McKeegan, J (James)
Private James (John) McKeegan was the son of Ann J. McKeegan, of 3, Stewart Terrace, Londonderry, and the late Thomas McKeegan.
James’s war though began when he originally landed in Boulogne,[1] France on the 6th of October 1915 at 1:30am along with the 10th Inniskilling Fusiliers. There were 1029 men, all ranks.
At 14.00 they went on a route march with their band from Boulogne, arriving at 10.00 the following day at Gare Central station[2] where they entrained and travelled to Coisy[3] and were billeted. At this point they started training and improving where they slept. Soon they were on the move again. Training continues, and they were eventually attached to other battalions at Hebuterne[4] to help them gain some experience in trench warfare.
Training continued, and the battalion marched from area to area. When the time came to celebrate the “Closing of the Gates of Londonderry (December 1668)”, the battalion still had no casualties or real front-line experience.
During March, they went to Forceville[5] and the trenches at Thiepval Woods[6] where they relieved the 9th Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers and started receiving their first casualties.
Also, during this month, a post card arrived at the McKeegan home in Londonderry, it was addressed to James’s father, Thomas McKeegan, it was from James himself and stated that he had been wounded and was in hospital. At the same time Private W. Finley (15516) of 49, Fountain Street, Private James Mitchell (15744)[7] of 30, Aubrey Street and Private Robert Smyth (16022) of Windmill Terrace were also reported as wounded.
James would return to his battalion and on the evening of the 30th of June 1916, they all moved forward to take up their positions at Thiepval Woods. Whilst walking through Aveluy Woods[8] towards the trenches the 10th Inniskillings commanding officer, Lieutenant Colonel Ross Smyth slipped and sprained his leg and was evacuated. A bad omen of things to come.
With the 9th and 11th Inniskilling Fusiliers on their right and 14th Royal Irish Rifles with them they waited in crowded trenches on the 1st of July for the bombardment of the German lines to finish. The men were all issued a portion of rum as they paused before putting their training into place and entering “No man’s land”, playing their part on the day of the “Great attack”.[9]
The battalions got mixed up as they advanced causing some confusement and even worse advancing too quickly, this caused heavy casualties from friendly fire. Within 100 yards of the enemy’s trench, they laid down awaiting the moment to attack. The company bugle calls soon followed announcing their orders to advance again.
All-in-all 764 men left the trenches, only 346 returned. The battalion eventually left the front line on the 2nd of July to regroup and rest, but only until August when they were redeployed at Ploegsteert Woods[10].
During the beginning of September, another letter arrived in Londonderry, addressed to James’s father T. McKeegan, it was from Captain Towse, of the Gordon Highlanders. The letter was sent to Thomas to inform him that his son would be coming home, it was not good news though as he had been shot. This time he was paralysed from the chest down. James would never see home again as he soon took a turn for the worse and died on the 14th of September in the Royal Infirmary, Manchester.
James would be brought home for the last time a few days later and was laid to rest on the 18th of September. He had a full military funeral.
He was awarded the 1914/15 Star, the British War and Victory Medals.
Date of Death: 14/09/1916 (Aged 20)
Service: Private, Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers, 10th Battalion.
Service Number: 15868
Burial Location: Glendermott Church of Ireland Churchyard and New Cemetery, Old ground North-West of Church.
[1] Boulogne or Boulogne-sur-Mer is a coastal town in northwest France.
[2] Gare Central station is around 16 miles south of Boulogne.
[3] Coisy is around 60 miles, southeast of Gare Central station.
[4] Hebuterne is an area in France around 20 miles northeast of Coisy.
[5] Forceville in an area in France in between Thiepval Woods and Léalvillers.
[6] Thiepval Woods is around 6 miles south of Hebuterne.
[7] Private James Mitchell (15744) would be wounded several times later in the war, but while serving with the 1st Inniskillings, the final injury, ultimately took his life on the 15th of March 1918.
[8] Woods just west of Thiepval Woods.
[9] Great attack, later called the battle of the Somme.
[10] Ploegsteert Woods is in southern Belgium about 60 miles north of Thiepval woods.