Returned emigrant from Australia signs up to the South Irish Horse Cavalry
Studio portrait of John Henry Corrigan ; Photo of Alfred Corrigan ; Fermoy, Ireland 1913 photo of John Henry Corrigan with soldiers ; Medals
My grandfather John Henry Corrigan was born in 1890 in Rathvilly, Co. Carlow, Ireland. He immigrated to Australia but returned to settle in Carlow. I am not sure when or why he signed up. There is a photo (dated 1913) of him with a troop of soldiers in Fermoy Co Cork. He served with the South Irish Horse until 1918 and saw action in Belgium or France. He rarely spoke of his experiences in the War. However I do remember one recollection. His regiment saw fierce fighting with continuous shelling for ten days with barely any sleep.
He was awarded three medals (Pip, Squeak and Wilfred);
The 1914-15 Star. The reverse has his service number, rank, name and unit;
The British War Medal, 1914-18. His service number, rank, name and unit are impressed on the rim;
The Allied Victory Medal. His service number, rank, name and unit are impressed on the rim;
After the War he returned to Carlow and worked as a farmer for the rest of his life. He had good health and died aged 72.
His brother Alfred Corrigan also joined the South Irish Horse. He died on 19th June 1917. He was 22 years old.
CONTRIBUTOR
Ivan Corrigan
DATE
1914 - 1918
LANGUAGE
eng
ITEMS
1
INSTITUTION
Europeana 1914-1918
PROGRESS
METADATA
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