The Tinneny Family History Site

James Toland

James Toland was the spouse of Catherine Murray, daughter of Patrick and Mary Tinneny Murray of Derrykenny, Newtownbutler, County Fermanagh Northern Ireland. He served in the Royal Irish Fusiliers in World War I and was wounded at the battle of the Somme in France. He was awarded 3 medals for his service.

L-R: Jennifer Toland Scott, Marie Price Horgan, Anthony “Tony” Toland and Teresa Toland McEntee.

June 7, 2026, three of James and Catherine’s grandchildren met with their uncle Anthony “Tony” Toland, his partner Lyn and his two sons Jason and Justin. The gathering was in the Malt House Farm pub in Chorley, Lancashire, England. They presented James and Catherine’s surviving child,Tony, a framed memento of his father’s service.

The memento included the Toland coat of arms, a photo of James in his military uniform, miniatures of the 3 medals he was awarded (British War Medal, Victory Medal 1914-19 and 1914-15 Star). At the right side of the frame is a poem written by James and 4 soldiers from his home town of Lurgan during the battle of the Somme in France. James was 17 years old. There were about 100 men in the unit only 10 returned. The idea, research, and production of the memento was a joint effort of James Toland’s granddaughters Marie, Jennifer, and Teresa and was supported by other Toland family members.

The Memento

The Poem

We are the local heroes

Who come from Lurgan Town;

We don't forget our comrades Who come from Portadown.

And God bless our gallant heroes, That they may never fail, And when the letters they arrive They

shout, 'Here's the Lurgan Mail.

Now here's to Sir Edward Carson, And likewise John Redmond too,

Sure they have joined hand in hand To make the Germans rue;

Sure we are the 1st Battalion Of the Royal Irish Fusiliers.

Joined hand in hand to crush the foe With the Ulster Volunteers.

And when we get to the German trenches You should hear the Gentians shout

"My goodness there's the Inshmen, Now you sentries keep a sharp look out,* And when we mount the parapet The German shows fair heels

"My goodness straf the Irishmen, And their fondness for cold steel.*

Here's to our hero soldiers, I tell you one and all The Lurgan boys turned out in hundreds When they heard the bugle call;

The bugle sounds the rally,

Our bayonets we fix.

And Hugh Creaney from Arthur Street, He was ever at his tricks

Also James McAlinden who made the Boches run, And Jemmy Smyth, the devil, Sure he's always up to fun;

And when Mac dashes forward

I may tell you, it is true

Sure he is out run by Neil, Brady and Toland, Who comes from Lurgan too.

And here's to all the Lurgan boys sure

It's them we like to see, And when we meet in Lurgan town May we have a jolly spree;

And when we walk down North Street Right down to the Distillery Hill!

Sure we'll shout God strafe the Kaiser And his nosy son called Bill.

Now here's to the "Lurgan Mail"

That leads the paper band, So we think when in the trenches When we get it from friends in Ireland

And when it comes to us we shout With might and main

Good Luck to all the Lurgan men from Blough