telegraph (6 July 2018) that names Ormsby in remembrance. In the article it states that several months after Ormsby's death at Ypres, his brother and sister-in-law named their newborn boy, John James Ormsby in honour of him. Ormsby's nephew went on to fight and survive the Second World War. 

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Ormsby is remembered on several other web pages - Dungannon War Dead and Irish-Police

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