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Private James Goggin

 

James Goggin was born on 11 May 1885 at Smith's Lane, Waterford, County Waterford, the fifth of seven children of labourer Thomas Goggin and his wife Catherine (nee Griffin). Although he grew up in Waterford, by the time of the 1911 Census he was living at Pittern Hill, Kineton, Warwickshire, and working as a domestic groom.

Goggin enlisted in the North Irish Horse on 10 August 1914 (No.982 – later Corps of Hussars No.71184), one of the few Roman Catholics to join the regiment at that stage of the war. He embarked for France with A Squadron just seven days later, seeing action on the retreat from Mons and advance to the Aisne.

Goggin remained with the regiment through the war, but at some point was wounded or injured, suffering a fractured tibia and fibula. On 20 November 1918 he was discharged, being 'surplus to military requirements, having suffered impairment since entry into the service' (paragraph 392 xvi(a), King's Regulations). He was granted a disability pension due to his injuries.

After the war Goggin returned to Waterford, living at Ballybricken. He died at the County Hospital on 8 April 1940.

 

At least one of Goggin's brothers, Patrick, also served in the war, in the Royal Irish Regiment. He was made a prisoner of war at La Bassée in the first months of the fighting.