OUR LADY OF RECONCILIATION WAR MEMORIAL>

NOT ON MEMORIAL

This page has been added to list people from the area who for whatever reason are not mentioned on the war memorial at Our Lady Of Reconciliation. Of course every person deserves a mention, but it would be impossible to list them all here, this was a very built up area and its casualty list is huge. Therefore I have decided to include stories that have moved me or took my interest during my research. If you know of any person from the area who you would like to see added here, then please contact me as I would be only to happy to give them consideration.

The first story mentioned had a big effect on me, these three men are the reason for me adding this page. I wanted there story told, and im sure you will agree that it should be.

THE FAGAN BROTHERS

How it must have felt to lose a child to war I can not image, hopefully I will never find out. Yet thousands of Mothers and Fathers where to feel this terrible experience during world war one. Thomas and Bridget Fagan knew this feeling, they experienced it three times. The loss of their sons James, Michael and Christopher must have torn their lives apart, you just cant begin to understand their sorrow. I have no right to judge events that I was no part of, but I do believe that losing three of your boys should never have been allowed to happen.

 The first son to fall was Michael Fagan in March 1915. Michael was married to Catherine McCool in Liverpool 1905. He had served in South Africa before rejoining the Army at the outbreak of the war.

Serjeant Michael Fagan 7872,  The King's (Liverpool Regiment), 4th Bn.

died 10/03/1915, aged 32.

Son of Thomas and Bridget Fagan, of 107, Gildarts Gardens, Limekiln Lane, Liverpool; husband of Catherine. His brothers, James and Christopher also fell. Served in the South African War.

Remembered at Le Touret Memorial, France.

CWGC certificate http://www.cwgc.org/search/certificate.aspx?casualty=859183

The second son to fall was Christopher Fagan in May 1917. Christopher was married to Ellen Jordan in Liverpool 1914.

Gunner Christopher Fagan 108741,  Royal Field Artillery, V/38th Trench Mortar Bty.

died 30/05/1917, aged 24.

Son of Thomas and Bridget Fagan of 107 Gildarts Gardens, Liverpool; husband of Ellen Fagan, of 139, Gildarts Gardens, Liverpool. His brothers James and Michael also fell.

Remembered at Bard Cottage Cemetery, Belgium.

CWGC certificate http://www.cwgc.org/search/certificate.aspx?casualty=440037

                       

The third son to fall was James Fagan in October 1918, one month before the end of the war. he enlisted 12.8.1914 and was discharged on 12.8.1916 Re; Para 392, sickness. So James was unfit for service and sent home, his illness would claim his life two years later. James was married to Elizabeth McCool (  the sister of Michael Fagan's wife Catherine )

James Fagan married Elizabeth McCool, 9 December 1902, at Our Lady of Reconciliation church, Eldon Street, Liverpool.

James Fagan ( father Thomas ) of 3 court 3 house Burlington Street, Liverpool.

Elizabeth McCool ( father James ) of 42 court 4 house Hornby Street, Liverpool.

Witnesses-Michael Fagan of 3 court 3 house Burlington Street, Liverpool, Catherine McCool of 15 court 11 house Dryden Street, Liverpool.

Private James Fagan 10947, The King's (Liverpool Regiment), 3rd Bn.

 died 11/10/1918 aged 38.

Son of Thomas and Bridget Fagan, of 107, Gildarts Gardens, Limekiln Lane, Liverpool; husband of Elizabeth Fagan of 2 Nightingale Square, Liverpool. His brothers, Michael and Christopher, also fell.

Remembered at Liverpool (Ford) Catholic Cemetery, England.

CWGC certificate http://www.cwgc.org/search/certificate.aspx?casualty=374430     

     

Entry For James Fagan On The Ford Cemetery War Memorial, Liverpool. Photograph Courtesy Of Peter Bennett.

      

                         Ford Cemetery War Memorial, Liverpool. Photograph Courtesy Of Peter Bennett.

1891 census, 8 Court 6 House Hopwood street, Liverpool. Thomas (father) 39 Dock labourer, born Liverpool. Bridget (mother) 33, born Dublin. Children Thomas 10, James 8, Edward 5, John 2, Mary Elizabeth 2 months. All children born in Liverpool.
 
Also in house. John Quinn ( father of Bridget, grandfather of children ) Dock Labourer) born Dublin,Widowed. John Quinn ( brother of Bridget, Uncle of children ) 16, Dock Labourer, born Dublin. Rose Ann ( sister of Bridget, Aunt of children) 13 born Liverpool.
 
 
1901 census, 129 Hopwood street, Liverpool. Thomas (father) 44 Iron Foundary labourer, born Liverpool, Bridget (mother) 44, born Ireland. Children Thomas 19 Canned food porter, James 17 Shop worker chandlery, Edward 14 Crockery assistant, John 12, Mary 9, Susan 7, Hugh 7 (twins) Margaret 5, Christopher 2.All children born in Liverpool.
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JOHN CONNER  KHEDIVE'S BRONZE STAR
 
John Connor was awarded the Khedive's Bronze Star for service in Egypt.  All British recipients of the Egyptian Medal, 1882-9 were awarded this medal initiated in 1883 by the Khedive of Egypt. By Royal assent recipients, when in uniform, were allowed to wear the piece. The star was cast in bronze and darkened by means of lacquer. The star has 5 points in the centre of which is a circular band enclosing a view of the pyramids and a sphinx. The band is inscribed Egypt 1882, and Khedive of Egypt 1299, the latter in Arabic. The reverse is inscribed T.M. (Twefik Muhammad). A bronze bar, carrying a small star and crescent, is chained to the decoration and through loops on the undersurface a deep blue ribbon runs.
The star is also found with the dates 1884 and 1884-6, but when awarded later than 1886 is undated. Some undated pieces were distributed with a bar inscribed Tokar 1308 in Arabic. Also a few were awarded to men who had not received the Queen's Egyptian Medal.
 
