Year of birth: 1898

Place of birth: Shankill, Belfast, County Antrim, Northern Ireland, United Kingdom

Profession: Doffer

Country: Northern Ireland, United Kingdom

Force: British Expeditionary Force

Rank: Private

Service number: 26306

Enlistment place: Belfast, Antrim, Ireland, United Kingdom

Units:  —  Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers, 7th Bn.  (Last known unit)

Date of death: 16/08/1917

Place of death: Delva Farm, Belgium

Cause of death: Killed in action (K.I.A.)

Age: 19

British War Medal Medal — 30/09/1920

Victory Medal Medal — 30/09/1920

William Henry Corrigan was born in 1898 in Shankill, an area of Belfast, Northern Ireland. He was the son of Mary Ann Shane, and the stepson of John Shane. According to the 1911 census, and prior to his listing, William worked as a half timer doffer, meaning he split his time into working in the textile industry whilst also maintaining education. He enlisted in Belfast, and by the time of the battle of Passchendaele he was serving in the Royal Inskilling Fusiliers, 7th Battalion, part of the 49th Brigade, of the 16th Division.

From 16-18th August 1917, the 7th Battalion was involved in the Battle of Langemark, which was the second major clash between the German and British forces in the Third Battle of Ypres. On the morning of 16th August 1917, the 49th Brigade attacked on the Frezenberg Ridge with the 7th Battalion to the left of Beck House and the 8th Battalion to the right. The Battalions managed to secure Beck house one hour into the fighting, and had sustained minimal loses due to escaping German shelling. Whilst the 8th Battalion turned towards Borry Farm, the 7th Inniskillings continued onwards towards Delva Farm, which British high command deemed a strong point. William’s Battalion took control of the position, however an German counterattack flanked the 7th Battalion, which lead to heavy casualties and the loss of control of Delva farm.

19-year old Private William Corrigan was one of the 368 casualties of the 7th Battalion Inniskilling Fusiliers on 16 August 1917. He went missing during the fighting, possibly while his Battalion retreated from Delva Farm, leaving behind the dead and gravely injured. William has no known grave and is remembered on the Tyne Cot Memorial.

"Passchendaele. The Day-by-Day Account", McCarthy C., London, Uniform, 2018, pg. 52-53. Sources used

"The Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers in The World War", Fox F., Uckfield, The Naval & Military Press LTD, 2009, pg. 99-102. Sources used

7 Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers (The National Archives, Kew (TNA), British Army war diaries 1914-1922, WO WO 95/1977/2). https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/ Further reference

British Army World War I Medal Rolls Index Cards, 1914-1920 (The National Archives, Kew (TNA), WO 372/5/32186). https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/ Sources used

Census of Ireland 1901/1911 (The National Archives of Ireland, Dublin (NAI)). https://www.nationalarchives.ie/ Sources used

Soldier' Effects Records (National Army Museum, Chelsea (NAM) 1901-60; NAM Accession Number: 1991-02-333). https://www.nam.ac.uk/ Sources used

Commonwealth War Graves Commission Database https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/casualty-details/841412

Lives of the First World War (Imperial War Museum) https://livesofthefirstworldwar.iwm.org.uk/lifestory/966999

Namenlijst (In Flanders Fields Museum) https://namenlijst.org/publicsearch/#/person/_id=e223ace3-8445-4998-9d7b-96f135fc944b