Corporal John Gallagher.
151389 Royal Engineers 253rd Tunnelling Coy.
Killed in Action 4th October 1917, aged 36.
John was born about 1881 in Ballina, County Mayo, Ireland.
John married Evelyn Carty on the 31st July 1909, Burnley.
In the 1911 census John (22) and Evelyn (23) were living at 23 Salmon St, Burnley. According to the census they had 2 children both living but they were not shown on the census. From the GRO and his service I discover that they were Catherine born on 24 Sept. 1909 and Nellie born on the 24 Feb 1911.
From his service record we discover he enlisted on the 21st Nov 1914 in the 8th Battalion East Lancs Regt., his age was 33yrs. He served on the home front from the 12 Nov 1914 until he joined the British Expeditionary Force on the 31st April 1915. He was transferred into the 253rd Tunnelling Company 14th Jan 1916 and promoted to Lance Corporal on the 10th Sept 1916 and then to Corporal on the 8th March 1917.
On his conduct sheet he had a couple of run ins but nothing serious and for which he got 5 days C.C.(confined to camp). But the interesting observation is that it says he was born in Ballina, Mayo, Ireland?
Evelyn received a pension from the War Office for her and her two children of 24s 2d a week.
His wife Evelyn wrote this poignant letter below in the Nov of 1917 shortly after his death:
From the Burnley Express dated 30th March 1918: CAUGHT IN BARRAGE. CORPORAL'S STERLING QUALITIES ADMIRED.
This week's Mrs Gallagher 23 Salmon Street Burnley, as had confirmation of the death of her husband Corporal John Gallagher 36, *158139* Royal Engineers. He was killed in action on October 4th of last year when he had given 3 years service short of a month to the army. He went out in July 1915. Formerly he worked for Mr Crossley, Manchester Road builder and was connected with St Mary's RC Church. Mrs Gallagher has four brothers and one brother-in-law serving. One of her brothers Thomas Carter, has made the supreme sacrifice.
An officer, Captain Hayes give the following story of Corporal Gallagher's death: "in order to see some work that was urgently required your husband, together with Sergeant Cornwall and Corporal Lancaster, accompanied a Major of the artillery Lieutenant Brown, and myself. When we had gone about halfway to the place the enemy put down a very heavy barrage of shells, which was most severe where we were. Lieutenant Brown was very seriously wounded by a shell which burst between him and me, and so I called the others, who were walking at intervals for safety, to his assistance. Your husband went with the Major for a stretcher, but before they returned we had found one and Sergeant Cornwall and Corporal Lancaster took Lt. Brown to hospital. I waited for your husband and the major not wishing them to remain any longer than was necessary in the danger zone. When they returned the enemy was still shelling very heavily, so we decided to scatter and make our way back as best we could by going from shell hole to shell hole. The major and I met at the hospital but your husband has not turned up. We had come about a mile and a half so we expected to see your husband turn up at any time, as it was not natural to expect that we could all cover the distance in the same time. So we went to see how Mr Brown said, and found that his words were so severe that he could not live. Your husband had still not turned up and we were in doubt in if he had gone straight back to camp, but to make sure, the Major Corporal Lancaster and I went back to the place where Mr Brown was wounded. The enemy were still shelling heavily so whilst the major and the corporal sheltered in a pillbox, I searched the ground for any trace of your husband but with no success." after telling of several more attempts to find the missing man, the right continued: "early in the morning I sent another party to search the place and this time your husband's body was found." Captain Hayes ads that corporal Gallagher was killed by a Shell. "I feel his loss to be a personal one as he was a man I had admired for his sterling qualities and workmanlike ability." Tributes have been paid by Sergeant Kerr and Sapper Egan the latter of whom was a close friend of the deceased soldier.
Lived at 23 Salmon Street.
John left his effects to his widow Evelyn.
John was buried in Bleuet Farm Cemetery, Belgium: Grave Ref; I.C.53.
*The CWGC and his attestation papers give his service no as 151389.
