Private John Henry McCullagh

 

 

John Henry (Harry) McCullagh was born on 8 November 1894 at Dernaskeagh, Cootehill, County Cavan, the last of nine children of farmer Robert McCullagh and his wife Mary Anne (nee Armstrong). By the time of the 1911 Census he was living at Dernaskeagh with his widowed mother and a brother and working on the family farm.

McCullagh enlisted in the North Irish Horse between 28 March and 30 April 1912 (No.700 – later Corps of Hussars No.71077). He embarked for France with A Squadron on 17 August 1914, seeing action on the retreat from Mons and advance to the Aisne.

In 1916 or 1917 McCullagh was either wounded or suffered an accident, resulting in fractures to his left tibia and fibula. The breaks were severe enough to prevent him returning to active service, and on 29 April 1918 he was discharged (paragraph 392 xvi, King's Regulations).

McCullagh was granted a disability pension (rated at 20% by March 1923). In August 1927 he emigrated to the United States, where he settled in Savoy, Berkshire, Massachusetts. he died there on 14 December 1967.

 

Image of Private McCullagh kindly provided by John Brown.