Pte
William Monaghan
Information about birth
Date of birth: 16/06/1885 |
Place of birth: Newtownhamilton, Armagh, Ireland, United Kingdom |
General information
Profession: Day laborer |
Army information
Country: Ireland, United Kingdom |
Force: British Expeditionary Force |
Rank: Private |
Service number: 23300 |
Enlistment date: 11/1915 |
Enlistment place: Newry, County Down, Ireland, United Kingdom |
Units: — Royal Irish Fusiliers, 9th Bn. (Last known unit) |
Information about death
Date of death: 16/08/1917 |
Place of death: Hill 35, Belgium |
Cause of death: Killed in action (K.I.A.) |
Age: 32 |
Memorial
Tyne Cot Memorial Panel: 141 |
Distinctions and medals 2
British War Medal Medal |
Victory Medal Medal |
Points of interest 3
#1 | Place of birth | ||
#2 | Enlistment place | ||
#3 | Place of death (approximate) |
My story
Private Monaghan William was part of the 9th Bn. Royal Irish Fusiliers, 108th Brigade, 36th Division and took part in the Battle of Langemark on 16th August 1917. The battalion assembled in an old trench running from Pommern Redoubt (HQ) to Iberian Farm. During the attack they reached a hostile entrenched position south of strongpoint at Hill 35. The strong opposition was met and the strongpoint, which held up the advance, was taken. In the mean while the 7/8th Royal Irish Fusiliers got ahead of them as did the barrage. A platoon was left to consolidate Hill 35 as the assault continued. They pushed on until the center had reached a double row of wire south and east of Gallipoli which was only cut in one or two places. Again this held up the advance. German machinegun fire was brought to bear on them from dugouts in Gallipoli, Aisne House, Martha House and Hill 37, which caused a lot of casualties. It was found impossible to push on. The battalion retired and took up a line along a trench running along Hill 35. But machinegun fire from Hill 37 was enfilading this position and again the battalion retired to a trench running in a southern direction on Hill 35. This was consolidated and held until the 16th Division to their right had to fall back, again the battalion had to retired due to enfilade fire, from Iberian Farm. William Monaghan was killed in the area of Pommern Redoubt and Hill 35, due to the battalion retreating his body was never recovered. He is on the Tyne Cot Memorial to the Missing.
Sources 4
9th Battalion Royal Irish Fusiliers, (The National Archives, Kew (TNA), WO 95/2505/2). Sources used |
Cunliffe Marcus, The Royal Irish Fusiliers : 1793-1968 (Oxford, Oxford University Press, 1970). Sources used |
Harris Henry, The Royal Irish Fusiliers (the 87th and 89th Regiments of Foot) (London, Leo Cooper, 1972). Further reference |
McCarthy, Chris, Passchendaele. The Day-by-Day Account (London: Unicorn Publishing Group, 2018). Sources used |
More information 3
Namenlijst (In Flanders Fields Museum) https://namenlijst.org/publicsearch/#/person/_id=85c67019-120a-4f0a-a0c5-699f8fe8e574 |
Commonwealth War Graves Commission Database https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/casualty-details/23300 |
Lives of the First World War (Imperial War Museum) https://livesofthefirstworldwar.iwm.org.uk/lifestory/2023300 |