1st Battalion, Royal Irish Fusiliers (British Army)
Date Of Birth:
22/12/1889
Died:
31/05/1917 (Died of Wounds)
Age:
27
Summary
Henry Harry McGuigan was the son of George and Ellen McGuigan. He was born on 22nd December 1889 near Moy, County Tyrone. Henry was a linen finisher. Private Henry McGuigan was serving with the 2nd Battalion of the Royal Irish Fusiliers when he died of wounds in hospital in France on 31st May 1917. He was 27 years old. Private Henry McGuigan was one of three brothers who served.
Further Information
Henry Harry McGuigan was the son of George and Ellen McGuigan (nee Murphy). No GRONI record can be found.
Henry Joseph McGuigan was born on 22nd December 1889 near Moy, County Tyrone.
Known family: George McGuigan, Ellen McGuigan, Celia McGuigan (born about 1876, America), Ann McGuigan (born 29th February 1880), Ellen Nellie McGuigan (born 31st March 1885), John McGuigan (born 19th September 1887), Henry Joseph McGuigan (born 22nd December 1889), Margaret McGuigan (born 10th February 1892), Peter McGuigan (born 28th August 1894).
The 1901 census lists Harry as age 11 living with the family at house 5 in Donnydeade, Bernagh, Tyrone. He was still at school. His father, George, was a linen factory fireman. Celia McGuigan, the eldest child, had been born in America.
Harry’s father, George McGuigan, died in the Dungannon area on 13th April 1907, aged 61.
Harry’s mother, Ellen McGuigan, died in the Dungannon area on 12th August 1910, aged 54.
The 1911 census lists Henry as age 20 living with the family at house 6 in Donnydeade, Bernagh, Tyrone. Henry was a linen finisher. It seems both his parents had died by 1911. Henry’s eldest sister is now head of the family.
All three brothers who enlisted were members of the Moy Hibernian Band and of the Moy Company Irish National Volunteers, Harry having been drill instructor of the company.
Henry McGuigan enlisted in Armagh.
Private Harry McGuigan arrived in France with the Royal Irish Fusiliers on 27th December 1914.
1915
From the Belfast Newsletter dated 26th May 1915:
The relatives of Private Henry McGuigan, 1st Battalion Royal Irish Fusiliers have been notified at Dungannon that he has been wounded by shrapnel in the heavy fighting at Hill 60, and is at present in hospital in Liverpool. Another brother, Private John McGuigan, 2nd Battalion Royal Irish Fusiliers, has returned to France after leave through frostbite. A third brother, Private Peter McGuigan, who enlisted since the war broke out, is stationed at Buttevant, and belongs to the 9th Battalion Royal Dublin Fusiliers. They have a brother who resides at 1 Bread Street, Belfast.
From the Mid Ulster Mail dated 5th June 1915: Three McGuigans at the Front
The relatives of Private Henry McGuigan, Redford, Dungannon, 1st Battalion Royal Irish Fusiliers have been notified that he has been wounded by shrapnel in the heavy fighting at Hill 60, and is at present in hospital in Liverpool. Another brother, Private John McGuigan, 2nd Battalion Royal Irish Fusiliers, has returned to France after leave through frostbite. A third brother, Private Peter McGuigan, who enlisted since the war broke out, is stationed at Buttevant, and belongs to the 9th Battalion Royal Dublin Fusiliers.
Private Harry McGuigan had been wounded at Hill 60 in April 1915, and had been twice slightly wounded again by May 1916.
1916
From the Tyrone Courier dated 25 May 1916: Peter McGuigan (brother of Private Henry McGuigan)
Intimation has been received that Private Peter McGuigan, Dublin Fusiliers, was wounded in action on 27th April in the first hand to hand encounter the Irish Division (16th) has had with the Germans, in which they succeeded in driving them out of a part of the British trenches, which they had temporarily taken. Private McGuigan is one of three brothers at the front. Harry was wounded at Hill 60 in April 1915, and has been twice slightly wounded since. John has been through most of the fighting in France, and is at present with the Salonika Force. Both belong to the Irish Fusiliers. Their home is at Donnydeade, Dungannon.
1917
Private Henry McGuigan (5695) was serving with the 2nd Battalion of the Royal Irish Fusiliers when he died in hospital in St Pol-sur-Ternoise France on 31st May 1917.
No. 12 Stationary Hospital was posted on the race-course near the town from the 1st June 1916, to 1st June 1919. St Pol lies half way between Lens and the west coast of France.
From the Belfast Newsletter dated 5th June 1917:
Corporal Henry McGuigan, Royal Irish Fusiliers, died in France. Corporal McGuigan had previously been wounded three times and had been at the front for two and a half years. He has two brothers serving – Private Peter McGuigan, of the Dublin’s, who was recently recommended for gallantry, and John, who is serving with the Royal Irish Fusiliers. All are natives of Dungannon district. Another brother is Mr Thomas McGuigan, 1 Bread Street, Belfast.
From the Tyrone Courier dated Thursday 7 June 1917:
Intimation has been received from the War Office by the relatives at Donnydeade, Dungannon of the death of Corporal H McGuigan, Irish Fusiliers. The deceased was formerly an officer of the Moy Irish National Volunteers, and had been wounded in the first attack on Hill 60 and later at St Eloi. Two of his brothers are serving, and one of them was lately presented by Major General Hickie with a certificate for gallant conduct in the field.
From the Tyrone Courier and News dated Thursday 22 November 1917:
Mr F McGuigan, Doneydade, Dungannon, received intimation on Tuesday that his brother, Private John McGuigan, Royal Irish Fusiliers, had been killed in action on 7th November 1917 while serving with the Egyptian Forces. The deceased soldier had been on service for the past three years in France and Salonika. He is one of three brothers who volunteered at the commencement of the war. One of them, Corporal Harry McGuigan, of the same regiment, died in hospital on 1st June 1917 and had previously been wounded three times inside one year. Another brother, Peter, Royal Dublin Fusiliers, had been wounded and gassed. All three brothers were members of the Moy Hibernian Band and of the Moy Company Irish National Volunteers, Harry having been drill instructor of the company.
Five months later, Private John McGuigan was serving with the 2nd Battalion of the (Princess Victoria's) Royal Irish Fusiliers when he was killed in action in Egypt on 7th November 1917. He was 29 years old.
1918
Private Henry McGuigan was one of three brothers who served.
Private Peter McGuigan served with the Dublin Fusiliers and survived the war.
One of his brothers was presented by Major General Hickie with a certificate for gallant conduct in the field.
From the Tyrone Courier and Dungannon News dated Thursday 2 May 1918:
Private Peter McGuigan, Royal Dublin Fusiliers, who is reported a prisoner of war belongs to Doneydade, Dungannon, and was previously wounded. His brother John of the Royal Irish Fusiliers, was killed in Palestine and his brother Henry of the same regiment died of wounds. All three were members of the Moy Company, Irish National Volunteers and of the Moy Hibernian Flute Band.
Memorials
Private Henry McGuigan is buried in St Pol Communal Cemetery Extension,
Both Private Henry McGuigan and his brother John are commemorated locally on Dungannon War Memorial. In both cases, the name is spelt McGuiggan.
Both Private Henry McGuigan and his brother John are commemorated locally on Moy War Memorial.
