William Kirby and Brenda McMahon have submitted the following:-
John was born in 1895 the son of John and Sarah Ann (nee Unsworth) at Easington.
The 1901 census shows the family at Browns Place at Heworth. The couple went on to have 10 children but unfortunately 2 died. John was the eldest son followed by George and then sister, Ann. John father was a coal miner/hewer.
By 1911 the household had moved to 17 Quarry Row Houghton le Spring. As well as John who was aged 16 and working as an electrical hauling engine driver (below ground), George aged 14 was a pony driver (below ground). Other siblings included Elizabeth, Owen, Deborah, Stella and Peter who were mainly at school.
John joined the colours and was allocated his first service number 2249. Later his number was changed to 771012. He was a gunner with the Territorial Force.
John was posted to France on 12th August 1915. Just over 2 years later he was killed in action on 26th October 1917 at the age of 22 years.
His mother’s brother, James Edward Unsworth, had been killed in action at Gallipoli on 29th June 1915.
John's parents added the following inscription to his headstone, “Miserare nobis domine” (Have mercy on us Lord). They also gave a stained glass window to their church St Mary Magdalen at Seaham Harbour. John Garrigan (father) was a prominent Labour Party and Miners' Union member. In the 1920s the family lived at 23 Longnewton Street, Dawdon.
Medals :-1915 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal.
John Garrigan is remembered at Dawdon on D41.02 at Felling on F32.06, at Houghton le Spring on H132.09 and H132.11 and at Seaham on S117.20 and S117.28
He is also remembered in the Battalion History S86.104
