Photo : Vin Mullen
Medal Index Card
Evening Telegraph and Post 27/05/1915
William Monoghan
Pauline Priano has submitted the following:-
William Monaghan, one of 7 children, was the eldest of 2 sons, he had 2 younger and 3 elder sisters. His parents William Monaghan and Catherine Casey were born November 13th 1846 and 1864 respectively at Tydavnet, County Monaghan, Ireland and had been brought to England by their respective families settling in the north east. They were married at St. Bede’s Church, Jarrow, district of South Shields, County Durham, February 10th 1881 and moved in with her father Patrick Casey and brother John (22) at 6, Lime Street, Jarrow. All three men were employed as labourers at the iron works while Catherine is listed as housekeeper, living with them were 4 boarders, iron works labourers John Raglin (25), John McKenna (20) and brothers Owen and James Mone (20 & 22).
By 1891 they had branched out on their own, William had abandoned the iron works to take up the post of caretaker at Dunn Street School which came with a house, part of the school building. He and Catherine now had 5 children, Catherine born November 15th 1881, Margaret June 30th 1883, Mary 1884, William Jnr June 29th 1887 and Sarah Annie July 11th 1889. Francis was born just after the completion of the 1891 census, April 30th 1891 and finally Elizabeth 1895.
In 1901 Catherine was living with her daughters and Francis (8) at Willington Quay. It may well be William Snr was on one of several trips he made to America, William Jnr (14) was at boarding school in the Coxlodge area of Gosforth, a suburb of Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Northumberland.
Catherine Monaghan nee Casey died February 18th 1903 aged 49 years. By 1911 William was living alone in 1 room at 237, High Street, Jarrow employed as a corporation labourer. His 4 elder daughters were married, Elizabeth was living at 93, Grainger Road, employed by her uncle and aunt Owen and Susannah Casey as a servant, William Jnr (23) had joined the Army, 1st Battalion The Royal Scots, which between 1909 until November 1914, served in India, Francis was living at 6, Orchard Terrace, Newcastle.
After the declaration of war with Germany the 1st Battalion The Royal Scots was recalled, arriving in England during November 1914, attached to the 27th Division it departed for the front arriving in France, December 1914 and moved to the Ypres salient in Belgium. It saw action on the salient during the Action of Saint Eloi, March 14th 1915 and the 2nd Battle of Ypres, April 22nd-May 25th 1915.
Private 9918 William Monaghan The Royal Scots was killed in action, May 9th 1915. His sacrifice is recorded as one of 54,603 names inscribed on the Menin Gate memorial to the Missing, commemorating men from the Commonwealth and United Kingdom who died on the Ypres salient before August 17th 1917 and have no known grave or whose bodies could not be recovered. He was 27 years of age and single.
His death came less than 3 months after that of his brother Francis (Frank) Monaghan of the 2nd Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers who died, “on or since,” February 20th 1915. He was 22 years of age and single.
His father William received all monies due to him and his awards of the 1915 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal.
William Monaghan Snr died, January 24th 1920 at Jarrow, district of South Shields, County Durham, without any male heirs thus bringing this branch of the Monaghan family to an end.
In God’s safe keeping. Rest In Peace.
His brother Frank Monaghan was also killed in 1915.
William actually served with the 1st Battalion Royal Scots. On N5.02 it is stated as having served with the R.S.B. Information supplied from great-nephew, Vin Mullen.
William Monaghan is remembered at Netherton on N5.02, in Jarrow on J2.10