   
                   Khedive's Bronze Star
 
Use this link to see a Cigarette card of the medal     http://www.britishempire.co.uk/media/cigarettecards/medals/cigarettemedal27.htm
Sapper John Connor 265935,  Royal Engineers.
 
died 23/05/1918, aged 52.
 
Husband of Mary Ellen Connor, of 23, Eldon Place, Liverpool. Awarded Khedive's Bronze Star. Served in the South African Campaign.
Remembered at   Liverpool (Kirkdale) Cemetery, England.
 
 
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COONEY FATHER AND SON LUSITANIA
Michael Cooney aged 40 and his son also Michael aged 20, both perished on the Lusitania. Elizabeth Cooney was left a widow and had to mourn her husband and her son. How she coped we can only guess, but by mid 1918 her suffering was over, as Elizabeth passed away in Liverpool. A tragic story of how the sinking of the Lusitania destroyed a family. Details of the two men are in the RMS Lusitania section. I will try to uncover any more details on this family, and post them here.
 
Michael Cooney's Great grandaughter Joyce contacted me, and provide the following information.
 
 When Elizabeth sadly died, She left 8 children. One being Joyce's grandmother Mary, who took in her 7 brothers & sisters, and also went on to have 13 children of her own. Mary died aged 57, and as Joyce commented " what a tough life she lived".
 
Joyce also provided the marriage details of Michaels parents. A Patrick Cooney from Limerick, and Margaret Mullnane from Liverpool. Who married at Our Lady of Reconciliation church on 27th Nov 1865. Their  son Michael was their first child.
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MARTIN DWYER
Private Martin Dwyer 1140, The Loyal North Lancashire Regiment, 1st Bn.
died 03/11/1914, aged 24.
 
Son of Mrs. Annie Burns, of 4, Epsom St., Latimer St., Liverpool.
Remembered at  Ypres ( Menin Gate ) Memorial, Belgium.
 
 
Martin is the brother of Joseph Burns, who is listed on the main memorial/ Martin seems to have taken his mother's maiden name, yet his brother Joseph ( older by 12 years ) kept his surname as Burns.
 
1901 census, 8 Arley Street, Liverpool. Ann Dwyer ( mother ) 29, Widow, Paker maker in paper factory. Children, Matin 10, Philip 6. All born in Liverpool.
 
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 H. BULGER
Lance Corporal Hugh Bulger 356934, The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 10th Bn.
 
died 12/04/1918.
 
Remembered at Guards Cemetery, Windy Corner, Cuinchy, France.
 
 
Hugh was born and enlisted in Liverpool.
 
Killed in action France and Flanders.
                 
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 LEE JONES

Although Lee Jones was not a serviceman, I have added him here for the work that he did to help the people of the area. It is very possible that he would have helped some of the men mentioned on this web site, and their families. His premises in Limekiln Lane are just a few hundred yards from Our Lady of Reconciliations church. The League of Welldoers was set up long befores the great war began, and Jones and his helpers would have responded to those in great need during and after the war. He lived and died amongst the people, and deserves to be remembered along side them.

                                    

 Lee Jones, Founder Of The League Of  Welldoers, Limekiln Lane.1895. Courtesy Of Liverpool Records Office.

                                                                         M364 LWD 8/9

             The following is taken from the Scottie Press website at http://www.scottiepress.org/main.html

League of Welldoers League of Welldoers

Herbert Lee Jackson Jones was born in Runcorn in 1870. He was the son of a cotton broker. He was educated at Liverpool college, becoming proficient in art and wood engraving. Although he had given thought to a career in the church, he gave this up to devote his life to philanthropy, funding the ' Liverpool Food Association ' in 1893, soon to be renamed ' Food And Betterment Association ' and then ' The League Of Welldoers' in 1909. From the earliest days his band of helpers where based in Limekiln Lane, right amongst those he strove to serve. When it was known, in October 1936, that Jones was dying, crowds knelt outside the front corner of the building, praying for their true friend and benefactor. The front of the building was destroyed in the May 1941 blitz, and only rebuilt in 1952. The figures above the door, dated 1953, are by M.Newton.

                                   

 Adults And Ohildren Of The Food And Betterment Society At 121 Limekiln Lane, c.1898-1908.  Photograph Courtesy Of Liverpool Records Office. 

                                                                                            M364 LWD Box 29/1-80 File 39-79       

                                       

           The League Of Welldoers, Limekiln Lane 1925.  Photograph Courtesy Of Liverpool Records Office

                                                                       M364. LWD 8 item 8/51

 BBC Feature to Lee Jones  http://www.bbc.co.uk/liverpool/content/articles/2006/01/05/league_of_welldoers_feature.shtml The link to the photo gallery does not work on this site, but can be viewed on the last site listed below.

2004 article  http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2004/dec/04/voluntarysector.christmasappeal2004

The League of Welldoers web site, here you can view the photo gallery, and see pictures that Lee Jones took himself  http://www.welldoers.org/

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