William Milligan was the son of Thomas and Sarah Ann Milligan. He was born on 1st March 1897 in Donaghenry, Stewartstown. He was one of eight children, seven surviving, all born in the Stewartstown area. By 1911 the family were living in Milltown, Dungannon and William had left school and was working as a telegram boy. William Milligan originally enlisted with the 9th Battalion of the Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers. Private Milligan was wounded at the Somme. It seems Private Milligan re-enlisted with the 1st Battalion of the Machine Gun Corps (Infantry). Corporal William Milligan died on 7th June 1917.
Further Information
William Milligan was the son of Thomas and Sarah Ann Milligan. Thomas Milligan and Sarah Hyde were married on 14th May 1890 in the district of Cookstown, presumably Stewartstown.
William Milligan was born on 1st March 1897 in Donaghenry, Stewartstown. He was one of eight children, seven surviving, all born in the Stewartstown area.
The 1901 census lists William as age 4 living with the family at house 4 in Templereagh, Stewartstown, County Tyrone. His father, Thomas Milligan, was a farm labourer.
Family: Thomas Milligan, Sarah Ann Milligan, Matilda Milligan (born 27th February 1891), Hugh Harris Milligan (born 28th March 1894), James Milligan (born 11th January 1896, died 6th February 1896), William Milligan (born 1st March 1897), Anne Milligan (born 6th October 1898), Elizabeth Milligan (born 29th April 1900), Harriet Milligan (born 15th October 1906), Mary Minnie Milligan (born 29th June 1908)
William Milligan attended Drumglass Boys National School in Dungannon.
The 1911 census lists William as age 14, living with the family at house 22 in Milltown, Dungannon. William had left school and was working as a telegram boy. His father was a carter
1915
William Milligan originally enlisted in Dungannon with the 9th Battalion of the Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers (Service No. 16907).
Private Milligan arrived in France with the Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers on 5th October 1915.
1916
Private Milligan was wounded at the Somme.
From the Mid Ulster Mail dated Saturday 8th July 1916:
Private William Mulligan, of the 9th Royal Inniskillings (son of Mr Thomas Mulligan, Milltown, Dungannon), is in hospital in France suffering from wounds received during the advance.
From the Tyrone Courier dated 13 July 1916:
Private William Milligan, Inniskillings, wounded, is a son of T Milligan, Milltown.
1917
It seems Corporal Milligan re-enlisted with the 1st Battalion of the Machine Gun Corps (Infantry).
Corporal William Milligan was serving with the 1st Battalion of the Machine Gun Corp when he was killed in action in France on 7th June 1917.
From the Belfast Newsletter dated 19th June 1917:
Private William Milligan, Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers, Brooke Street, Dungannon, killed in action.
From the Tyrone Courier dated Thursday 21st June 1917:
Private William Milligan, Inniskilling Fusiliers, killed in action on 9th June 1917, was a son of Mr Thomas Milligan, Milltown, and had formerly being employed in Dungannon Post Office and was wounded on 1st July 1916.
From the Tyrone Courier dated 21st June 1917: (Dungannon Council)
Mr Skeffington referred to the death in a flying accident of Second Lieutenant W J M Andrews, R.F.C., Dungannon, and proposed a resolution of sympathy with the relatives. He had died when serving in one of the most dangerous and exacting branches of the service, and the relatives had their keen sympathy at the funeral of this most gallant young man. The resolution was unanimously passed. The chairman referred to the deaths of in action of Private Milligan, a son of one of their employees, and Shoeing Smith F Carberry, a brother of one of their members, who had died upholding the honour of Dungannon abroad, and the clerk was directed to convey the Council’s sympathy to the relatives.
Memorials
Corporal William Milligan is buried in Voormezeele Enclosure No. 3, south-west of Ypres town centre.
Corporal William Milligan is commemorated locally on Dungannon War Memorial and on the WWI Roll of Honour in St Anne's Church Of Ireland in Dungannon.
The CWGC record Corporal William Milligan as the son of Thomas and Sarah Ann Milligan of 9 Brooke Street, Dungannon, County Tyrone.
