Pte William Regan - have I exhausted all avenues

shar01 · 01-06-2014 12:17pm #1

Hi all,

For years I was aware of a memorial plaque (or dead man's penny) in the possession of a family member. I recently received a photo of it and began trying to find out more.

Plaque is engraved "William Regan" - the brother of my great grandmother Helena (O') Regan.

I have medal card for 8981 Pte William Regan, Royal Irish Fusiliers, KIA. Memorial Record shows he died 26/08/1914. And CWGC has him on the La Ferte-Sous-Jourarre memorial.

I have an attestation for a William Regan from Cork for the King's Royal Rifle Corps - the date is unclear - it's 20 July 189?. I'm not sure this is him as I'm having problems tracking down a birth cert. His sister Helena was born in Rathkeale, Limerick in 1882.

From the War Diaries, I'm guessing he died at the Battle of Le Cateau.

His entry on The Index to War Deaths 1914-1921 makes reference to volume I.76, page 1.

So... after all that... Is that something else I can look at? Or do I pretty much have everything on William?

Thanks in advance for any pointers!

Sharon

johnny_doyle · 02-06-2014 10:24pm

Le Cateau is the probable engagement he was killed in. The battalion only landed in France 22/23 August and then straight into the thick of it. His early deployment suggests he was either already a regular or an ex-regular in the reserves. You could probably get more information about enlistment date from his number.

In the UK 1911 census, a William Regan from Charleville aged 24 is a Private in the 2nd Battalion, Royal Irish Fusiliers stationed in India.

Might be worth checking with the Western Front Association re the pension index cards they have to see if there was a pension paid to any relatives.

shar01 · 03-06-2014 8:23am

I knew Boards wouldn't let me down!

Many many thanks Johnny. I'll certainly give the WFA a try. I knew some records were lost in WWII so I wasn't sure if there was anything else to find.

I think I've a few credits left on Ancestry so I'll take a look at the UK Census.

Thanks again,

Sharon

johnny_doyle · 03-06-2014 11:11pm

re numbers, based on Silver War Badge records :

8978 John Lan(n)igan enlisted 16/09/1905

8986 James McConkey enlisted 2/10/1905

which would place William's enlistment in either September or October 1905.

shar01 · 04-06-2014 7:31am

Again thanks so much. It's great to "flesh" out William's background. I'll take a proper look at the weekend.

A nephew of William's joined the British Army and served (we think) in India during WWII. I suppose with William as a long time regular soldier, he was an example to his nephew.

shar01 · 30-11-2014 11:35am

Just an update...

Turns out 8981 Pte William Regan is not my William.

My William Regan was 6/438 Pte William Regan of the Royal Munster Fusiliers. Looks like he originally joined in October 1896. He re-enlisted on 09/09/1914. William survived the War and became 377659 and 703117 of the Labour Corp. He died on 20/06/1919 while in the Labour Corp - cause of death - overcome by fumes while working in a lime kiln in Rathkeale.

Still some more digging to do but I was delighted to find what I did.

S.

johnny_doyle · 30-11-2014 10:15pm

have you managed to go through his service record on Ancestry. In particular, the confession re desertion from RMF and fraudulent enlistment in Irish Guards. Irish Guards records are held separately from the general records of WW1 records and worth writing to see what they have re him ( as William Moloney, no 10983)

johnny_doyle · 30-11-2014 10:34pm

he should have a Commonwealth War Graves Commission war grave if he died whilst a member of the BA (which he appears to have been at the time of his death). Might be something to throw to the In From the Cold Project.

shar01 · 01-12-2014 7:42am

johnny_doyle wrote: »

have you managed to go through his service record on Ancestry. In particular, the confession re desertion from RMF and fraudulent enlistment in Irish Guards. Irish Guards records are held separately from the general records of WW1 records and worth writing to see what they have re him ( as William Moloney, no 10983)

I did search on Ancestry & Find My Past but found nothing. I hoped that although he was found out very quickly there would still be attestation papers. Thanks for the info re Irish Guards records.

johnny_doyle · 02-12-2014 6:27pm

can you see if you can open these

Name: William Regan
Gender: Male
Birth Date: abt 1878
Age at Enlistment: 41
Residence Place: Church Street, Rath Keale Co Limerick
Document Year: 1919
Regimental Number: 703117
Regiment Name: Labour Corps
Number of Images: 63
Form Title: Short Service Attestation
http://search.ancestry.co.uk/cgi-bin/sse.dll?MS_AdvCB=1&rank=1&new=1&MSAV=2&gss=angs-c&gsfn=william&gsfn_x=XO&gsln=regan&gsln_x=XO&gskw=Labour&gskw_x=1&cpxt=0&uidh=1q4&cp=11&pcat=MIL_DRAFT&h=1648175&db=BritishArmyService&indiv=1&ml_rpos=1

Name: William Regan
Gender: Male
Birth Date: abt 1878
Age at Enlistment: 41
Residence Place: Church Street, Rathkeale Co Limerick
Document Year: 1919
Regimental Number: 703117
Regiment Name: Labour Corps
Number of Images: 25
Form Title: Short Service Attestation

http://search.ancestry.co.uk/cgi-bin/sse.dll?MS_AdvCB=1&rank=1&new=1&MSAV=2&gss=angs-c&gsfn=william&gsfn_x=XO&gsln=regan&gsln_x=XO&gskw=Labour&gskw_x=1&cpxt=0&uidh=1q4&cp=11&pcat=MIL_DRAFT&h=1483443&db=BritishArmyService&indiv=1&ml_rpos=2

Irish Guards archives address is on this blog page
http://johnny-doyle.blogspot.co.uk/2013/01/irish-soldiers-ww1.html

shar01 · 02-12-2014 8:40pm

Hi Johnny,

Many thanks for those links - I had found his Labour Corps records. I've printed so much stuff off but have to go through everything properly. I also found my great great grandfather's army records

so I've plenty to keep me going.

I'll have a read of your blog over the weekend.

Many many thanks again,

Sharon

Pte William Regan - have I exhausted all avenues

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