Heslop's Local Advertiser
Michael Duggan
Pauline Priano has submitted the following:-
Michael Duggan was born at Felling, Gateshead, County Durham in 1877, the third born of 4 sons and a daughter. His father Hugh Duggan born 1839 in Ireland had come to England settling in the north east where he met Rebecca Hannah born at South Shields in 1843 to Irish immigrants. They were married at Gateshead, November 3rd 1866, however Patrick was born there in 1871, whether they returned to Ireland to live or only for the birth of their first child is unclear. They had returned to Heworth, Gateshead by 1874 both Hugh and Rebecca were involved in the grocery business, by 1891 they were living at West Road, Heworth. Patrick (20) the eldest was employed by the Northern Railways as a porter, William (16) worked as a labourer at the ship yards while Michael only 14 years laboured at the chemical works, John (13) and Mary (11) were scholars. In 1901 Michael (24) was working as a clerk for the railways, John had gone on to become a school teacher, Mary a dressmaker. In late 1901 Hugh Duggan passed away followed by his wife in 1904.
Michael Duggan was married at Gateshead, November 3rd 1906 to Winifride Stewart born at Heworth in 1880, in 1911 they were living at 45, Salisbury Street, Pelaw on Tyne, along with Mary Ann Stewart, Rebecca’s sister. Rebecca had given birth to Michael Stewart Duggan in 1910, he was their third child but unfortunately the other two children had died in infancy, however, they did go on to have a further 3 children, Mary in 1912, Margaret in 1914 and Dorothy during the 3rd quarter (Jul/Aug/Sep) 1916, born just after the departure of her father for the Western Front.
Michael Duggan had enlisted on the outbreak of war, November 14th 1914 at Newcastle-upon-Tyne, assigned as Private 228 to the 24th Battalion (1st Tyneside Irish) Northumberland Fusiliers, a Pals Battalion. After initial training at home they were moved to Ripon where they joined the 103rd Brigade, 34th Division, after further training and having moved to Salisbury Plain in late August, they departed for the Western Front, January 1916, where they concentrated near La Crosse in France just east of St. Omer.
Having been moved to the Somme they took part in the front line attack on the opening day of battle July 1st 1916 during the Battle of Albert July 1st-13th.
Private 24/228 Michael Duggan Northumberland Fusiliers was killed in action July 1st 1916. His sacrifice is recorded as one of the 72,246 names of British and South African servicemen inscribed on the Thiepval Memorial to the Missing of the Somme, Thiepval France, commemorating those who died on the Somme 1915-1918 and who have no known grave.
His widow received all monies due to him, a pension for herself and their children along with his awards of the British War Medal and Victory Medal sent to her at Felling, Gateshead, County Durham.
Winifride remarried at Gateshead in 1921 to Craster Pringle. Winifride Pringle-Duggan nee Stewart died at Gateshead in 1948 aged 68 years.
In God’s safe keeping. Rest In Peace.
His death was reported in Heslop's Local Advertiser 17/11/1916:
"Private Michael Duggan, N.F., previously reported missing, now reported killed in action, July 1st, aged 40 years. Son of the late Hugh and Rebecca Duggan, of Felling Shore."
He is remembered at Felling on F32.24 and at Gateshead in G39.004
