Biography: Major Robert Albert Orr BEM, JP: Born Eden Fore Townland, Bodoney Upper Parish, County Tyrone, Northern Ireland 1888, Died 1967

Submitted by
William Houston
wth1948[at]hotmail.co.uk

Major Robert Albert Orr BEM, JP.

Robert Albert Orr was born on 28 May 1888 at Eden Fore Townland, Plumbridge, Bodoney Upper Parish. The 1901 Census shows: father John age 36; mother Annie age 30; siblings William J. age 9, John age 5, Annie M. age 2. He joined the Royal Irish Constabulary in 1907 and served as a constable at Belleek, County Fermanagh. Enlisted on 18 January 1916 into The Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers and joined the 12th (Reserve) Battalion (12 / 28743, Cadet), Lance Corporal. He joined 7th Officer Cadet Battalion at Fermoy on 5 September 1916. Commissioned into Princess Victoria’s (Royal Irish Fusiliers) on 19 December 1916 and was posted to the 10th (Reserve) Battalion. To France 5 September 1917 and joined the 9th Royal Irish Fusiliers on 29 September 1917. Probably ‘B’ Company. Wounded in the leg on 12 April 1918 near Wulverghem and evacuated to hospital in England on 30 April 1918. Lieutenant 19 June 1918. In October 1918 he sailed for Salonika; he landed at Itea and joined the 2nd Battalion, Duke of Cornwall’s Light Infantry on 3 November 1918. To 63rd General Hospital (laryngitis, later diagnosed as tonsillitis) 12 November 1918. He joined the Demobilisation Concentration Camp on 10 January 1919 and then served at the General Base Depot before joining 999th Area Employment Company. He sailed for the United Kingdom on 11 December 1919. He relinquished his commission on 16 January 1920. After the war he worked as a physical education teacher in Strabane before buying a farm near Plumbridge. He later became the sub-postmaster at Newtownstewart. He was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant (361710) on 25 February 1946 for service with the Army Cadet Force, Northern Ireland Command and joined the 2nd (Cadet) Battalion, The Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers. Lieutenant 25 August 1947. Resigned his commission 28 June 1951 and appointed Honorary Major. Justice of the Peace. In 1965 he was awarded the British Empire Medal for his service as the Sub-Postmaster at Newtownstewart, County Tyrone. He died in 1967, aged 79, in his daughter’s house at 4 Orr Park,  Newtownstewart; Orr Park had been named after him. His cousin, Corporal Robert Lunney, was killed in action on 1 July 1916 serving with the 9th (Service) Battalion, The Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers (County Tyrone).