Father Tom Duggan - Chaplain

Discussion in 'Military Biographies' started by liverpool annie, Oct 30, 2009.

  1. liverpool annie

    liverpool annie New Member

    Father Tom Duggan - was from the parish of Ballyheeda, Ballinhassig Co.Cork.
    He volunteered as a chaplain and arrived in Flanders in 1917 ..... his postings were to the 1st Battalion Royal Dublin Fusiliers and then the Munsters and finally the Connaught Rangers - he became a P.O.W on the 22nd of March 1918 during the German spring offensive and was interned as a prisoner in Mainz until the Armistice.
    He also volunteered and served during WW2 and was present at the retreat to Dunkirk and was awarded the M.C and O.B.E for outstanding bravery.

    He died in 1961 aged 71 in Peru ...... ( the bridge at the mouth of the Bandon river in Cork is named after him )

    Cox & Co's list - no other information

    Fr Duggan was held at Mainz and was released after writing to Cardinal Bourne asking him to pursue his release by giving proof of Duggan's priesthood

    'The Cross on the Sword' by Johnstone & Hagerty pg 170

    http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/...asp?Edoc_Id=7619043&queryType=1&resultcount=2

    Padre Duggan 8DLI WW2 .... heres a bit of an insight into the man .....

    During the actions around Carvin-Lens a French Major was directing a platoon of 8DLI into positions near Carvin when he and the platoon saw a vehicle in no mans land , just ahead of the German positions, where the vehicle ran into a ditch . Shortly afterwards two Khaki clad figures emerged - they were Padre Duggan and his batman Pte Deveney.The French major was not impressed that the vehicle had been out in no mans land however Padre Duggan, much to the DLI`s amusement lectured the French Major in rudimentary French, and delivered in his best Irish manner regarding his duty as a British officer and the use of Army vehicles under his command ! which left the French Major storming off and muttering to himself that all English soldiers were mad!

    Duggan set about setting up an un-official Regimental Aid post in the main street which he manned all day with no regard for his personal safety despite accurate German shelling in the immediate area
    On May 31st elements of 8DLI, (DLI and some stragglers from 11DLI set up a joint regimental aid post. German shelling was heavy and accurate and casualties mounted steadily throughout the shelling Padre Duggan and Cpl H .Fletcher made repeated journeys carrying the wounded into the cellars of the nearby chateau the Padres humour,coolness and courage did wonders for the morale of the Durhams as he carried on regardless despite the ferocity of the German bombardment..

    Duggan received a MC - Cpl Fletcher a mention in dispatches.

    Obituary

     

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