McDonagh, Patrick John (John)

Ex-Gunner

No. 119544 Royal Field Artillery

Died of disease on Sunday 14 March 1926 (aged 42)

Commemorated :

Newtownards and District War Memorial

BIOGRAPHY

The name John McDonagh is listed on Newtownards and District War Memorial and in the booklet produced for the Unveiling and Dedication Ceremony held on Saturday 26 May 1934 he is described as a Gunner in the Royal Garrison Artillery.  The organising committee of the day decided to include the names of ex-servicemen who died up to that date from what they considered to be war related causes, whether as the result of wounds or disease.

In official records there are several different spellings of his surname – McDonagh, McDonnagh, MacDonnagh, McDonogh, McDonough.  At civil birth registration he was named as Patrick John McDonough.

Patrick John McDonough was born on 8 February 1884 in Ann Street, Newtownards, and he was a son of Patrick McDonough, a weaver, and Agnes McDonough (nee McDonald) who were married on 3 February 1884 in Comber Roman Catholic Church.  Patrick McDonnagh (aged 28), a weaver from Newtownards was a son of Patrick McDonnagh, a weaver.  Agnes McDonald (aged 26), a reeler from Newtownards was a daughter of John McDonald, a weaver.

Patrick and Agnes McDonough (nee McDonald) had two children:

Patrick John (John, born 8 February 1884 in Ann Street, Newtownards)

Alexander (Sandy, born 6 October 1886 in Shuttlefield, Newtownards; died of pulmonary tuberculosis at Ann Street, Newtownards 6 October 1913; he was a labourer and Army pensioner, No. 4486 – attested 3 April 1902, Royal Irish Rifles)

In both cases it was their father who registered their births.  Patrick McDonagh also served in the Army – No. 671, Royal Irish Rifles.

In the 1901 census returns, Agnes McDonough, a widowed reeler, is recorded as Head of Family living in Ann Street, Newtownards.  Living with her were her sons, John, a hairdresser aged 17, and Sandy (a scholar aged 14), her widowed brother Sandy McDonald, a cooper, and her niece Lizzy McDonald (aged 7).

Lizzy McDonald was born on 28 December 1887 at East Street, Newtownards and she was a daughter of Alexander and Margaret McDonald (nee Bailey) who were married on 20 February 1887 in Comber Roman Catholic Church.

Research is ongoing to find a death registration for Patrick McDonough.

In the 1911 census returns, Agnes McDonough, a married reeler, is recorded as living in East Street, Newtownards with her widowed brother Alexander (Sandy) McDonald who is recorded as the Head of Family.

John McDonough and Mary Robb were married on 12 July 1906 in Newtownards Parish Church of Ireland Church.  John McDonough, a weaver from 8 Ann Street, Newtownards was a son of Patrick McDonough, a labourer.  Mary Robb was a daughter of James Robb, a labourer.

In the 1911 census returns, John McDonough, a hairdresser, and Mary McDonough (nee Robb) were living at 28 Regent Street, Newtownards with their son John McDonough (aged 3).

John and Mary McDonough (nee Robb) had six children:

Agnes (born 20 July 1906 at Mill Street, Newtownards; died from debility following a premature birth on 3 August 1906 aged 14 days)

John (born 22 July 1907 at Mill Street, Newtownards; died from infantile debility on 1 August 1907 aged 10 days)

John (Jack, born 8 July 1908 at Mill Street, Newtownards)

Elizabeth (born 4 May 1911 at Regent Street, Newtownards)

Violet (born 9 July 1913 at Regent Street, Newtownards)

Unnamed female (born 8 April 1915 at Mill Street, Newtownards; died the same day from debility following a premature birth)

Mary McDonough (nee Robb) had been suffering from tuberculosis for a year when she gave birth on 8 April 1915, and she died three days later due to exhaustion following childbirth.   She left three children – John (aged 6), Elizabeth (aged 3), and Violet (aged 20 months).

Their father enlisted on 10 January 1916 at Newtownards, and he served as a Gunner with the Royal Field Artillery (No. 119544).  At attestation, his address was 24 Regent Street, Newtownards, and he worked as a barber.  He cited his mother Agnes as his next-of-kin, and it was noted that he was 5 feet 6¾ inches tall

He named his three children – John, Elizabeth, and Violet – although the dates of birth recorded were at slight variance with their civil registration dates.

During the war, Gunner John McDonagh (No. 119544) served in Salonica, and he was demobilized on compassionate grounds on 5 May 1919.

John McDonough died of pulmonary tuberculosis at 3 Gibson’s Lane, Newtownards on 14 March 1926 (aged 42).  Described on his death certificate as a barber, his son Jack was with him when he died.

Research is ongoing to find where Ex-Gunner John McDonagh (No. 119544) was buried.