Heslop's Local Advertiser
Pauline Priano has submitted the following:-
Robert Minnigan was born May 15th 1896 at Felling, Gateshead, County Durham the son of John Minnigan 1862 and his wife Anne Tulip 1864, both natives of Felling. The couple were married, in the district of Gateshead, September 1885. Ann Tulip had a daughter Elizabeth born in 1883, she and Robert went on to have a further 6 children, including Robert, 2 sons and 4 daughters. Samuel Tulip Minnigan the eldest died, aged 18, in 1909. The family lived at Brewery Lane, Felling Shore where John worked as a dock labourer, at the age of 14 Robert was already working at the colliery.
Robert Minnigan enlisted August 21st 1916 and was assigned as Ordinary Seaman Z/6932 Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve, 4th Reserve Battalion. He was part of the draft for Hawke Battalion and departed as part of the British Expeditionary Force to France, July 10th 1916, joining the Base Depot Etaples as a clerk July 12th until September 15th 1916. Considered undersized and immature he was invalided back to the United Kingdom, September 19th 1916 and assigned, now with the rank of Able Seaman to a patrol boat, Royal Naval Reserve Blandford Camp, near Bournemouth, Dorset.
Due to its position Bournemouth became a hospital centre in 1914 at the beginning of The Great War. As casualties increased the local hospitals could not cope and several hotels were taken over by the Government, one of these was the Mont Dore. Able Seaman Robert Minnigan was taken here suffering with an appendicitis and died at 4 a. m., December 1st 1916. Cause of death recorded as, “died of disease”. His next of kin, listed as his father John, living at 3 Smith’s Terrace, Felling Shore, were informed.
His remains were returned to his home town of Felling and he was interred at Heworth (St Mary) Churchyard, Gateshead, County Durham. He was 20 years old and single. Awarded the British War Medal and Victory Medal.
In God’s safe keeping. Rest In Peace.
Robert's death was reported in Heslop's Local Advertiser 22/12/1916.
Robert Minnigan is remembered at Heworth on H92.03
