Rifleman John McCoo (6985059) served in 1st Battalion Royal Ulster Rifles during the Second World War. He was born in Richhill, Co. Armagh. Jimmy Bell and Minnie Bell of Gilford, Co. Down took care of him after the death of his parents.
John McCoo had 3 brothers who also served in the Second World War. Samuel McCoo served in the Royal Ulster Rifles, Cecil McCoo in the Royal Air Force, and William McCoo in the Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers.
John died on 13th June 1944 aged 21 years old. He was with No. 19 Platoon, D Company, 1st Battalion Royal Ulster Rifles on a patrol sweeping woodland to the rear of Battalion Headquarters. The Battalion landed in Normandy on D-Day, 6th June 1944.
John McCoo’s grave is in Section IIIA, Row K, Grave 4 of Ranville War Cemetery, Ranville, Normandy, France. His name is on a memorial at St. Paul’s Church of Ireland, Gilford, Co. Down, the Gilford War Memorial, Gilford, Co. Down, and the Richhill War Memorial, Richhill, Co. Armagh.