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William Robert McConnell was born on 10 April 1893 at 14 Kingscourt Street, Belfast, the youngest of four children of RIC constable Henry Horace French McConnell and his wife Sarah Jane (nee Lewis). His mother died when he was just eleven years old. By 1911 he was living with his father and two of his siblings at 193 Templemore Avenue, Belfast, and working as an apprentice in the timber trade
1893 Apr 10. Born Belfast son of a RIC Constable
1901 census at 14 Kingscourt Street, Ormeau, Down
1904 His mother died
1911 census at 193 Templemore Av. Belfast (same as on MIC)
1915 Jan 21 or 22. McConnell enlisted in the North Irish Horse on 20 or 21 January 1915 (No.1414 – later Corps of Hussars No.71379).
1915 Aug 10. Landed in Egypt. In the first half of 1915 he embarked for England with F Squadron, where they awaited orders for France. On 12 July, however, McConnell was one of about two dozen men of the squadron who volunteered for service as Military Mounted Police with the 54th (East Anglian) Division, which was under orders to join the Mediterranean Expeditionary Force. They sailed from Devonport on HMT Manitou on 29 July 1915, joining the landing at Suvla Bay between 10 and 16 August. At the end of the year the Gallipoli campaign was abandoned and the North Irish Horse military policemen moved with the 54th Division to Egypt.
1917 Sep. Commissioned in Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers.
1920 Sep 24. Joined ADRIC with service no 632. Posted to J Coy in Macroom
1920 Nov 19. Intelligence Officer J Coy . Promoted to DI3
1921 Feb 25. Coolavohig Ambush Seafield Grant was in the lead car, beside him was 3rd DI W R McConnell who took command when Seafield Grant was killed. He gave evidence at the inquest . His signature shows he was Intelligence Officer for the Company at this time
191 Apr 16 to Apr 19 on Leave
1921 Jun 6. Posted to N Coy as Intelligence Officer
1921 Jul 20 to 27 Jul on Leave
1921 Aug 3 to 18 Aug on Leave
1921 Oct 1. Posted to H Coy as Intelligence Officer
1921 Oct 1 to 17 Oct on Leave
1921 Nov 11. Posted to Depot Coy. Reverts to T/Cadet
1922 Jan . The register does not give the date of discharge from ADRIC, but it appears to be at demobilisation
1926 Oct 11 Arrives in Canada He is a Police Officer and was immigrating to Canada. Address Templeton Av, Belfast
1927 Oct 17. Married in Canada to Anis McRae Slephen
1940 Feb 10 Died and buried in Mount Royal Cemetery Montreal