Heslop's Local Advertiser
Pauline Priano has submitted the following:-
John Mulligan was born at Wardley, County Durham in 1889 the eldest child, one of 7 sons and 3 daughters all of whom survived. His father Moses Mulligan born July 10th 1863 at Ouseburn Northumberland married Sarah Dixon born 1868, native of Gateshead, at Newcastle-upon-Tyne in 1886. By 1891 they had moved to Heworth near Gateshead, in 1901 Moses was employed as a labourer at the shipyards and later when the family were living at Lennox Street, Heworth Lanes near Felling in 1911 as a boilermaker’s helper whilst John (22) was employed as a coal hewer along with brother Matthew (18) a stone putter, at Heworth Colliery, William (20) worked at the brick yard as a labourer, the younger children were scholars.
John married in 1911 in the district of Gateshead Elizabeth Corr who gave birth to a son John Moses, September 6th 1912. At the time of his enlistment August 19th 1914 his wife had just given birth to their second child named Paul.
Once enlisted at Gateshead John Mulligan was moved to Newcastle-upon-Tyne and assigned as Private 12885 to the 10th Battalion Durham Light Infantry. The battalion left Newcastle for training at Woking, moved to Aldershot, then to Whitley in November 1914 for the winter and did not return to Aldershot until February 1915 for final training. Whilst Private Mulligan was at Whitley his son Paul, aged only 6 months, died of bronchial pneumonia and exhaustion, January 6th 1915.
The 10th Battalion departed to France, May 21st 1915, attached to the 43rd Brigade, 14th (Light) Division, landing at Boulogne. They fought in the the Action of Hooge, the first division to be attacked by flamethrowers and saw action in the second attack on Bellewaarde. In 1916 they were on the Somme where they participated in the Battle of Delville Wood and The Battle of Flers-Courcelette.
Private 12885 John Mulligan Durham Light Infantry was killed in action August 12th 1916, after Armistice his body was either found on the battlefield or brought in from one of the smaller surrounding cemeteries for reburial with all honour and reverence at Delville Wood Cemetery, Longueval, Somme, France, grave VI. E. 7. He was 27 years old.
His widow Elizabeth received all monies due to him, a pension for herself and their son of 15 shillings a week as of February 19th 1917 and his awards of the 1914-15 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal, sent to her at their home address of 14, Brown’s Place, Felling, Gateshead, County Durham.
Their son John Moses Mulligan died in 1988 aged 75 years in the district of Gateshead, details of Elizabeth Mulligan nee Corr unknown.
In God’s safe keeping. Rest in Peace.
His death was reported in Heslop's Local Advertiser 22/9/1916:
"Private John Mulligan, D.L.I. killed in action on August 12th, aged 27 years. Husband of Elizabeth Mulligan (nee Carr), 14 Brown's Place, Felling, and son of Moses and Sarah Mulligan, of Heworth Lane."
The edition of 24/08/1917 carries an In Memoriam notice.
John Mulligan is remembered in Felling on F32.06 and F32.24 and at Heworth on H92.03 H92.04 and H92.07
