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Robert Arthur Arland Macready was born on 30 May 1895 at Irvinestown, County Fermanagh, eldest son of bank manager Robert Macready and his wife Henrietta Isabel (nee Battersby).
1895 May 30 Born in Irvinestown, Co Fermanagh, (son of Robert Macready)
1901 census for Main Street, Irvinestown, County Fermanagh, Ireland.
1911 census at 7 in Balfour Avenue, Templecorran, Antrim
Macready was educated at the Royal Academical Institution, and Shaftesbury College, Belfast, before finding employment as a motor mechanic.
1914 Sep 4. He enlisted in the North Irish Horse at Larne (No.1131),
1915 May 1. Landed in Franceas part of D Squadron
1915 Oct 2. Macready applied for a commission in the Leinster Regiment
1916 Jan 1 Commissioned 2nd Lt Leinster Regt - Robert Arthur Arland Macready. He was posted to the 3rd (Reserve) Battalion, Leinster Regiment, and ordered to join the School of Instruction at Cork
1916 Dec At the end of 1916 he was attached to the 2nd Battalion, Leinster Regiment, joining them in the field at Les Brebis on the Loos front on 10 December.
1917 Jan 10. Macready was part of a major raid by the battalion on the enemy trenches near Maroc. The war diary for that day states:
At 4.20 pm a raiding party which had been training in Les Brebis crossed no man's land under cover of a smoke barrage and entered the enemy's trenches on both sides of the apex of the Triangle capturing 8 prisoners and inflicting considerable losses of the enemy. Several deep dug outs were bombed. Our party returned under cover of an intense artillery barrage. A bombardment near Harrison's had previously attracted the enemy's attention. Great assistance was given by one of our aeroplanes which flew low over the raided area, inflicting damage by M.G. fire, thereby distracting the attention of hostile M.G. and observers. Our casualties – Lt C.L.P. Heming wounded. 19 O.R. wounded. 2 O.R. missing. 1 O.R. killed.
For his role in the raid, Macready was awarded a Military Cross. His citation states:
For conspicuous gallantry in action. He displayed great courage and initiative during a raid against the enemy's trenches. He himself bombed several dugouts and killed two of the enemy. Later, he assisted to carry a dead man back to our lines under heavy fire.
1917 Jan 27 Confirmed in rank of 2nd Lt in Leinster Regt - Robert Arthur Arland Macready
1917 Feb. During a routine patrol Macready "fell astride a beam of wood in a shell-hole and bruised the right testicle." The injury was serious enough to see him evacuated to England for treatment. This and a series of other illnesses, including the need for major dental work, saw Macready confined to officers' hospitals and on home duty with the 3rd Leinsters until mid 1918.
1917 Jul 1. 2nd Lieut MC to be Lieut Leinster Regiment
1918 Jul 31. He again embarked for France, joining the 2nd Leinsters in the field on 16 August. However five days later at Bailleul his left knee was struck by a piece of sheeting, causing a contusion severe enough to warrant his evacuation to England for treatment. It was some time before he was fit for general service.
1919 Oct 21 Demobilised
1920 Apr 1. Relinquished Commission from 3rd Leins. R. and retain rank of Lt.:
National Archives notes amongst the applications for permanent commissions in the Indian Army IOR/L/MIL/9/438 1916-1918: MacReady, Robert Arthur Arland IOR/L/MIL/9/438/71-81.
1921 Mar 17. Joined ADRIC with service no 1838 . Posted to H Coy from O Coy. Odd entry in that it is out of date sequence in the Alphabetic register, it is as if he signed on about 20 Dec, but did not turn up till March.
Fined £5 by Coy Commander
1921 May 12. he married Thurfrida Rowena Winifred Barlowe at Glencraig, County Down.
1922 Jan 13. Discharged on demobilisation of ADRIC
1925 May 19. Lt. R. A. A. Macready, M.C., late 3rd Bn. Leins. E., on enlistment in the ranks, relinquishes the rank of Lt. 19th May 1925
In 1925 he attempted to enlist in the army but was rejected on account of being a married man. After a series of appeals, on 19 May he was accepted as a sapper in the Royal Engineers (No.1864070), having first formally relinquished his rank of lieutenant.
Macready remained with the regiment for many years. He died at Gibraltar on 19 October 1940 while serving in No.1 Fortress Company, and is buried in the Gibraltar (North Front) Cemetery, grave II.D.20.
1940 Oct 19. CWGC grave. Died Gibraltar
