Finnegan, James
Private
No. 3754, ‘B’ Company, 2nd Battalion, Highland Light Infantry
Died of wounds on Wednesday 20 November 1918 (aged 28)
Buried:
Mont Huon Military Cemetery, France (Grave IX. B. 11B)
Commemorated:
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
BIOGRAPHY
In some records his surname is spelt Finnigan.
In the Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC) Debt of Honour Website it is recorded that James Finnegan was a son of John and Catherine Finnegan of Innisrush, Portglenone, Belfast and he was born in Holywood.
In the Soldiers Died in the Great War 1914 – 1919 database it is recorded that James Finnegan was born in Bangor and enlisted in Hamilton, Scotland. Private James Finnegan served with the 2nd Battalion Highland Light Infantry and he was 28 when he died of wounds on 20 November 1918.
Private James Finnegan was buried in Mont Huon Military Cemetery, France and there is an inscription on his CWGC headstone:
JESUS HAVE MERCY
RIP
James Finnegan was born on 25 January 1890 in Stewart’s Place, Holywood and he was a son of John and Catherine Elizabeth (Kate) Finnegan (nee Toban, sometimes Tobin) who were married on 17 January 1885 in St Anne’s Church of Ireland Church Belfast. John Finnegan (aged 24) from 36 Cusack Street, Belfast was a son of Patrick Finnegan, a blacksmith. Catherine Tobin (aged 21) from 36 Cusack Street, Belfast was a daughter of Patrick Tobin, a labourer.
John Finnegan worked as a coachman and he and Kate had at least three children:
John (born 17 May 1886)
Sarah (born 18 February 1888 in Stewart’s Place, Holywood)
James (born 25 January 1890 in Stewart’s Place, Holywood)
In his will Private James Finnegan left all of his property and effects to his sister, Mrs Sarah O’Boyle of 48 Main Street, Greencastle, Belfast. Sarah Finnegan, a domestic servant from Whitehouse married Patrick O’Boyle from Greencastle on 13 February 1916 in St Mary’s Roman Catholic Church Whitehouse.