Private James Lenaghan

 

 

James Lenaghan was born on 29 September 1890 at 6 Dee Street, Belfast, the second of four children of boiler-maker John Lenaghan and his wife Margaret (née Bryans). His father died when he was just eight years old. At the time of the 1911 Census he was living in Paris Street, Shankill, with his mother and two sisters, and working as a marker in a mill.

Lenaghan enlisted in the 6th (Inniskilling) Dragoons Service Squadron between 14 and 16 November 1914 (No. UD/143).

On Christmas Day that year he married Jennie Danaghan in the Crumlin Road Methodist Church.

On 6 October 1915 Lenaghan embarked for France with his squadron, which was then serving as divisional cavalry to the 36th (Ulster) Division.

In June 1916 the Inniskilling squadron joined with C and F Squadrons of the North Irish Horse to form the 2nd North Irish Horse Regiment, serving as corps cavalry to X Corps. In August-September 1917 the Regiment was disbanded and its men, following training at the 36th (Ulster) Division Infantry Base Depot at Harfleur, were transferred to the Royal Irish Fusiliers, an infantry regiment. Most, including Lenaghan, were transferred on 20 September and posted to the 9th (Service) Battalion – renamed the 9th (North Irish Horse) Battalion – joining it in the field at Ruyaulcourt. Lenaghan was issued regimental number 41108 and posted to D Company.

He probably saw action with the battalion at the Battle of Cambrai in November and December 1917

Lenaghan was one of the many posted as missing following the 9th (NIH) Battalion's fighting withdrawal from St Quentin from 21 to 28 March 1918 during the German spring offensive. It was later learned that he had been captured. He remained a prisoner of war until repatriated in late December 1918 or early January 1919.

On 21 March 1919 he was demobilised and transferred to Class Z, Army Reserve.

After the war Lenaghan lived with his wife at his mother-in-law's home, 135 Sydney Street West, and later at 53 Sugarfield Street. Their first child, Agnes, was born in September 1919. On 17 May 1921 the family sailed from Liverpool for the United States.

 

Image from the Belfast Evening Telegraph, 1918, kindly provided by Nigel Henderson, Researcher at History Hub Ulster

 

This page last updated 4 April 2023.