Mulligan, Francis Xavier (Francis)

Lance Bombardier

No. 5256357, 179 Field Regiment, Royal Artillery

Killed in action on Monday 30 April 1945 (aged 30)

Buried:

Becklingen War Cemetery, Soltau, Niedersachsen, Germany (Grave 7. J. 7)

Commemorated:

Commonwealth War Graves Commission

Bessbrook War Memorial, Co. Armagh

Ramsey grave headstone in Redburn Cemetery, Holywood

BIOGRAPHY

Lance Bombardier Francis Xavier Mulligan (No. 5256357) is commemorated on the Ramsey grave headstone in Redburn Cemetery, Holywood:

Ramsey

In loving memory of

Moira

A loving and much loved wife

Mother and grandmother

Died 7 March 2010

Interred overseas

Francis Xavier (brother of Moira) 1945 (Germany)

Tatiana (infant granddaughter) 2002 (Chile)

Gone to God

Francis Xavier Mulligan was born in England and he was a son of Peter and Kathleen Mulligan who had at least four children – Francis Xavier, Patrick, Moira, and Ann.

During the Second World War Lance Bombardier Francis Xavier Mulligan (No. 5256357) served with the Royal Artillery and his marriage to Ena Maria Springate-Dakens was registered in the second quarter of 1941 in Brentford, Middlesex.  Their family home was in Seaford, Sussex and Francis was 30 when he was killed in action on 30 April 1945 during the Allied advance through Germany.  He was buried in Becklingen War Cemetery, Soltau, Niedersachsen, Germany and there is an inscription on his CWGC headstone:

DEEP IN OUR HEARTS

HIS MEMORY IS KEPT

WE LOVE HIM TOO MUCH

TO EVER FORGET

Francis Mulligan’s sister Moira married Cathal Ramsey and they had five children – Paul, Peter, Colette, John and Michael.  They lived in Derryvolgie Avenue, Belfast.

Lance Bombardier Francis Xavier Mulligan (No. 5256357) is commemorated on Bessbrook War Memorial, Co. Armagh.